Chapter 11-- Mates

“Layla—” Dean started.
“They came out of nowhere.”
“Stay behind me.” He ordered.
“We’re outnumbered.” I said.
The leader wolf with the yellow and black eyes laughed. I didn’t know wolves could talk in their wolf form.
“You should listen to the girl. Yield and your death will be sweet.”
“That won’t happen.”
Dean rolled his shoulders back at the same time black fur grew from his skin. His fingers sharpened to claws and his feet turned to paws. He landed on all fours. A massive beast two times bigger than the wolves about to attack us.
“Pin him down. Get the girl.” Our attacker ordered.
I ran to the waiting area and hid behind a white bus. There wasn’t much in terms of hiding spaces, but there was enough distance between me and the wolves. Two of them charged at me, but Dean was at hand to make sure they didn’t make it passed him.
This wouldn’t be happening. What had they done to Jordan and everyone else who worked here? My throat was thick with fear for their fates.
Whimpers and growling filled the afternoon sky. I couldn’t make out which sound was Dean, but I was too scared to come out. My heart felt swollen, what if they killed my mate? The bark of a wounded wolf came before silence fell on us. I burst out.
“Dean?”
“Yeah?”
He appeared, panting and butt naked. He had three angry claw marks on his chest. I hurried to him. I rung my arm around his neck and attempted to trace the lines of his wound. I pulled back because I was scared of hurting him.
“You okay?”
He places his hand on the small of my back and nodded as he tried to catch his breath.
“I’ll be fine.”
“I can’t believe you fought them on your own.”
“Did you really think I was going to lose?”
“Well…”
“We have to go.” He turned around.
This was my fault. How did he find me? I was thankful he did but he was hurt now.
“You’re exhausted Dean.”
It was like talking to wall. He shifted into a black wolf and stared at me expectantly.
“What?”
He used his head to motion at his back.
“Oh, no. You’re going to drop me.”
He growled and narrowed his eyes.
“Fine.”
I climbed onto his furry back. Unlike the wolves that had attacked us Dean’s fur was refined almost like silk. Clearly, they were different types of wolves. I leaned on his back and fisted his fur and under the mid-afternoon sky. We zipped through the cool air like lightning through a blazing hot day.
So close to him, it was almost like I could feel the inner workings of his being. All I needed was a fraction of concentration and I would be able to hear his thoughts. When Dean slowed it was all over too quickly.
Back at Gabe’s house, I climbed off his back. Dean shifted to the man that instilled fear in the wolves he commanded.
He stared at me and cupped my cheeks. My heart slammed forward I saw the fury in his eyes.
“Why were you there?”
“I-I got a message from a friend but she wasn’t there.”
Dean shook his head. Did he believe me?
“We’ll talk about this later,” he said.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Lyle and Dec barked orders for everyone to hurry up loading stuff in the several black cars that idled in front of the mansion.
“We’re moving.”
“To where?”
The gash on Dean’s chest was bleeding and seemed to be growing deeper as I stood there.
He didn’t respond instead he marched off. I found Ash and Sam among the shifters working overtime to load the black vehicles.
“Guys?”
“Thank goodness,” Ash said.
“There you are,” Sam added.
“What’s going on? What’s with the move?”
Kenzie shoved her sister out of the Alpha’s house and into a black car with tinted windows.
“The Dare pack’s invaded. Now we all have to get out of here.” Ash explained.
“Everyone?”
“Just the wolves. The humans will be fine.” Sam said.
“Everyone time to go.” Lyle clapped his hands.
“Come on Layla.” Sam said.
I started following when Lyle turned me and for a second I thought I was going to be left behind to be wolf food.
“You know you’re riding with Dean, Little Wolf. No one wants to be subject of the Alpha King’s fury.” Lyle opened the back door and ushered me in.
I couldn’t see Dean through the windows. The passenger door opened and shut. I jumped back as if I had been hit in the back of the head.
“Who are you?” I asked.
The man in the passenger glanced at me with boredom then again with curiosity.
“Killi—” He shook his head. “Killian. What are you?”
That voice…
The driver’s side door opened and slammed shut after a dressed Dean jumped in.
“Your bother leaving?” Killian asked.
Thankfully, the conversation moved from me to Gabe.
“Fuck the little stubborn bastard. He’s in the car.”
“What’s wrong with Gabe?” I asked.
“Nothing Mate.” Dean said, rather forcefully.
I frowned. Killian snapped his head in Dean’s direction.
“You have a—”
“Long story.” Dean responded.
“Not long enough.” I muttered.
The cars drove out of the property one after the other. Driving at full speed the cars went off in different directions. Only one car followed us from behind. I assumed that car belonged to the Betas.
“How the fuck did this happen?” Dean asked.
“We were too late. The Dare pack had already infiltrated when we arrived. Those bastards had everything figured out.” Killian spat.
I noticed Dean tighten his grip on the wheel. Fighting the urge to look back at me? I think he was. What if it came out that I really was a spy?
Dean’s phone rang. “What?”
I clearly heard Lyle’s voice on the phone. “We have to use the dirt road before Ryker. Through the woods or we face a blockade.”
“Fuck.” Dean spat before dumping his phone between the seats.
The car behind us zoomed ahead of us and disappeared through a dirt road. It was dark and driving between trees in a car with dark tinted windows made it even darker. That’s why no one noticed the thing that slammed into the car from the side. It was strong enough to swerve the car.
“What the fuck was that?” Killian asked.
The car slammed into a tree. Smoke flew from the radiator. Nothing but the sound of crickets came forth from the dark woods. I looked around in hopes of seeing what had attacked us. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it though.
“Layla, you okay?” Dean asked.
I nodded. “Fine.”
“I’m going to check it out.” Dean popped the car door open.
Killian did the same. Since everyone was getting out of the car so did I.
“Get back in the car.” Dean ordered.
“Come on, I’m not helpless.” I wrapped my arms around myself.
“One of the hybrids.” Killian said. He was hunched over, sniffing the dirt.
“Stay here. I’ll handle this.”
“Wait.”
He stopped and came round to haul me back to the car.
“You don’t even know what’s out there.”
He chuckled and looked down before looking me in the eye.
“I can take care of myself mate.”
I crossed my arms and tilted my head but Dean would not give in. “It’s just—”
“Killian’s going to look after you.”
“Dean—” He darted off between the trees leaving us along under the watchful eye of a crescent moon.
“Get inside Layla.” Killian ordered.
“What?”
“Get inside now!” He barked, before shoving me in the back.
Killian yelled before his body was slammed against the car frame. The growls of an angry wolf, clawing an attacking him stunned me. If only I could shit. Killian yelled, his screams echoing beyond the trees. He shifted and darted through the trees, leading the beast away from me.
“Killian?” I squeaked. “Are you there?”
I popped the door open. “Dean?”
It had been over thirty minutes since they left. Drifting through the trees. I felt lost. Abandoned. In danger.
“Dean?” I slipped down a tree at the same time the tears streamed down my face.
I was a coward. I hid when I should have helped him. I should have found a way to shift.
“Layla?” Dean yelled.
He appeared buckling his belt. His eyes bore into me and I could feel the rage rolling off him.
“I think he’s dead.” My voice cracked.
His face softened. He settled down next to me that was when I saw his wounds were worse than before. I reached out to touch his swelling flesh, but he caught my wrist.
“Don’t.”
“You’re hurt.”
“I’ll be fine. Everything’s fine.” He laid on his back, breathing heavily.
I lay down beside him and placed my head on his chest. He draped his arm around me and I did the same around his waist. He kissed the top of my head. Even with the sky falling on us I was safe here.