THAT'S WHEN GABE LOST IT

CHAPTER 43: THAT’S WHEN GABE LOST IT
~ Tanner’s POV ~

Everyone started shifting and quickly moving forward. They all knew what to do. The foul moon pack must think that other packs are too afraid to attack. They don’t even have a border wall. Our group of warriors just pushed through them onto their territory. Alpha Titus has always been a leader to look up to. He has felt like a second father to me. The packhouse of this vile pack came into view. I started sniffing the air trying to locate Gabe or Harper's scent. It was a battlefield around me. My pack was clashing with the opposing pack. I saw Kai trying to fight off two wolves who had him pinned down. I ran full speed and tackled the top one off him. We rolled together on the ground but caught our footing quickly. The wolf matched me in size, I guess we will find out if he matches me in strength. He growled and snapped at me. Finally, he got impatient with me and launched aiming for my neck. I quickly dodged him and caught him by the shoulder. I held on tight and shook my head ferociously back and forth. Then I threw him onto the ground. He didn’t move much after that, but I went ahead and snapped his neck. I turned to check on Kai. It looks like he recovered and is already fighting a new wolf.
Silence seemed to fill the air as the fighting and clashing came to a halt. That must be Thane. He was walking through the middle of the crowd. He didn’t look at all nervous about his pack being attacked on his own turf. He stood about 10ft from Alpha Titus. He was much younger than Alpha Titus. Thane looked to be around Gabe’s age. Alpha Titus spoke first.
“Thane, alpha of the foul moon pack, I have come for my son and the girl. Hand them over and we will leave.” Thane let out a wicked laugh.
“Titus, of the frail harmony moon pack. It’s too late to escape now.” At those words his body began to morph. I couldn’t believe my eyes. This guy was something on a whole other level. He is walking on his back legs for goodness sake! Wolves stopped their fighting to watch the unnerving transformation. I heard gasps from members of our pack as total shock fell over all of us. Once he had completely shifted, his pack members started to cheer. This snapped all of us out of our thoughts as we remembered each of us had a responsibility to your pack. I just hope Alpha Titus can handle this guy. He instantly launched himself at alpha Titus at breakneck speed. He was able to dodge Thane’s first attack, and alpha Titus shifted into his large black and gray wolf. He was much like Gabriel’s wolf, just more seasoned.

The two were facing off fiercely. Their attacks were aggressive. Thane attempted to tackle alpha Titus to the ground he finally managed to succeed and punctured alpha Titus’s stomach in the process. Blood was pouring to the ground below, but alpha Titus didn’t slow down. He quickly swung and struck Thane’s neck, tearing it completely out. Thane roared into the air. It sounded like a damn dragon. I thought he was toast, but Thane healed faster than any wolf or creature I have ever seen or heard of. I was caught off guard as a wolf came at me. I turned Sideways and ducked causing him to catch and flip over my wolf. I ran over to him and quickly bit down and snapped his neck.

“Tanner!” Someone yelled from my left, the direction of the packhouse doors. I quickly looked over.
“Gabriel!” I ran over to him. He was carrying Harper. She was unconscious and glowing light blue. “What's going on Gabe?”
“I don’t know really, but I think it has something to do with her wolf. I have to get her out of here before Thane discovers she is gone.” He looked over to his father, still fighting Thane. Then he looked at Harper unconscious in his arms, and so vulnerable. Gabe gritted his teeth. He attempted to hand Harper to me. I saw his eyes glaze over, and quickly his features changed. He was looking desperately at his father. Like he wanted to help but couldn’t. That is when alpha Titus mind linked everyone on the field.
“Everyone, fallback now! Go home and prepare for a war. Gather all the surrounding ally packs, and potential new ones. Protect your territory first. This is a much greater fight for another day. Go! Now! That is an order!” His alpha voice blasted over all of us. He wasn’t coming with us! He was sacrificing himself to save us! Gabriel took one last look at his father as a single tear ran down his face. The battle still raged around us. Gabriel started running. He was in his human form because he had to carry Harper. Kai fell in line behind us. It didn’t take us long to meet three foul moon wolves. Gabe was an alpha, even on two feet he was still faster than them. Kai and I quickly knocked out two. The last wolf we teamed up on, completely decapitating his wolf. It’s dangerous now. If any of those wolves’ mind linked Thane, He would be after us in seconds. We were still running at full speed. We made it to where our SUV was hidden. Our whole party that came here today had to travel here in vehicles. It was a long drive from our pack territory. Kai jumped in the driver’s seat. I took a passenger, and Gabe hopped into the back with Harper. That’s when Gabe lost it.

~ Thane’s POV~

I underestimated Titus’ old age. He still had a little fight left in him after all these years. No matter, it’s more fun for me. The fighting around me died down, and I noticed Titus’s pack had left. What's going on? Titus came at me again. He was hanging on by a thread. He had his teeth bared at me aiming for my neck. I quickly dodged his strike by moving to my left. I grabbed his much smaller wolf by the neck and back. Even though he is a large alfa, my paws were so big he easily fit within my grip. Something is going on and I need to find out what it is. I have to get back to my little mate. It has to be after midnight by now, and I have waited on her body long enough.
“It’s been fun old wolf, but I am afraid I have to be done with you. First you will tell me where your pack has gone.” I threw his body to the ground and placed one of my rear paws on him to hold him down. He shifted back to his human form, much smaller than his wolf. He spat blood onto the ground. Then spoke.
“They have fallen back, under my command. It will be useless to follow them. They are far away by now. Our borders have been reinforced by a nice witch who owed me a favor. After your rogues managed to get in last time, I wasn’t going to take that chance again.” I laughed at him.
“I didn’t have to enter onto your territory to get my mate back did I. Your pitiful son was too weak to protect her.” His breathing got rapid, and his voice became breathy.
“My son is strong enough to handle an abomination like you. The gods won't let you prevail. I know you have the terminal stone. That is the only thing that kept you alive when I tore out your neck.” I growled out at him.
“I am done playing with you now old man, it’s time for me to mark my mate.” I laughed at him, then rolled his mangled body over. Where his face was on the ground. He laughed at me.
“Are you sure you still have a mate to mark?” He laughed at me. “I am sure she has been escaping the whole time you have been ‘playing with me’.” What! I looked around. He must be lying. My warriors were standing around the old wolf and me, still waiting for me to finish him. I roared out to my beta
“Go...check on her! If she is gone, the one responsible for leaving her unguarded will suffer!”
“Yes, alpha!” My beta said to me. “Now to finish this. I picked the old man up easily. I had not shifted back to my human form yet. He was still looking at the ground. I grabbed the back of his neck and one of his thighs. Then I forcefully picked up his body and slammed him across my knee, I heard the sound of his spine breaking. The old man screamed. I dropped him back onto the ground. He was looking up at me. Still brave enough to look me in the eyes. He showed no fear, he was ready to die with honor. I stepped on his neck and put all my weight on it. I heard another sound that reminded me of a stick splitting then finally giving into a break. His head rolled to the side, and his eyes were now lifeless.”

“Alpha, both the girl and boy are gone!” I let out a roar that shook the earth.
“Bring me the guard responsible for watching them!” I spat out, ready to rip his neck out!
“He is dead, Alpha” I roared again. This time my warriors moved away from me in fear. I will kill him the next time I see him, and the little whore will watch as it’s done. Gabriel is dead!