The Taste of Blood
*Rowan*
It’s not my warriors the witches are attacking–at least, not now. While dozens of wolves fly over my head, slamming into the ground and trees in the distance, I stand still. I have no idea how the witches are pinpointing who they are moving so carefully, but they seem to be doing it. I don’t see a single one of my warriors lifted off the ground.
The battle basically comes to a halt while the witches act. But then, it seems they must be getting tired. As fewer wolves go flying, my warriors spring to life again. Just because the enemy wolves have been thrown around, that doesn’t mean they’re dead.
‘Move in and finish them off!’ I order my warriors.
A resounding, ‘Yes, Alpha!’ fills my mind, and a surge of wolves shoots forward, quickly covering the ground to reach Dark Sky’s injured warriors that are trying to get to their feet. Some of them aren’t moving at all, but others spring up rather quickly, ready to fight by the time my warriors reach them.
With Zeb keeping his distance at the moment, thanks to his own disorientation from what has transpired, I have no doubt, I have a moment to survey the situation. We are absolutely dominating. Hudson’s forces are pushing the bulk of Dark Sky’s fighting force toward mine, and my warriors are ready. Even without the witches, I believe we would’ve slaughtered them, but it’s nice to have help from unexpected allies, especially considering I was never quite sure where Veronica stood with us. Now I know for certain we can trust her.
My thoughts are interrupted as I see Zeb creeping back toward me. Blood drips from his mouth. I don’t know if it’s his or if he’s been up to no good while he was out of my line of sight. It doesn’t matter. He’ll be dead in a few moments.
I close the distance between us, snarling as I lope toward him. He picks up speed as well, and it’s clear the fight is back on. In the distance, over his shoulder, I see King Solomon in his human form, standing on a rise in the ground where he can see everyone. He’s watching our battle intently. He has to know that I will be coming for him next, just as soon as this bastard is dead.
Zeb and I collide in a tangle of fur, fangs, and claws, and I immediately push him back. He’s trying to balance on just his hindlegs, which doesn’t work out well for him. He topples backward onto the hard ground, and I leap on top of him.
It’s quite clear that he’s weaker than he was the last time the two of us squared off. That’s kind of a shame. I was hoping to beat him while he’s at his best, but I’ll take whatever I can get at this point. This asshole has to die.
I wish I could talk to him as I pin him to the ground. His head swivels back and forth as he tries to wiggle free from me, but I’m not letting him go. Instead, I hold him here, waiting for him to wear himself out so I can rip his throat out. It would be better if I could slice him open the way he did me, but tasting his blood will be so sweet, it doesn’t matter which part of his body it comes from.
Zeb begins to wear himself out. He stares up at me, his eyes defiant. It’s time. I can’t help but smile at him as I lower my mouth toward his neck, using my front left paw to push his snout aside.
Just as I begin to open my mouth to sink my teeth into him, Zeb begins to laugh. It’s a strange sound for a wolf. It gives me pause, and I look over my shoulder in time to see several of his fellow Dark Sky warriors closing in on me.
Bastard! I think to myself. This was supposed to be a one-on-one fight. We had a silent agreement to let this play out however it may be without seeking help from others. Now, I’ve got at least four large wolves bearing down on me.
I need to finish Zeb off before they reach me.
He can laugh all he wants to, but I’m going to kill him, even if it means those wolves behind me will take me out next.
With his snout under my paw, I lower my head and bite down. Zeb wiggles, trying to shake me off, but the taste of aluminum coats my tongue as his blood pours free. I rip a large chunk of flesh from his body and spit it out. Any second, those other four wolves should be slamming into me. I don’t turn just yet, though. Instead, I lower my mouth and rip another piece of Zeb’s throat out, just to make sure there’s no coming back from this. I spit it out, too, and then stare down at him. A gurgling sound emanates from what’s left of his throat, and then, he goes still, his chest no longer rising or falling.
Certain he’s dead, I step off him. It’s only now that I turn to look for the four wolves that were about to knock me off their leader, but they’re nowhere to be found. I turn around, searching for them. Where the hell did they go?
And then I see her. Hezzlie, in her human form, walking toward me, her hands glowing. She has a small smile on her lips, but I can see the concern in her eyes.
‘Did you…?’ I’m not even sure how to ask her what I want to know.
“Yes,” she says. “I’ve got your back, Alpha.”
‘Thank you,’ I say, but then it sinks in that she’s standing in the middle of a battlefield. Even though we’re winning, I don’t like it. ‘Go back,’ I tell her in no uncertain terms.
“I can’t,” she says, her tone defiant. “You’re going after King Solomon next, aren’t you?”
I nod, not needing to speak what she already knows.
“I want to go with you.”
I tip my head to the side, considering her request. I don’t like it. I want her where I know she’s safe. But I can see the determination in her eyes.
‘Fine,’ I finally tell her. ‘But stay back. Don’t get involved unless you absolutely have to.’ Even if King Solomon is the worst living being on the planet, he’s still her father, and I don’t want her to have to suffer from the same horrible thoughts my sister still has ghosting across her brain, that she killed her own parent. Those circumstances might be different, but I don’t want to risk it.
Hezzlie agrees, and I turn around with my next target in my sights.
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