Chapter Sixty-Six – The fight

**Trigger warning: Violence**

Shreds of clothing filled the air as three men turned into giant wolves, the golden one being the larger of the trio. The four people before them had all taken a step back, the man holding a gun, but he didn’t get the chance to pull the trigger before a grey wolf knocked him over from the side, making him crash into the other woman. They went tumbling to the ground as Penny pulled out her gun, aiming at the big golden wolf before her. But her hands shook.

His teeth were barred, snapping at her. He wasn’t worried about the gun, or how much it would hurt. To his left the red wolf had attacked Henry, pinning him to the ground as the man screamed. Screamed for his daughter. For help. For someone to save him.

The teeth of the red wolf were close to his neck, ready to bite down, but it didn’t. It stayed in the position, growling at the man, putting more and more weight down on his body, making him scream louder.

More people came running out of the woods, armed with bows and silver arrows. And behind the several wolves of all shape and color sprang into action. They met resistance front and back, trying to shoot as many wolves as possible, while still making sure they didn’t end up on the ground with their heads ripped off.

Howls were heard on occasion, when a wolf was hit by an arrow. Silver stung, poisoned them, but unless they hit a vital part the arrow didn't kill them instantly. And with the chaos and activity going on around them the hunters didn’t get good aim. They tried to aim their shot but ended up missing more than once before running out of arrows. It was like they came unprepared, had underestimated how many they were, how much resistance they would meet.

In the midst of everything the man with the gun had gotten back on his feet. Adam had been distracted by Penny, who just stared at him, unable to move. She wasn’t like them, the other hunters, didn’t have it in her to kill someone who only protected themselves.

“Move!” The man shoved her out of the way, the gun going off as she hit the ground, the red wolf howling out in pain as it turned its head to the woman. She screamed as the wolf jumped her, the bullet had only graced the wolf. It bled, but didn’t care.

Penny cried out again as the red wolfs claws dug into her chest, tears streaming down her face. The red wolf was ready to kill her but was tackled off her by a dark brown wolf.

It snapped at the red one, making it run off in another direction, leaving behind a trail of blood. Penny was too afraid to move. Too afraid to do anything but lay still as the dark brown wolf came over to her side, eyes flashing a dark brown before going yellow again. She was immobilized, so it moved on, leaving her to bleed on the dirt ground.

“Penny!” The woman was at her side, pushing down some fabric to stop the bleeding. “You’ll be okay. Stay here” She used a belt to bind the fabric down before disappearing into the blur of fur, her gun at the side as she stalked after the red wolf.
–
Talia was still standing on the second floor, watching the fight unfold before her, unable to do anything that wouldn’t put her pack and family at harm’s way. She had to keep a distance, to keep them safe. To keep herself safe. Adam was being ridiculous, trying to shield her from the fight. She should’ve been down there, fighting next to him.

The grip she had on the windowsill tightened, turning her knuckles white as she let anger rise in her. She had to fight. Had to stand up to the people who tried to hurt her. She shut her eyes, imagining an oncoming storm. Dark clouds, thunder, unruly seas.

Somewhere in the distance a thunder was heard. Grey clouds were gathering quickly, moving at impossible speed and blocking out the sun.
–
*‘Why isn’t she down here?’* Damir asked Adam as he tried to find the man with the gun. He’d slipped him when the red wolf was shot, his attention momentarily moving to something else. He wasn’t good at this. Not like Dimitri, who in his white wolf shape had taken out several of the hunters and leaving many wounded in his wake. Adam on the other hand was easily distracted, more worried about others, about Talia, about Ariel. ‘Shit’

Once the red wolf had been shot, she’d left Henry, making it possible for him to get up and continue his search. And with arrows flying it was impossible to keep an eye on him.

*‘Someone, get Noye’* Adam demanded through the link as he searched for the man with the gun. The arrows they could heal from, in time, if they didn’t hit the wrong spot. But a gun wound, that was trickier. Little red was lucky she was hit by a stray bullet.

“There you are” The man whispered, but every wolf could hear him. Damir whipped around just in time for the man to pull the trigger.

“NO!”

The sound was impossibly loud. Booming around the area, making the wolfs bow their heads and the hunters stop what they were doing. Everyone looked around, looking for the source.

A whirlwind of blonde hair made its way through the mass of bodies. It was like time stood still. One moment she was at the window, the next standing on the ground below. Air was whipping around her, and tears stung in her eyes. Adam. She had to get to Adam.
–
Shaking. The entire floor was shaking. Lilith rose to her feet, looking out the window at the attic. But they were facing the wrong way, she couldn’t see anything. But she heard it. Felt it. The pain. Someone had fallen, she didn’t want to think of who.

“Kieran!” Ariel’s voice made Lilith whip around. They had decided not to sedate her, hoping maybe they could reach her once she was no longer sedated. But this, her suddenly breaking out and screaming, it wasn’t what she had expected.

The darkness was gone. And so was the light. She sat in a bed, a stranger’s bed, staring at a woman. Doctor Jansen her mind recollected. Was she at a hospital? No, the space didn’t seem like one. It was homey, cozy, with fairy lights and colorful cushions.

“He died” Ariel stated, the imaged forcing itself on her. She pressed her hands against her eyes until she saw sparkling colors, but it didn’t help. She could still see him like he was there before him, covered in wounds and bleeding out.

“Ariel” Lilith sat down on the bed, keeping a distance to not invade her space too much. “You’ve been through hell, I know. And I’m sorry to say, but it’s about to get much worse”

“Worse? How can it get worse?” Ariel asked, wanting to throw a punch at the doctor. She was already living in hell knowing Kieran was dead because she didn’t help him in time. How could it get any worse?

“Your father is looking for you” Lilith started.

“Where am I?” Ariel asked. She wasn’t at a hospital. And she wasn’t in her apartment. In fact, she was far from the city. She could see the trees in the window, and when she listened, she could hear howls.

“You brought me to the monsters?!” Ariel shot out of bed, stumbling over something and ripping the IV out of her hand. It hurt like hell and bled badly.

“Take it easy” Lilith demanded, getting up to dress the wound on her arm. “You’re going to nick another vein” She sighed.

“Why?” Ariel asked, stepping away from the woman. “Why did you bring me here?” She could only imagine. They wanted her to pay for what she had done to Adam. She was sure of it.

“To keep you safe” Lilith answered, handling Ariel a cloth for the hand.

“Safe? From whom?” Ariel eyed her suspicious, how bad could it be if a pack of wolves were considered safe? Then she remembered what Kieran had said. She was one of them.

“Get back. You’re one as well, a wolf, aren’t you?” Ariel retreated as far back as the ceiling would allow her.

“I’m not. But my father is. And he’s not here, if you wondered. No one here want’s you dead. Well, maybe not no one. But the fact remains, someone broke into your home, killed your boyfriend and if Katlyn hadn’t been there, you would have been dead as well” Lilith continued.

“Do you know who killed him?” It was all Ariel cared about. She’d been there, seen the woman, but she didn’t know her.

“I do” Lilith answered.

“Do you know why?” Ariel couldn’t contain herself.

“Yes”

“Why?”

“Because she was asked to” Lilith knew what the next question was going to be, and she hated having to answer it.

“By whom?”

“Your dad”