Days later, Savannah started feeling bad.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have been so hostile,” she murmured, walking through the trees alongside Andre, hearing the other wolves rustling and prancing through the woods, “Maybe I should have just asked.”
I don’t think asking would have helped, but I can’t say you didn’t go a little overboard.
“Great, so now they probably think I’m some psycho.”
You are never going to see them again, what does it matter?
“Peace of mind,” she shrugged, her chocolate curls bouncing off her shoulders.
Well your peace of mind will have to wait then. You have bigger problems right now Annah.
“Thanks for reminding me,” her voice dropped, staring over at him, “I’m not easing up on my order.”
I know, but I wish you’d reconsider.
~~
Using the memories she’d stolen from Jayson, they were able to sneak into the territory without detection. Well Savannah and Andre were; the night before she had ordered the pack to stand down, find a quiet area nearby, and not to come in for any reason unless Andre came to them. It wasn’t a well-liked order, asking her wolves to leave their Alpha to another pack, and then sit and do nothing.
Andre wasn’t going far either. He was too obvious, even in nighttime, with his white fur and massive frame. They found a small cave he could fit into and he stayed there, closer to her so she could communicate to him if needed, but again out of the fray. Savannah had decided she’d do this alone. There was no way she’d risk her whole pack for her mate, even if the chances were slim she’d survive the upcoming fight.
Slipping silently through the night, she made no noise until she was closer to their den, then abruptly stood up and began walking normally forward. The wolves would hear her instantly, she knew, but her plan needed them to believe she was no threat. Up ahead there was a break in the trees and a wide, circular clearing. As she passed into it she heard several growls escape into the night and waited patiently for them to come forward.
“I’m here to see Abass,” she sighed, shaking her head like the wolves were nothing more than a nuisance, “Are you going to keep me waiting, or bring me to him already?”
A brown wolf slowly stalked out of the trees, eyes glaring at her as he sized her up, accessing where to attack.
“Look, I have a proposition for him,” she stared at her nails, unfazed, “Either bring me to him, or I’ll leave.”
“You won’t be leaving,” someone growled behind her, and a naked man with scars over his fine body strode out of the trees, “You’re trespassing.”
“Well I’m not sure how else I am to get a hold of your Alpha,” she pursed her lips, “Other than coming to him. You’re wasting my time. Let me see your Alpha now, or I walk. And you can crawl back to him to explain your idiocy.”
“What offer?” another voice in the trees asked.
“That’s for him to know,” she shook her head, looking tired of them, “But it involves a mutual agreeance. I need an army, and your pack needs land. Now…Abass?”
“You tell us, we bring it to him,” he retorted, unmoving.
“For fuck sakes,” she shook her head, “My baby sister has decided to take it amongst herself to own a pack, or whatever it is you call it. She has wolves that follow her, although I’m not sure how she managed it. My sister Savannah was always greedy, never content with what she got from our father, Lucifer. Now I don’t know how she’s managed it, but she has gained quite the territory with this pack, almost bordering yours. I heard they made a run at your pack the other day, I do hope you gave her a run for her money. I would like your pack to destroy the rest of my sister’s. Knock her down a few notches. Take her land too, as you like.”
He snorted, unimpressed but muttered something about passing it along and to wait there. She waited, letting them discuss among themselves. Every inch of her stayed on edge though, careful not to underestimate them. This was their territory after all, and at any second one of them could decide she wasn’t worth the hassle. Then she caught the sound of running paws, telling her a few were going to Abass. Her eyes scanned the rest of the trees, knowing there was no way they’d leave her alone. Mentally she reached out to Andre, confirming he was still safe. The pack would be combing their lands now for any other intruders, looking for any means to kill her. She was thankful they’d been wise enough to mask Andre’s smell, rolling him in mud and river water before they entered the territory. If anyone found her trail, it would smell like Savannah and her alone.
After what felt like hours of waiting, the naked man returned with two other wolves, but no one else. A sinking feeling hit her stomach as the man grinned, showing missing teeth. Immediately her senses caught the sound of rushing feet behind her and she whipped around and ducked as a black wolf lunged at her, barely missing him. Bouncing back to her feet, she turned on the wolf, glaring in fury.
“I’ll take that as a no?” she growled, lowering her stance so she was ready to fight…or run.
The wolves in the clearing rushed her including the third wolf, but this time Savannah was ready. It was three on one, and she quickly dispatched them, until she stood over three dead bodies, seething at the naked man.
“Bring it on then,” she yelled, raising her arms wide.
Behind her she heard the huff of a breath and dropped into a split, flattening herself to the ground as two wolves bolted through the air she had just occupied. Pushing up, she kicked one square in the jaw, breaking the bone cleanly, while sending an uppercut into the other one’s muzzle. Both looked dazed and she dashed forward, pouncing on the first beast of a wolf and snapping his neck before rolling off and slicing the second one with her small knife. Five more entered the clearing, as she dispersed with the last two.
I can’t keep fighting with my hands.
She bounced on the balls of her feet, sheathing her small knife and reaching into the air, looking as if she was simply raising her arms. Focusing she could feel the small pull, the air shimmering in her hands. Suddenly there were two swords, one katana in each hand, their silver blades glowing in a fiery blue that lit up the clearing.
The five wolves attacked, and her swords sliced them with ease, cutting through thick fur and flesh like it was water. As the blade hit their skin, it burnt them, shooting pain through them. Those that got cut and dodged out of the way fell into seizures, the pain overtaking them as they slowly died. Two she killed instantly, and their bodies burst into ash as the sword finished the job, extinguishing their existence. But as she fought the five, more arrived, slowly growing more and more, overwhelming her.
Andre I need you. Now!
She sent the command out, jumping back into the middle of the clearing and catching a glimpse of Abass’ furious look before turning to fight off the gathering force of wolves wanting to tear her to shreds.
~~
Move…just move, Savannah begged herself, staring at her blood soaked hands. She knelt beside a pile…a pile of rotting corpses, their stench filling her nostrils and making her gag. There had been so much death; she was surprised Abass never called his pack off. But Savannah stood her ground, killing one then another…and another. Andre had joined quickly, taking down pack members as they raced through the trees, trying to dwindle the number gathering in the clearing.
Looking up with haunted eyes, she stared at the pile, then over to the man bound to a tree. With all the death she dealt, Savannah couldn’t bring herself to kill the man just yet, instead tying him up to a tree with pure silver chains.
“Look at that,” she whispered, pointing at the pile, “Why didn’t he stop that?”
There were more pack members, she knew. There had to be some out exploring, maybe others in their den. She’d caught a few wolves hesitant to fight at the edge of the clearing and sent mental nudges at them to walk away, to leave the fight and come back when all was over. But it wouldn’t make up for the dozens she had killed, their lives nothing more to their Alpha then spare pawns.
The demon in her was well sated, but her other side couldn’t handle what she’d done. Slowly she went back to the pile, and produced a small flame in her hands. Her ability to control the elements was something only her angelic side offered, and it was itching to be freed from the confines of her body. She ignored that itch, focusing on lighting the pile and burning the remaining bodies. The clearing was covered in ash as well, from the wolves she had killed instantly who turned to dust in front of her eyes.
“So much death,” she breathed, soaking it in and repelling it at the same time.
A soft whine beside her made her look up at Andre, his dark eyes watching hers. He knew what this did to her, and he didn’t like the smell of the dead either.
“C’mon,” she spoke calmly, turning to face the man, “I’m getting Damion, and we are leaving.”
As they walked past him she spun a second fireball and sent it into his lap, letting his groin burn first then his entire body. As he screamed and writhed, dying slowly, Andre and Savannah continued forward.
It wasn’t hard to find the underground den she needed, since she already knew their territory by heart. Making her way down she found a tiny maze of dank, dark, torch lit cobblestone corridors with doors lining their sides, leading to very basic stone rooms with little decoration. Andre had remained at the entrance, watching for anyone trying to come in. From Jayson’s memories, this was the den they kept all captives, so Savannah had to tread carefully. She couldn’t simply open rooms and let every prisoner out; she was sure a few should remain locked up. Still she stopped and listened at each, trying to catch any familiar sense of Damion. Sticking to the shadows, Savannah also watched for guards, or any wolves patrolling. At one door she paused, recognizing the scent around it but not placing whose scent it was. Then she moved on.
Eventually she found the room he was in, his scent wafting through the door.
“Damion,” she called, banging on the door first. If there were any guards, they’d have heard her, but she didn’t care.
From down the halls she heard a couple growls and grunts, and the ripping of flesh. They must have ran into Andre before her, and he could disperse of them. She focused on the door, using all her strength to kick it in, off its hinges. It took two tries but it finally caved in.
Inside was a stone bed and Damion, tied up and bound to the bed. Several instruments lay around his naked body, all with the intent to torture. His eyes lay closed, his breathing ragged and forced through his cracked lips. Scars littered his body from old and new wounds, tarnishing his perfect tanned skin. Tears sprang into her eyes the minute she saw him, finally able to hold him and breathe him in.
“Dam-“ her voice cracked and broke and she rushed forward, throwing her arms on him as she basked in his presence.
Untying him from the bed quickly, Damion’s tired soul remained sleeping, refusing to get up. She expected as much, after being tortured for weeks. Dimly she wondered how he’d managed to stay alive so far, and why they hadn’t killed him sooner. She was grateful though; if they had been quicker to execute him, her life would have been over the day his was.
She lifted his body with ease over her shoulder, embarrassed at her amount of strength that no ordinary woman would have, and that most men didn’t either. Carrying him out the room, she turned back the way she came, intent on leaving quickly. But as she stepped past that door with its familiar scent, curiosity struck her and she decided to peek inside. Lowering Damion to the ground against the wall, she slowly opened the door to look in.
~~
Days later they were miles away, making as much space as they could. Damion slept soundly on the back of one of the oldest wolves, Yulen. Her mate was still too exhausted and beaten from his weeks in captivity, and while all the wounds had healed, he had only woken once to see her dazzling smile and relax back into a deep sleep.
Yulen, Andre, and Savannah walked alone on the path, waiting for the rest of the pack to catch up at their own rate. Most of them were still sour from missing the fight, but they were alive, and that was what she cared about. She’d let them go off hunting an hour ago to brighten their moods, and they were slowly coming back, one by one. While she watched Damion, she heard Andre snort in annoyance, still bitter that she had left Abass alive.
“There was enough death that day,” she explained for the millionth time to him, standing up for her decision, “I killed half his pack. I took what was mine back. I’m letting him live with what happened, not giving him the serenity of death.”
And what of what you stole?
It’s not stealing if they ask to come. It’s granting a wish.
Andre turned his head, staring over his shoulders at the girl sleeping on his back, her pale hair falling in sheets around her petite face, almost matching Andre’s sleek white fur.
Your support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)
