Chapter 68


    Don’t stop, don’t stop—I chanted this in my head like a mantra, using it to chase away the


    overwhelming terror I felt. As I tore through the forest, I could hear the snarls and snaps of nearby


    wolves. There was also a thick copper scent in the air, and I didn’t need to ask to know what it was.


    I was petrified, terrified enough to bolt far from this town and never return. It was Alec and Kade who


    kept me here, who kept me running towards the danger instead of away.


    Pain radiated through my torso, so strong I would’ve thought I had been wounded. The pain coupled


    with the thought of one of the twins hurt kept me running. It kept me charging forward, unable to feel


    the aching, gnawing pain in my limbs and muscles.


    That brief feeling of total freedom when shifting had passed, suppressed by the terror and desperation I


    felt.


    It was in this moment that I realized a mate-bond was as much of a weakness as it was a strength.


    There was nothing—nothing I wouldn’t do to end this, to have both of the twins safe with me. It was a


    horrifying, disgusting thought. I was willing to risk innocent lives, people I had be friends with just


    to keep two people safe. I would set fire to the world if it meant keeping the twins safe and alive, and


    that thought absolutely horrified me.


    I could hear snapping and snarling from a few feet behind me, and knew Jason and Zane were


    catching up. Alec and Kade had briefly gone over some ceremony the pack would be holding for me. It


    would connect my mind with everyone else’s, allowing me to speak to anyone in the pack at any time.


    They had put off the ceremony in order to give me more time to adjust, and I was beginning to regret


    that decision.


    I couldn’t call out to them, couldn’t hear their voices. I needed to hear them, I needed it more than I


    could fathom. One word, one sign that they were safe and I would retreat and hide.


    As it stood, I wasn’t thinking about the consequences of what I might do. All I was thinking about were


    Alec and Kade.


    I didn’t care about being a white wolf, or having abilities. What good did it do if I couldn’t protect the


    people who meant most to me?


    A dull pain radiated up my hind leg and I quickly turned my head to see Jason lunging at me. I could


    sense their emotions as if they were my own, and I knew they weren’t trying to harm me. They were


    both terrified something would happen to me, their Luna. They were also fiercely protective, and I


    silently apologized for what I’d do next.


    I gathered what strength I had, thankful that for once, Thalia waspletely on board with what I was


    thinking. She felt that same blood-curdling desperation as I, that horrifying willingness to do whatever it


    took to keep Alec and Kade safe.


    Iunched forward, using thebined strength of Thalia and I. Desperation and fear could do


    wonders. It can drive people tomit unspeakable acts, or even incredible ones.


    Just as Jason lunged at my hind leg a second time, I darted to the side and sent him careening into the


    nearest tree. Zane was next, picking up speed as he tried to run at my side. Just as Zane lunged at my


    side, I skidded to a near-stop. Zane rolled, nearly taking out an old telephone pole. It wasn’t much, but


    it allowed me just enough time to get ahead.


    I wasn’t far from the twin’s house, just a few minutes down the main road. My eyes darted around


    hungrily as I charged down Main St. I passed the countless shops I had once wandered through, and


    noticed how the entire town seemed deserted. There wasn’t a person in sight. Cars were abandoned in


    various locations; some were even stopped at the nearest red light.


    Soon the shops disappeared and gave way to residential buildings and houses. I could’ve sworn I saw


    a few lights on in some of the houses, but I couldn’t be sure. I knew Alec and Kade must’ve had some


    kind of safety n in order, just in case something like this happened. They had once told me rogue


    attacks happened every so often, and I hoped this was one of those moments.


    Fear twisted itself in my gut like a knife as the sounds of battle grew louder. The only kinds of battles


    I’ve seen were the ones in movies, the battles where you could tell who was the enemy and who was


    your ally. Those battles always seemed so cut and dry. A great hero would march in and tip the tides,


    scoring a win for their side.


    I darted towards the end of the road, making a sharp right into the less popted side of town. Most of


    thend on this side of town was in the midst of construction. Families in the pack were growing, and


    there had been a lot of transferstely. There was even a Pre-School being built on this side of town.


    As I veered right down the street, I managed to nce behind me and saw Jason and Zane a good bit


    away. Just as I turned, I could see the battle raging ahead.


    I stammered for a moment, nearly halting before instinct and desperation forced me forward.


    This was nothing like the movies, nothing like I had ever anticipated. There were wolves everywhere.


    Snapping, snarling, foaming at the mouth. Blood stter filled the air. Chunks of flesh and fur littered


    the ground with the d**d bodies of countless wolves. I couldn’t tell who was a rogue, and who belonged


    to this pack.


    My eyes darted from wolf after wolf, never once finding what I was looking for. I knew what Alec and


    Kade looked like in wolf form, but there were simply too many wolves fighting.


    The few cars that lined the road were all but destroyed. Shards of glittering ss littered the ground,


    along with various metal parts. A work truck that had been parked at the corner was nearly ttened,


    and I watched in abject h****r as a sand-colored wolf was tossed onto the dented hood. The windshield


    cracked and groaned under the weight before giving in entirely.


    In between the snarls and howling, I could make out the warbled groaning of a car rm. Off to the


    side of the road was the shell of what would soon be a house. The beams had copsedpletely,


    sending a dust cloud whirling into the air. I could taste the dirt on my tongue just as I could smell the


    blood, filth, and saliva.


    A thick, sickly stench filled the air. Like arge number of people hadn’t showered in years. It smelled


    like sweat, bodily fluids, rotting flesh, and old trash. I couldn’t pinpoint the smell as it seemed toe


    from every direction.


    Even as the desperation and fear threatened to rob me of breath, I never once stopped. I didn’t hesitate


    as I charged into battle, only then remembering I hadn’t a single clue how to defend myself.


    The emotions were nearly crippling. They attacked me even though none of the wolves turned my way.


    Anger, hatred, fear, desperation, agony, pain, longing, loss, love.


    So many emotions, all with their own distinct vor. They assaulted my mind, peeled back theyers of


    my flesh until there was nothing left but my soul.


    I had experienced plenty of physical pain in my life, and knew I had a decent pain tolerance. Physical


    pain was nothingpared to the soul-deep agony I was experiencing.


    It radiated through every bone, joint, muscle and cell until I was nothing but a pile of ash.


    My breaths came out in wheezing pants, and my gait faltered for just that split second.


    ‘Control it, Aurora.’ Thalia snapped. I had never heard her this way. Demanding and forceful, giving me


    no room for error or mistake. ‘Get your s**t together. Do it for Alec and Kade. Figure out how to use


    their emotions to make you stronger.’


    Easier said than done, I thought but managed to continue anyway. I let Thalia takeplete control,


    using every ounce of my focus to shove those horribly overwhelming emotions deep down. It gave me


    a few minutes of rity, but it was toote to realize the mistake I had made.


    ‘Aurora, get back here.’ Thalia’s voice was low, and I knew something had gone wrong.


    As I slipped back into my senses, I realized what had happened.


    We had been noticed. Not just by a select few, but by everyone. Hundreds of eyes turned in our


    direction, and nearly all of the fighting hadpletely halted.


    Every single wolf was holding its breath, waiting for what woulde next. Some were waiting for me


    to act, to use whatever proimed powers I would have as a white wolf. If only they knew, Iughed


    bitterly. All I could do was sense emotions. Completely useless in battle, if anything it was a hindrance.


    Five long seconds passed before everyone realized there was nothing I could do. The fighting was


    back in full force, and the sudden sound of snapping and snarling sounded like war cannons in my


    ears.


    This was different though. The fighting had changed.


    I could now pinpoint a few of the rogues. Their eyes burned with a crazed light, and their fur looked


    d***y and unwashed. It was also longer and shaggier than the other wolves, who I assumed were in our


    pack.


    Many of those crazed eyes were on me, as they had never left.


    I had made myself a target. My white fur seemed to capture the rays of the moon, nearly glowing in the


    darkness. I was a beacon to the good and the bad, and everyone wanted a piece.


    I was no longer the one rescuing. I was the one in need of rescue.


    Everywhere I turned, a new rogue charged at me. None harmed me, but they were all h**l-bent on


    taking me down.


    I thanked whoever was listening for my above average speed and stealth as I maneuvered through


    wolf after wolf. I dipped and rolled, charged and retreated as I worked my way through the massive


    battle field.


    Just as I evaded a rogue with long auburn hair, something hard mmed into my side. A yelp left my


    muzzle and I thundered towards the ground. Dirt and grass flew into the air from the impact, and I


    somehow managed to turn on my belly as I looked straight into the mouth of one of the rogues.


    Saliva dribbled from its open mouth, and I stifled a gag as rancid breath fanned over my face. Its long


    tongue came out, swiping over its snout before stalking towards me.


    They didn’t want to k**l me, I realized. They wanted to capture me.


    Not a single rogue had made an attempt to k**l me, only to knock me to the ground or render me


    unconscious. Were white wolves truly that rare that anyone might want one? Or was there a purpose to


    this battle? Was this because of me?


    My desperate prayers were answered when a rush of fierce protectiveness washed through me. It


    destroyed every barrier I erected around myself, and the emotions of every single wolf rushed forward


    at full force.


    I was consumed in the agony and pain of my surroundings, drowning in the fear and desperation. I was


    a rogue attacking the innocent, blood-thirsty and desperate for d***h. I was a warrior, terrified for my life


    and my families. I was a friend, a sister, brother, enemy, lover. I was on both sides, yet neither.


    Surrounded by carnage, and engulfed within it.


    It was the towering form of a midnight ck wolf that pulled me from my own confusion. Dark eyes


    stared down at me, burning with a raging fire that made unease settled beneath my skin.


    ‘Oh, he’s pissed.’ Were Thalia’s only words.


    I watched from my ce on the ground as Kade knocked the rogue off its feet. I felt my stomach sour


    and bile rise up in my throat as his long teeth sunk into the flesh of the rogue. Pain exploded across my


    neck and shoulder, and I swore I was d***g along with the putrid rogue. I could feel each spurt of blood


    as if it were my own, and knew the exact moment the rogue had departed thend of the living.


    Kade gripped my scruff gently, pulling me to my feet. I wobbled for a few moments, but quickly


    regained my awareness.


    Kade had saved me, but it wasn’t enough.


    We were losing this battle. There were so many d**d along the field, so many lives lost. A painful ache


    settled across my chest as I hoped this fight wasn’t because of me. How could I live with myself


    knowing this was my fault? I tried to push the feelings away, chocking it up to an inted sense of self-


    importance, but the pain refused to budge.


    The rogues were closing in on us now, circling around Kade and I with hungry eyes. Countless wolves


    put themselves in between Kade and the rogues, protecting him with their life.


    Just as a golden wolf with blood matted fur leaped towards me, a second midnight wolf came into view.


    Relief, pure and sweet, burst through my chest.


    Where Alec should’ve been able to take down the rogue with ease, it had taken him a few moments to


    gain the upper hand. I realized why as soon as I trailed my eyes over his wolf’s body.


    Blood matted in the fur along his hip and t***h. I could make out the jagged punctures in his thick skin,


    and winced as I saw the fresh blood still oozing from the wound.


    It hadn’t surprised me that Alec would refuse to retreat. They were both horrifically stubborn, both loyal


    and honorable to a fault. There wasn’t a chance in h**l they would leave their pack to fend for


    themselves. They would fight to the bitter end for these people, and I was beginning to realize that I’d


    do the same.


    I could feel the twin’s pain with every life lost, but never once did I sense fear from them. They were not


    afraid of the violence, just as they weren’t afraid of d***h.


    It was the twins who gave me courage to face the ugly, disgusting emotions that ate away at my soul.


    I gathered every thought, every emotion in my mind. All of my fear, desperation, anxiety, h****r, hatred,


    anger, love. I took it all and let it fester within me. The burst of energy that coursed through me was so


    intense, I let out an earth-shattering howl.


    My howl filled the night, echoed along the trees and delved deep into the forest. Every inch of my body


    filled with this unfathomable feeling. It felt like I had touched a live-wire, like I was being e**********d.


    All of those ugly emotions exploded from within me, washing over the blood-soaked battle field.


    Everything seemed to happen all at once.


    Nearly every single rogue dropped to the ground. Howls, whimpers, and yelps of absolute terror filled


    the air. It sounded like an entire battle field of d***g animals, all screaming out into the night, voicing


    their unending agony.


    The feeling was intoxicating,pletely consuming. The emotions poured from me,ing from a


    deep well that knew no end. Ished out at every single one of them, infusing my own pain and fear


    into the mix. I let them taste it all. I let them feel the pain and terror of the warriors they k****d, the


    mourning their families would go through and the heart-break their mates would experience.


    Many of the rogues writhed on the ground, while others retreated into the forestpletely. Some were


    lashing out at themselves, doing anything and everything they could to end their own lives.


    I was caught in this power-fueled haze when the sound of hundreds of wolves howling filled the air. It


    was different from how the rogues had sound. These wolves sounded united, full of life and purpose.


    “Sweetheart, can you hear us?”


    “We need you to stop, doll. Stop what you’re doing ande back to us.”


    It was the voices of Alec and Kade that pulled me from the well of emotions I had submerged myself in.


    It was like a wall had been erected within me, ced there for so long that I hadn’t even noticed its


    presence. That wall was obliterated now,pletely dismantled into the smallest shreds of rubble. On


    the other side of that wall was power, pure and unfiltered. It was neither good nor evil, but held the


    potential for incredible greatness. A power that could end wars and conquer countless civilizations.


    As Alec and Kade pulled me away from the sea of power that held me firmly in its grasp, I felt


    overwhelming fatigue settle in my bones. The well of emotions within me had run dry, leaving me dazed


    and confused. I couldn’t pinpoint my own emotions, much less anyone else’s.


    The world around me pitched and swayed, the blood-soaked earth loomed ufortably close. The


    last thing I felt before the moon vanished and darkness consumed me, was theforting sparks that


    danced along my body.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.