JADEN'S POINT VIEW.
My lungs were screaming, each breath I took felt like knives slicing through my ribs, but I didn't stop running.
Diana's small arms were wrapped tightly around my neck, her head pressed against my fur.
She didn't say a word, I wasn't sure if that was because she understood how much danger we were in…or if she was simply too scared to speak.
I was losing blood, a lot of it. I was so scared because my instincts already told her that I may not be able to take Diana far away from this danger at the same time I was angry with myself as I wouldn't deliver my job as a trusted Beta to my best friend Dinero.
That bastard had raked his claws across my side before I tore his throat out.
One of Lycan's loyal lapdogs and yes, he had seen me when I was trying to follow another route to run away as I didn't notice that I was being followed only for Diana to tap me gently on my neck as she pointed, alerting me that we're being followed.
When I saw how the werewolves were charging close to me, I needed no one to tell me that it was a feisty, tasty woman who was about to attack Diana and I, so I had no choice.
If she'd gotten away, she would've reported back to Lycan who she had seen on my back.
And then everything Alpha Dinero died trying to protect would've been for nothing as I already know that Dinero would be dead by now.
Because the superpowers I saw back in the packhouse wasn't just the Power's of our Moon Goddess but that of the underworld, the dark magic.
The wound burned like fire as I tried my best to be strong even though I was dying.
I could feel the blood soaking my fur, warm and sticky. My vision blurred at the edges as I galloped through the thick woods. The trees became shadows.
The air was heavy with silence…no birds, no rustling leaves, just the heavy sound of my own paws slamming against the earth.
I had to reach the border, that was all I kept telling myself.
"If I can just make it to the boundary... If I can just reach Nightshade territory, they'll have to protect us. They may not know Diana's story, but they hate Lycan more than anyone."
My legs buckled for a moment, and I nearly went down, but I growled low in my throat and forced myself up again. I couldn't fall, not now and not with her.
I was the last hope she had, a promise was a promise.
"Don't you dare give up, Jaden," I told myself through gritted teeth.
"You swore to Dinero. You swore on your own damn life to always protect her no what the circumstances, I will always protect her."
The day was beginning to chill as Diana shifted on my back, and I winced in pain and I didn't blame my little girl but myself for allowing a useless, unskilled wolve get her hands on me. Her weight wasn't much, but every movement sent new feelings of agony through my side.
I could smell my own blood. And I knew I was leaving a trail behind me, a red line through the trees.
Then I felt it as there's a immediate shift in the air and the unmistakable tingle of eyes on me.
And I needed no one to let me know that someone…or something…was following me.
I slowed my pace slightly, as my ears twitching for any noise or movement around the environment.
The woods around me seemed to hold their breath. Diana stirred, whispering softly in my ear, "Fluffy… are we going to be okay?"
I wanted to lie to her as I wanted to tell her yes, that everything was fine. That her father wasn't dead by now and that we'd make it to safety, and she'd grow up strong and happy and free.
But I couldn't speak to her and not even in my dog form as all I could just do was to sniff and I just kept moving forward.
The sound came again as it's a faint rustle behind us. Then another, Lighter than a full wolf as they're quicker than a man on foot, more than one.
I stopped and turned to the direction of the noise and there I saw…them, it's not just one but three of them.
Three shadows stepped out from between the trees, not soldiers but rogues. Their eyes were shining or should I say that they felt they had seen a enticing breakfast, they must be mad.
This particular wolves were looking scarred, tattered fur. They hadn't come from Lycan's army…but they'd sure as hell noticed the blood trail I left.
"Looks like we found a wounded dog," one of them sneered.
I growled, lowering myself slightly, trying to keep Diana balanced. My body screamed in protest. I wasn't in shape for another fight. My legs trembled beneath me.
"Easy now," the second one said, licking his cracked lips. "We don't want the kid. We just want you. You smell like royal blood. Maybe there's a price on your head."
They didn't know who Diana was and thank the Moon Goddess.
But they wouldn't let us go and I backed up slowly, my heart kept beating fast, I had nothing left to give as I had no strength.
No healing My wolf form was the only thing keeping me upright.
I turned back to Diana. "Listen," I whispered.
"If anything happens…run. Run and don't stop. Find the Nightshade pack. Don't tell them who you are. Tell them that you and parents were attacked while traveling."
She gripped me tighter. "No. I'm not leaving you."
Tears burned in my eyes.
I'd protect her to the last breath. I just hoped I had a few left.
The rogues moved in, slow and confident, thinking I was easy prey. Maybe for now, I was.
But they were about to learn that even a dying man could be dangerous when he's protecting what matters most.
And if this was my last night breathing, then by the goddess, I was going out like a warrior.
Now the three wolves have surrounded me with their eyes tearing into mine as it screams…danger and I pray Diana never falls down from my back.