Page 40 of Shifted Fate (Broken Luna #1)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

I

was able to tackle the wolf that dove for the pup and I made quick work of it. I whirled on the family, and they cried as I walked closer and sniffed around them to make sure no one was hurt. “You’re okay. Head to the closest building and lock yourself in a room.”

The mom and kid continued to cry, but the father nodded. “Thank you…Alpha…” He trailed off, and I realized these people were too scared to scent me.

“I’m Nix, Amy’s wolf.” I licked my muzzle to clean off any blood so as not to scare the kid. But she threw herself at me.

“Amy?”

“Yes. You’re safe now, Sophie. Now, do as you’re told and go. Stay safe.” The mom and dad grabbed the pup from my leg and then hustled into whoever’s house they were cornered at. I heard a few doors slam and a lock turn before I ran off towards another howl.

I made my way through the pack. One call for help after another.

Sometimes, I made it in time, others someone else had already beaten me to it.

I was about to run to the next howl, but it was cut off, and a scream ripped through the air.

The scream was so rare, I whipped around and headed straight there.

It was a call that was more insistent, more panicked, and when I rounded the corner I realized why and my stomach dropped.

Two parents, a couple I didn’t recognize, so they had to be new, lay bloody in front of their two kids.

A boy about the age of seven was waving a stick to fight off three rogues while the four-year-old little girl screamed for help.

She clutched at her fallen parents and was rocking her mother.

I prayed to the moon Goddess that they were just unconscious and not dead, but by the growing puddle of blood underneath the family, I doubted my prayers would be answered.

I dove for the first rogue before they realized I was even there. I had its neck in my jaws before they could fight back, and I dropped the body to my feet as the other two turned to face me.

One dove for my neck, but I was able to dodge around it. I turned my head to snap at the rogue in front of me while the second one jumped onto my back, biting into my shoulder. I yipped from the pain but knocked the wolf loose. I whirled and snapped at the two who danced backward.

They worked as a team, which was unusual because rogues were generally lone wolves.

Never one to group up, they usually attacked one at a time.

If another was close, they might use an attack as a diversion to attack themselves, but they never worked together.

But these two, these two, were working in tandem.

When one attacked, the other would wait for an opening and jump in.

They protected each other. If I was close to killing one of them, the other would risk themselves to save the other.

I was fed up with the back and forth between the two. The two wolves lay dead or dying below our feet, and there were two pups crying for their parents, terrified that they were next.

Dad! I need you.

Where are you pup? What’s wrong? I sent a jumble of images through the mind-link. Hoping he could make sense of them. And then I shut it down. Don’t do anything stupid.

I love you, Dad.

Amy, Nix, no!

But I shut down the link, and I refocused on the two rogues in front of me and I made my decision. I heard a terrified howl pierced through the air from my father. I knew he was heading my way, but it was going to be too late.

I dove for the first wolf. We fought while the second one waited on the sidelines, but this time it wasn’t going to matter.

I dug my claws into the first wolf and it screeched.

I bit into its shoulder as I felt the second wolf attack my side.

The three of us wrestled on the ground until the first wolf was on top of me, with the second off to the side.

I heard the kids cry out, terrified, and I dug my back paws into the belly of the first.

It tried to jump off me, but I wouldn’t let go of its shoulder.

The second wolf dove for my neck, but before it could bite down hard enough, the first wolf was dead.

I kicked the body off me and shook the second wolf off my neck, tearing it more.

I staggered to my feet, and I planted myself in between the second wolf and the pups behind me.

I let out a vicious growl as I felt my feet start to fail me while my blood poured from my neck.

The second wolf paced in front of me, looking for a way in, but I stood my ground. I wouldn’t allow myself to fall and lose these two pups. I pushed forward, so it was my voice. “Listen, you two.” I waited until I heard their breathing to catch. “Do you…think you can…do me a favour? “

“Alpha Amy?” The little boy’s voice hesitated. “Is that you?”

“Yeah buddy, this is my wolf. Can you do me a favor?” I struggled to stay standing on my legs, so I locked my knees and focused on getting them out of here.

“Yes Alpha.”

“Good boy. Can you be a strong boy for me? Can you take your sister and run?” I wanted to look back to reassure him, but I knew if I took my eyes off the wolf, it would attack.

“Will you come with us?”

“Of course. I’m just going to make sure you get off to safety before I follow with your parents.”

“You promise?” His tiny voice made my heart break.

“I promise. I’m just going to make sure you are safe.” I tried to put so much into my voice. “Now go.” I threw back my head and let out a loud howl, letting them know my urgency. “Go! Now!” I screamed as I charged the other wolf and I heard the pair run away.

“Stupid girl. You are going to die here.” The rogue crouched, getting ready to attack.

“That may be, but those pups won’t. That’s what matters.” I felt Megan pushing power toward Nix, so I pulled back to do the same.

We believe in you, Nix. And if we fall today, we fall saving those pups. I called to my wolf, and I felt her legs tense. She pulled all the power to her. Even knowing we were still losing too much blood, she rallied to buy those pups the best chance of survival.

“You haven’t done anything.” The rogue lowered himself and watched us. “Once I kill you, I will chase after them and once they are as dead as their parents, I’ll savor eating their little hearts out of their chests.”

“You won’t get the chance.” Nix stumbled and fell onto her side.

Get up! I screamed.

The rogue laughed harder and then jumped, aiming for our throats. Nix jumped to her feet, lightning fast and leapt for the other wolf. She snapped her teeth around the rogue’s neck and she bit down. Hard.

She landed on her paws as the other wolf’s head went flying, but she tripped once again and sprawled over the ground. Nix lay on her side with Megan and me, reassuring her.

You did good, Nix. I called to her. I felt her heart break, our heartbreak, and I tried to take away that pain. It’s okay. We did what we came to do; we saved those pups.

But we won’t make it… Nix trailed off.

I had the best life with you this time around. Just being acknowledged was enough for me. Megan rubbed against me and I felt a tear fall.

You, we, did our absolute best. We saved those kids. I lived better this time around, and I’m so happy I got to meet you both. I wiped my nose and chuckled. You were amazing, Nix.

I’m happy I got to feel the wind in my fur this time. I could feel our connection grow weaker. The world grew dim. I’m sorry you never got to experience it this time, Megan.

There is always the next life, Nix. Always the next life. Megan and I felt Nix turn in. I was shifting back to my body. The fur pulled back and my bones snapped back into place. This time was a lot more painful than the first. I screamed as my body finished shifting and I laid in the dirt, panting.

I felt the blood from my neck slow to a trickle. But it wasn’t a good sign. It wasn’t that the shift helped me heal, which it would normally. It was more that I had lost that much blood and I was nearing the end.

There couldn’t be much left, not much blood left, and definitely not much time.

I gathered my strength and sent a final mind-link to my dad. I love you Daddy. Then I closed my eyes and tracked my way back into my inner self. I wrapped my arms around Megan and Nix, trailing my fingers through their fur.

I’m sorry Amy. I couldn’t protect us. Nix heaved in a breath, struggling to get out the words she needed.

We protected each other; I was right there with you. Look at me. Nix raised her head to meet my eyes. I have never, and will never, regret having you as my wolf. You did amazing with what we had to deal with and never once did my belief in you waver.

But we are dying…

And we gave our all to save those two terrified pups. I think that is a worthy cause, don’t you?

Yes, yes, I do. Nix collapsed back down to the ground and I laid next to her.

I’ll see you both on the other side. I whispered as the world went dark.