Page 28 of Hexmate

We stood there in silence for a moment, both of us thoroughly confused. Then, I watched the realization dawn on Wild’s face. It told me everything I needed to know.

“Then… who is Caden going to meet?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

My blood ran cold. The wolf inside me snarled, hackles raised. Without another word, I took off running towards the ridge, my feet pounding against the snow-covered ground. Wild’s shouts faded behind me as I sprinted across campus, my heart thundering in my chest.

The blizzard was picking up, fat snowflakes swirling around me as I ran. The wind howled, whipping my hair and clothes. But I barely felt the cold. All I could think about was Caden, alone and vulnerable, walking into some kind of trap. And I had a good idea who might’ve set it.

Rowan. The witch I’d stood up to earlier that very same day. I had no doubt he was the one behind it all. And if that was true, Caden was in grave danger.

As I neared the edge of campus, I caught his scent on the wind. Faint, but unmistakable. Earthy and fresh, like a forest after a rain. It was Caden’s, I was sure of it. My wolf surged forward, urging me to run faster. To find him. Protect him.

I burst through the barrier, snow crunching under my feet. The ridge loomed ahead, at least a mile away, a stark silhouette against the stormy sky. But thanks to the lack of light, I couldn’tmake anything out. However, I caught his scent on the wind as I ran, mixed with something bitter and filled with malice.

Witches.

“Caden!” I shouted, my voice nearly lost in the howling gale.

But there was no one to answer me. Not yet. I picked up my pace, pushing my body to its limits as I raced up the mountain. The wind whipped snow into my face as I charged up the ridge, following Caden’s scent. My heart pounded, not from exertion, but from fear. What if I was too late? What if Rowan and his witch friends had already hurt Caden? The thought made my blood boil.

As I crested the top of the ridge, I saw them. A group of dark figures huddled in a circle, their cloaks billowing in the wind. And in the center, a smaller figure with blonde hair on his knees - Caden.

I could smell his fear, sharp and acrid on the wind. He was trying to back away, but the witches had him surrounded. Rowan’s sneering voice carried over the howling wind. I didn’t have to see Rowan’s open jeans to know his intentions. I could smell his lust and hunger for flesh on the wind. He meant to hurt Caden in the most disgusting way possible.

“Did you really think a pathetic little witch like you could stop me from getting what I wanted?” he taunted. “I’ll teach you your place, you little faggot.”

A snarl ripped from my throat as I charged forward. The witches turned, startled by my sudden appearance. I barreled into them, scattering their circle. My fist connected with Rowan’s jaw, sending him sprawling in the snow.

“Atlas!” Caden cried out, relief and fear mingling in his voice.

I positioned myself between him and the witches, my body coiled and ready to strike. The wolf inside me was howling for blood, urging me to tear them apart for daring to threaten whatwas mine. I could feel the change coming on, my bones shifting beneath my skin.

“Get out of here, mutt,” Rowan spat, wiping blood from his split lip. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“Like hell it doesn’t,” I growled, my voice deepening as the transformation took hold. “You touch him again and I’ll rip your fucking throat out.”

The other witches looked uncertain, glancing between Rowan and me. They could sense the danger radiating off me in waves. But Rowan just sneered, raising his hands as dark energy crackled between his fingers.

“You think you can take on all of us, dog?” he taunted. “You’re outnumbered.”

I felt Caden’s hand on my arm, trembling slightly. “Atlas, don’t,” he pleaded. “They’ll hurt you.”

His touch grounded me, but I didn’t need to be grounded. There was something Rowan didn’t know about me, about my heritage. My family was one of the oldest werewolf clans on the continent. And with that came certain powers.

“Give it your best shot,bitch,” I snarled.

The air crackled with tension as Rowan and I faced off, the other witches flanking him uncertainly. I could smell their fear, but also their bloodlust. They wanted a fight.

“Atlas, please,” Caden whispered behind me, his voice trembling. “Let’s just go.”

But I couldn’t back down now. These bastards had to learn they couldn’t mess with what was mine. The wolf inside me was fully in control now, my muscles rippling as the transformation took hold.

Rowan’s eyes widened as he watched my body shift and grow, dark fur sprouting across my skin. The clothes tore off my body, ripped to shreds by the change. Within seconds, I stood before them not as a man or a wolf, but a hulking monster withdripping fangs, dark claws, and a growl that would put even the bravest on their guard. My amber eyes glowed in the darkness as I bared my fangs, my body radiating power.

“Holy shit,” one of the other witches gasped, taking a step back. “He… he’s a monster…”

But Rowan stood his ground, dark energy swirling around his hands. “So what if you’re a cheap horror movie knockoff?” he sneered. “We can still take you down.”

He flung a bolt of crackling black magic at me, but I was ready. I held up my forearm, taking the magic full on. It struck my body, crackled, and faded away.

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