Page 28 of Moon Guardian
We would have continued that way. Then she could have evaded us if her true destination was north, not back to her human lands, but to the hidden outcast outpost somewhere near Ryker’s territory.
Which meant she had changed her mind, perhaps, or the second set of tracks was the outcast wolf, being that they were more difficult to follow, an experienced wolf who knew how to hide.
The outcast wouldn’t have cared about the human tribe… but the girl might. She had been willing to sacrifice herself to save them, to make sure we didn’t invade her land and rip through the human homes in search of her.
There wouldn’t have been any survivors. Not with four alphas trapped in the rut.
A selfless move, one that gave me pause as we went north, following her heady scent that made my veins constrict and my jaw ache.
Perhaps you are clever, little goddess.
The other alphas howled and grunted, pounding through the trees, occasionally stopping to brawl with each other which only gave our mate more time to escape.
They were lost to the rut, but I wasn’t. My decision to let her live had brought my mind to the surface, my wolf retreating in an effort to save her.
He couldn’t leave his state of the rut, so he allowed me to take control instead, his need pulsing through me with pained electric jolts, my core twisting and my teeth aching to bite.
Something that I hadn’t even known was possible until now.
It proved to me that something about this girl was special. A wolf and his human mind should not be able to separate during the rut, much less that the wolf would have enough lucidity to retreat into my mind.
But her life depended on it, so for her sake, we suffered and overpowered the rut together.
My memory gaps proved how difficult this task had been. We were in a different section of Ryker’s territory now, the rocky terrain rough against my paws. Another brawl had broken out and my wolf sat, panting both with exhaustion and need, watching the violence ensue.
It would be a miracle if we survived tonight, much less our mate.
I prayed to the Goddess that we’d see this night through.
And then we would face the consequences of rejecting Her, the female who had absorbed the Goddess’s heart and deserved our worship.
Adoration.
Apology.
Sacrifice.
All things that would come in due time, and all things I would strive to achieve for Her.
Katlyn
An orange glow over the horizon marked morning by the time Althea had guided me deeper into the rocky territory littered with streams and rivers.
My pants stuck to my legs and my hair flattened to my face, my breath coming in short gasps as the power of the moon faded.
Which meant my alphas would be weakened soon, as well.
“They’ll be forced to shift back into human form,” Althea informed me, dark circles forming under her eyes betraying her exhaustion as well. “Our shifts aren’t dependent on the moon, however we utilize its magic. After this long in a heightened state, they’ll require rest.”
“Hmm,” I said, the only sound I could make to acknowledge her words.
We continued on, making sure to stick to the streams and keep our footsteps in the grooves of preexisting tracks, although that was proving more difficult now the deeper we went into the rocky territory. I didn’t notice as much wildlife here, as if the rich abundance of the forest liked the rocks biting into my shoes just as much as I did.
I’d finally acquiesced to her demands we make some effort to hide our tracks once I was certain the alphas had followed us north. Even if they caught us, my family would be safe, but it made sense to continue to evade them.
Not only for my life, but to survive to put an end to the storms once and for all. An end to the wolves and their perpetual violence and arrogance that beat humankind into the ground.
I had taken their magic, cupped it in the palm of my hand, and crushed it.
