Page 121 of Ruthless Alpha Beast
As we’re moving slowly, I slide down the wolf’s back, my boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. My stomach is tied in knots.
We have to find him.
As we move through the narrowing path, shaded with dark leaves, I choose to look ahead rather than to the sides.
Then the orb catches something.
A stone’s throw ahead, closer than I thought.
Jasper.
My chest tightens so hard that it hurts. He’s bound by vines, their coils wrapping around his mouth, arms, chest, and throat. He’s straining against what looks like a green, viney monster, his muscles taught and his eyes wide.
“Jasper!” I yell before anyone can stop me.
He shakes his head. Urging me with his eyes to stay back.
Behind him, I notice a tall, white, feathery flower connected to the vines.
I rush forward, but the shifters get there first, releasing howling growls that echo into the night.
As they lunge for the vines, it bats them off.
Large, thick green pipes slam into the shifters and send them back.
Now it’s chaos.
Vines slamming in all directions, wolves jumping and howling, shooting purple and white glow. The sky is being lit up with the color of magic; if it weren’t so chaotic, it might be beautiful. It’s as though there are fireworks.
But I stay focused. Jasper is still straining, the vines twisting around him, pulling him deeper into their grasp.
Amid the fighting, I spot something.
Poking out of Jasper’s pocket, the glint of the small grey dagger.
I run.
Jasper chokes as the vines coil tighter, cutting off his breath.
“Over here!” I yell to Danielle.
Previously distracted with another vine, she turns and slices the tendril that’s wrapped around Jasper’s throat.
“Tara!” He breaths, his voice strangled. “Don’t—”
“I’m not leaving you!” I yell.
Catching onto my intentions, the witches direct their magic at all the vines currently wrapped around Jasper until he finally falls to the forest floor.
I reach him, falling to my knees in the dirt.
“Jasper.”
He takes a second, coughing, before regaining himself.
“We have to do it now,” I say, gazing at the dagger.
Determined, he gets to his feet. “Take cover, Tara.”
