Chapter 69

[ 1,250 words ]

Poison

69: 69.

Poison Theo

As we near the canyon, there is a thin bridge made of thick rope and wood.

It’s wide enough for us to cross in a single file.

I head to the post and check to make sure it’s secure.

Tugging hard on the twisted rope, I’m happy to find it durable and resistant.

The river roars far below, white water crashing against jagged rock.

“I’ll cross first, make sure none of the planks are rotting, “ Marcus says.

“Be careful,” I warn as Marcus starts to cross the bridge.

My wolf focused on his every movement as he crept across, pressing down firmly on each plank to make certain it wouldn’t give under anyone’s weight.

Once Marcus takes it to the other side, he yells out a confirmation.

“Alright, I want everyone right behind the other.

I know it seems secure, but we’re not taking any chances.

One foot per plank and keep a steady—

A howl splits the air.

My head snaps toward the tree line.

Movement makes the leaves rustle like a warning.

Whoever they are, they’re coming fast.

Too fast to be group one catching up or lone wolves out for a stroll.

“Assembly!” Marcus shouts.

They burst from the forest like missiles of claws and teeth.

Already shifted into their wolf form, they don’t pause to take in the scope of our group.

They just attack with single-minded focus.

“Enforcers, we need a defensive line. Everyone else moves. Get to the other side now!” I roar.

We move as one, training takes over as we sync as a unit.

Dropping our bags, I’m vaguely aware of our pack picking up our things before making a break for the canyon’s yawning mouth.

My instinct sharpens as we form a wall between them and our charges.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, I brace myself, claws ready, teeth bared.

My wolf surges forward, pushing his energy into me, adding his strength to mine.

The first wolf hits me like a concrete brick.

I roll with the strike, shifting mid-motion, bones cracking and reforming as fur bursts across my skin.

My wolf lunges into his enemy, rearing up on his hind legs and wrestling for dominance.

I swipe at his belly, and he jumps back before my claws can sink in too deeply.

He is larger than me.

The rock salt scent of Grimm mingling with his scent.

Speed will be my asset in this fight, I realize as I dance around a barrage of strikes and we’ll time clamp of jaws.

The enforcers fight as a unit, ducking and dodging, switching opponents mad helping each other to maintain control of the fight.

The rest of the pack continues crossing behind us.

And I see the final members getting onto the bridge.

An enforcer to my left goes down—I lunge, ripping the throat out of the wolf on top of him before hauling him back up with a soft grip from my wolf’s jaws.

Two of the attacking wolves run away, blood pumping out of wounds that look serious.

There are only five left, still coming at us.

My wolf yips signaling to retreat.

I push forward, still fighting, still holding the line.

One by one, enforcers break off and sprint across.

An attacker is taken down when Sebastian Wolf slams him so mercilessly into a tree that his body folds over, lifeless and unmoving.

Two more fall, and the rest of the enforcers break for the new bridge.

I hold the position until the last possible second.

Then I shift into my human skin

“Let’s Go!” Sebastian snaps, running in front of me, his feet barely setting on the planks before he’s pushing off.

I turn and run.

The wood of the bridge thunders beneath my soles as I race across, lungs burning, heart slamming against my ribs.

Behind me, three males are hot on my tail.

They must have shifted when I did because they are now in their human skin.

They’re gaining fast.

I push harder, ignoring the pain from the lacerations and bite marks.

The bridge swings from the rapid movement, but I don’t dare break my stride.

Kiara is right in front of me with Sebastian in the lead.

Just a few more feet.

“Get ready to cut the bridge,” I shout at Marcus, who is waiting by the exit.

A sharp whistle cuts through the air.

Instinct screams, and my wolf snarls at the human weapon.

Cowards, my wolf snarls.

I twist to look over my shoulder, but before I see anything, something slams into my shoulder.

White-hot pain explodes through me, knocking the breath from my lungs.

A fucking arrow.

The spine sticks out, the arrowhead digging into the joint.

I stumble forward, regaining my momentum within seconds.

Another hiss of air draws my eyes up.

The wide arch of another arrow aims straight for Kiara’s back.

I launch forward, tackling her just before it strikes.

“No!”

The impact drives me to the ground, the second arrow burying deeper into my shoulder instead of her spine.

Pain blinds me.

My wolf howls in fury.

Get up!

Kiara scrambles beneath me.

“Theo—!”

“I’m fine,” I grit out, even though I’m absolutely not.

“Move!”

We stagger to our feet and run.

Sebastian makes it to the other side.

Marcus is starting to saw the anchoring rope with his claws.

The bridge creaks and groans as it starts to lean to one side without any support.

I hear the cursing of the males behind us.

We’re right there.

Then it snaps.

Kiara and I jump the last few inches, our bodies shooting off the ground.

The shock from the hard earth and the pinching pain from the arrows cause me to cry out.

The pursuing wolves suddenly defend their way into the open mouth of the canyon as the structure collapses.

Their screams fade until there is nothing left but silence broken only by our ragged breathing.

We made it.

I try to stand, but my legs give out.

I hit the ground hard, vision swimming.

“Theo,” Kiara says, dropping beside me.

“Let me see—”

“I’m fine,” I repeat, but my voice is weaker now.

Too weak.

My wolf growls.

Something’s wrong.

Kiara works fast, snapping the spine and apologizing before she uses her claws to open up the entry point so he can remove the arrowhead.

This again got me nauseous, but I tightened my jaw to prevent my breakfast from coming back up.

“Sorry,” she mutters, focused on inspecting the wound.

I can feel everyone’s eyes on me.

Shit, we don’t have time for this.

We need to move.

Then she freezes.

Her scent shifts, sours, and becomes sharp, terrified.

“What?” I demand.

She looks at me, her face going pale.

“There’s poison on the arrows.”

The words land like a death sentence.

I don’t want to believe, but wolves who use human weapons to fight have no honor.

Already, I feel it spreading—burning through my veins, draining my strength, pulling me under.

“We keep moving. I want us someplace safe by nightfall,” I say, ignoring the convulsion of my limbs.

Kiara grips my hand.

Sebastian comes to my other side, helping me to stand.

I can see the worry on the enforcers faces, but they don’t question me.

We move out, picking up our pace, Kiara monitoring me the entire time.

I didn’t blame her.

The poison was spreading fast, and my increased blood flow would only make it spread faster.

The bond in my chest echoes confusion and worry from my band.

They can sense that I’m hurt, they just can’t tell how much, and that’s starting to cause them to worry.

I project feelings of assuredness and comfort down the bond, hoping to reassure them enough that they keep their head.

If we were attacked, I have no doubt someone will be coming for them, too.

My vision starts to blur around the edges, but I push on.

I’m going to get everyone to the emergency pack house safely.

Sebastian takes more of my weight, the gesture protective, ready to catch me should I stumble.

I focus on one step at a time and hope to the gods I’m wrong, and everyone else gets there safely.

If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.