Winter Wolf(61)

The Dark Shadow wolves were a mixture of brown and black, their eyes cold and filled with hatred. The three of them fanned out around her. Standing her ground, Katalina positioned herself between them and the River Run wolves they wished to kill. The middle wolf stepped forward. He was twice the size of Katalina’s wolf and didn’t seem at all intimidated. He lunged forward, closing the distance between them. In a split second, Katalina twisted away, her light body nimble and quick. She felt the brush of his claws through her fur, the slight scrape across skin. She snarled angrily as she slammed herself into his side, snapping her jaw down into flesh.

He shook her off, sending her tumbling to the ground with a yelp. Katalina climbed back to her feet, feeling pain throughout her muscles. Bass’s loud angry bark surrounded her. His presence filled her and she sensed his need to reach her. Her eyes stayed fixed on the three wolves before her. They crowded closer together, stepping forward, herding her back toward the house.

Blood pumping with nerves, she recognized the inevitable point of no return; she took another step back as they jumped forward, and hit the wall of the house. An angry growl tore from her chest as she crouched low, hackles raised. She waited for them to make their move, waited for the impact and pain. Katalina watched the wolf in the center tense, his muscles bunched and flexed before launching him airborne. Katalina turned her head away, braced for the moment he’d attack.

A flash of black followed by an echoing thud from impact filled her keen senses.

Katalina’s bark was one of surprise: he’d reached her. The other two wolves scattered away as Bass sunk his teeth into the throat of the wolf. A quick snap of his jaw and the wolf went slack, dropping dead to the ground. He turned to her, blood dripping from his mouth, the sharp gleam of his teeth a reminder of the deadly predator he was. He whimpered, pushing his muzzle against her side. He couldn’t speak human words but she understood exactly what he meant. Are you okay? She whimpered softly in return, licking at a gash down his flank.

A high pitched whine startled them back to the present. Cage and Jackson were being herded toward them. The wolf they were protecting was bleeding badly; the back leg he dragged hanging limp. They were still outnumbered two to one and the Black Shadow wolves looked in far better condition than the last remaining River Run wolves.

Frightened, Katalina pressed up against Bass’s side. She wasn’t prepared for the violence of this new world. He turned back to her with a reassuring lick.

He ran toward Jackson and Cage. Katalina followed. She might not have been trained to fight, or have grown up in this world, but she couldn’t stand back and watch the people she cared for be hurt. It was hard to make out who was winning or losing, since the wolves all clashed together, teeth tearing, claws ripping. The thud of bodies and whimpers of pain, mixed together was brutal. Katalina fell back, her legs a tangle beneath her and her white fur stained with blood. Panting heavily, she forced herself to get back up. About to jump back into the chaos, Bass stepped forward. The snarl that ripped from him was filled with rage, the strength of his tone pressed against her. The power in his voice halted the Black Shadow wolves.

Everyone paused and stared, Black Shadow and River Run. It was as if the world held its breath; the wind halting, the flames freezing, not a single sound could be heard.

Katalina watched, stunned and in awe as Bass changed, his skin stained with blood and the long wisps of his hair plastered to his neck with sweat.

“I am your alpha’s son and I order you to stop this!” his voice boomed into the quiet.

The Black Shadow wolves snarled back in protest.

“ENOUGH!”

Even though his words weren’t directed at her, Katalina could still feel the effect of his voice, the shiver over her skin, the pressure to obey.

“Go back to my father and tell him no more River Run blood will be shed.” The wolves crouched down low to the ground, their eyes hard, and their heads shaking as if to clear his voice from their minds.

“I said GO!” He took a step forward, his human words disappearing into a growl.

They started to back away but one remained. He took a step forward, snarling.

“You challenge me?” Bass asked.

The wolf changed into a man. “Your father is my alpha. I take orders from him only.” He leapt, his body contorting, changing into a wolf.

The next moment happened so fast, Katalina’s startled yelp was still vibrating through the air as the Black Shadow landed dead at Bass’s feet. Her eyes stared at his right hand coated red with blood, drops slowly dripping from his fingers marking the white snow.

The moment their fellow wolf fell dead, Black Shadow scattered.