Chapter 2: Silas' Awaking

Chapter 2: Silas' Awaking

Silas

The sounds of the forest echoed in my ears. Every whisper of the breeze and the slightest rustle of leaves put me on high alert. The summer night was warm and humid, causing the pungent scent of the cover spray to permeate my nose, making the ordinarily pleasant smell of the flora faint. The full moon showed brightly, offering her soft illumination over the forest terrain. We inched closer to our target, slow and methodical careful not to reveal our positions. Our destination was coming into view now. We waited for a signal from Beta Tyson and Beta Lucas.

Beta Tyson and Lucas are the two most well-known Betas from any pack. I guess you would have to be, being the second in command of the two leading packs in the country. They even out-rank Alphas of smaller packs. As the third son of the Beta of the Amaris Pack, it was an honor to be on this raid mission with them.

We had some idea what we would find inside the off-pack facility. We knew they were keeping a large number of wolves captive using a combination of ranked members and tranquilizers to keep them under control. The worst part is we knew they have un-shifted pups as well. We had only seen pictures of a few victims that were rescued, and their mistreatment was evident. I thought I was mentally and emotionally ready to complete the "Night of Raids," but nothing could have truly prepared me for what was to come.

Tyson gave the signal, and we rushed in. The guards outside the facility didn't put up too much of a fight; some of them even seemed high. Poor excuses for werewolves, if you ask me. They even had silver knives. If you have to rely on silver as a werewolf to fight, the goddess should strip you of your wolf spirit. There were even a few who just surrendered, saying their Alpha ordered them, or they complied to protect their own pups or mates from being taken. These wolves had my sympathy, anyone can say I wouldn't comply or follow orders without a fight, but when your family is threatened, you do what you must to protect them.

Of course, once we attacked, the alarm had been sounded, and the entrances were barricaded. That's where I got to showcase my talent, well, my size, really. I was a Beta's son, but I was our pack's top warrior, and I was as big as an Alpha. So, the barricades were nothing to my wolf Bram. I shifted and took a running leap into the door, throwing my whole weight into it. I hear a crack and a thud from the other side.

"Only two knocks, and the door will open." Bram chuckles.

"Just knock the damn door down, you smart ass. Or are you a house cat that likes to play with your pray before killing it?" That will get him motivated.

"A house cat! How offensive." Yep, it worked.

Bram increased speed this time, and sure enough, the door splintered and was knocked off its hinges. Everyone rushed in, and we were quickly attacked. The guards inside were much more eager to fight than the ones outside. I shifted back to human form; there's no room to fight in wolf form. I broke away from the entrance fight to find the cells where the kidnapped victims were being housed. As I made my way through the facility, the stench of death only seemed to grow more overpowering.

I came across a massive metal door on a track system. I felt drawn to that door. Like I was being called to slide it open. "Bram, do you feel that?"

"I do. Trust our instincts, and let's open it. We need to keep our guard up." Bram focused his energy on our senses. I could hear muffled cries behind it. I thought to myself; I must have found some of the kidnap victims.

I pushed the heavy metal door open, and the sight that I was met with turned my stomach and made my blood boil simultaneously. Adult wolfs were chasing around pups and beating them to death. The irony smell of blood is thick, and their tiny, terrified screams pierce my ears and rip my heart to shreds. The room is massive and has a makeshift fighting ring in the middle. I shifted mid-stride and took a running leap on top of one of the attackers ripping his arm clean off and throwing him across the ring, screaming in pain and spiriting blood with his every heartbeat. The other three released their child victims and focused on me.

"None of them leave alive, Bram!"

"We'll make sure their deaths are slow and painful."

Two of the attackers pulled out silver blades, and the three started to circle. A deep growl reverberated from my chest. One of the wolves dropped his silver switchblade and then accidentally kicked it behind himself. He's the weakest. I decide to take him out last since he's the lesser threat. I then evaluate the other two. I would take down the most significant threat first. They are about the same size. I decide to target the one with the silver knife first. I let them circle me. I act like I'm panicked, so they get closer. I'm still in wolf form, and they are in human form, but it doesn't matter; I could beat them in either form.

When the one left with the knife is behind me, I donkey kicked him as hard as possible, throwing him into the makeshift barricade. The one I think is the second strongest charged straight at me; that was a bad idea. I pounced forward and knocked him on his ass. Before he could get his feet under him, I ripped open his chest with one swipe. It's deep. I'm sure I punctured one of his lungs and maybe even nicked an artery. He's left gasping on the floor, bleeding out. I did say they would die slow. The weakest one shifted and has jumped on my back. I rolled over and crushed him under my weight knocking the wind out of him. He got a good bite on my shoulder, but nothing I won't heal from. While he's trying to regain his breath, I lunge for his neck. I'm much bigger, and I shook him violently until I heard a satisfying snap. One left and the biggest threat. I look at where I left him, and he's not there. I look around the darkroom.

He had to be hiding behind one of the barricades because he jumped out of the darkness onto my back, plunging the silver blade into my back. I had never been exposed to silver before, and it was the most painful thing I had ever experienced. I instantly shifted, and he stabbed me again. The silver was taking a toll on me quickly. I look across the ring and see two terrified sets of eyes looking at me. I can't die here. I must save them. I roll forward, avoiding his next strike.

 I get to my feet, "Bram, I know it hurts, but we have to save the pups."

"This is nothing. Let's finish him." Bram was lying, but I needed to hear it.

The wolf charged forward, brandishing the silver knife. I grabbed his wrist and held him back from stabbing me, but I had been weakened. I mustered all my strength to hold him off, then he started screaming in pain and dropped the knife. I looked around, and I saw a little girl, no older than seven, with a bloody silver switchblade in hand and a petrified look on her face. I pushed him back and shoved the little girl behind me. I picked up the dropped knife and threw it to the side.

 It's one on one, fair and square. He charges again. I'm ready this time. Bram extended our claws, and I gave him a brutal swipe across his face ripping the side of his face and tearing his eye out. He fell to the ground. I gouged into his chest and left him there, bleeding in the middle of the same ring where he forced children to fight for their lives.

"Mister?"

"Hey, there princess, thank you for helping me. Are you OK?"

She nods her head, and tears roll down her sunken cheeks. "Are you here to save us?"

"Yes, I am. I'm here to take you home." I stand up and yell out. "I'm here to take you all home."

"Mister, what's your name?" She gave me a slight smile. Probably the first one she had given in a long time.

"Silas Youngblood of the Amaris Pack."

"What's your name?"

"Nina Santos."

"That's a pretty name." I went to pat her on the head, and she flinched. It breaks my heart. I pulled my hand back.

Out of the shadows, about 20 pups appear. I see one little boy being supported by another. It looks like his leg was broken, and it did not set correctly. Poor kid will have to have it re-broken. I picked him up then I saw a little girl much smaller than the rest. She is skin and bone and looks like a breeze will blow her over. I picked her up in my other arm.

"OK, kids, I need you all to hold hands and follow me. OK," I get quiet nods. These pups will have nightmares for the rest of their lives. I round the barrier, and I see the saddest sight yet. It's a stack of bodies. Ones I didn't get to save. They were just tossed in a corner like trash. Silent tears streak my face as I walk these poor pups out of their living nightmare.

"Bram, I can honestly say I hate every pack that was involved in this. I hope they all burn in hell."