Chapter 13; Clash Of Wolves

With his golden eyes fixed on the figures vanishing into the distance, Rylan stood at the riverbank breathing hard.

 Selene and Ethan were carried away from his grasp by the rushing waters. His claws dug into his palms as his hands clenched into fists. 

The injury Selene had caused on his arm was already healing, the pain subsiding as his werewolf blood did its thing. 

However, the anger and humiliation of being outmatched and outwitted were more intense than any injury.

He'd been stabbed by her. She disobeyed him. She was now slipping away. 

No!

She wouldn't go very far. 

He would look for her. 

He'd pull her back. 

And she would be sorry she ever believed she could get away from him!

Rylan's body stiffened. His ears twitched when he heard a slight sound coming up closer.

His senses were on high alert and he swirled to see what or who it was. 

The air was mixed with the blood. 

Ravena. 

She was standing erect, her sword gleaming in the low light. Despite her wounds and the blood streaming down her arm, she had an amused expression on her face. 

Rylan bared his teeth and snarled. “ I see you have a death wish.”

 Ravena sneered. “You're an idiot Rylan.”

She cocked her head, her tone brimming with derision. “ The Elders have been lying to you from the beginning and you fell for it. Do you really believe that they are looking out for your best interests?”

Rylan's nostrils flared. He did not give a damn about cryptic warnings or riddles. 

Selene, the pursuit, and the hunt were all on his mind.

 He threw a spear directly at Ravena's chest with a quick flick of his wrist. 

She steered clear. The spear thumped sharply into a tree behind her. She lunged without hesitation. 

Rylan was barely able to move before her sword tore through the air. 

His arm was lightly grazed by the blade as he twisted just in time. 

Although he experienced a sting it was little in comparison to his rage. 

His body reacted automatically. His muscles grew longer, and his bones cracked, transforming him into a huge black wolf.

 A deep snarl rumbled in his chest menacingly. 

Ravena didn't think twice. She changed into a sleek silver she-wolf as her own body twisted and snapped, her bones twisting and snapping.

 Then they came into contact. Fur and teeth. 

The creatures ripped through flesh.

She was equally brutal though. She twisted and left deep gashes on his muzzle with her claws. 

Rylan threw her off balance with a violent shake of his head.

 Once more, he lunged, his teeth digging into her throat. 

She let out a howl of pain and blood poured from the wound. 

Beneath him, her silver fur was covered with blood as she struggled. 

Her breaths came in quick frantic gasps as her strength diminished. 

Rylan's teeth sunk deeper into her throat as he tightened his hold. 

It was this. She lost. 

Then,  the forest erupted in a loud crash. The sound of someone or something speeding in their direction.

 Rylan's ear twitched. His eyes shifted in response to the movement.

A mistake. 

Ravena took advantage of that moment to violently twist her body kicking viciously with her hind legs into his chest. 

With blood streaming from his jaws he stumbled back and let her go. 

Ravena struggled for breath and stumbled to her feet. 

Despite her blurred vision and burning throat, she was unable to stop at this point. 

She had one final move. She swung forward before Rylan could recover, her teeth aimed directly at his bare throat.

 And just as she was about to land the killing blow, a roar of snarls echoed through the atmosphere. 

They both stood still.

However, a shadow came across the clearing, and before he could strike, a snarling sound echoed through the air. 

From the trees came the two warriors Ravena had left behind, their eyes glimmering with an unearthly hunger. 

As their limbs grew shorter and their senses sharpened, their bodies started to morph. 

Their faces stretched into muzzles resembling wolves and fur exploded from their skin. 

The two wolves circled around Rylan staring at him in fury. 

With a decline in strength, Ravena staggered back. 

Her chest heaving with effort she fell against a nearby tree. 

Seeing their prey's weakness the wolves closed in. 

Rows of incredibly sharp teeth were visible as their jaws widened. 

Rylan stood motionless. With their bodies a blur of fur and fangs the wolves all lunged at once. 

They slammed into Rylan before he could even react. 

Pain erupted throughout his body as claws raked his back and teeth snapped at his flesh. 

The two wolves clamped down on his hind leg and tried to push him to the ground while the first sank its fangs into his shoulder. 

Rylan's claws sliced through flesh and fur as he roared angrily. When he kicked one wolf away it crashed into a nearby tree. 

The air was filled with the sound of branches breaking and the wolf's anguished yelp. 

The second wolf, however, was unrelenting and tightened its jaws around his leg. 

Using all of his strength Rylan rolled over and twisted, throwing the wolf away. When the wolf yelled, it quickly got back up and curled its lips into a savage snarl.

 Ravena's thoughts were racing as she watched the battle play out. She was aware that until Rylan died her warriors would not stop. 

With their eyes blazing with a feral hunger the wolves closed in once more. 

Rylan gasped, his wounds leaking blood. Despite his strength, he was not able to fight off multiple wolves. 

His eyesight became somewhat blurry as fatigue overtook him. 

Immediately one of the wolves lunged for his throat. For the first time, Rylan's eyes grew wide, and he began to see actual danger. 

His arm felt unresponsive and heavy as he attempted to raise his paws.

 With its jaws open, the wolves prepared to strike. 

Then, when all hope appeared to be gone, Rylan was completely engulfed by darkness.