Ch. 2

Sam’s POV

Where Sam had stood but a moment before, there now stood a large wolf with dull copper fur and bright green eyes.

Sam knew he had to trust Garrett and Cole to handle any further instructions to his team and shut out all mindlinks except for theirs.

The wolves he now faced were larger than any rogues he had ever seen.

“Could they be Lycan?” he wondered to his wolf.

“They could be,” his wolf responded. “But she is important. We must protect her at all costs.”

“How do you know?”

“I can feel it.”

Sam sniffed at the fallen woman before he pounced to the other side of her, gently pushing her further away from the rogues with his back paws, his hackles raised, and his jaws snapping as he growled.

The rogues had clearly been running, but now they took their time, letting themselves rest as they began stalking Sam.

He knew he would be in trouble if they circled him.

“How many, Sam,” Cole asked.

“At least fifteen. Cole, they’re huge. And I’ve got an injured woman here. I think she was running from them.”

“We’re on our way,” Garrett assured, darkly. “Hold them off. Don’t let them corner you.”

“That’s going to be tough.”

The sound of bones breaking rang through the air again as the largest rogue, a big, shaggy, black beast shifted into his human form. He stood at about 6’2 with shaggy black hair that matched his pelt and dark black eyes, naked and grinning.

Sam paused, uncertain what tactic the rogue was about to employ.

“Give us the she-wolf, mutt.”

Sam growled, pushing the woman further away from the encroaching wolves.

“She’s ours. You have no claim to her. Besides since when do pack scum interfere in rogue business?”

Sam knew it would only be a matter of minutes before reinforcements arrived to help, but the rogues had thought of that, as well.

“Give her over now or die. We won’t play games waiting for help to arrive.”

Sam readied himself, giving as much command of his form as he could over to his wolf, who snarled at the rogues without any indication of fear.

“Fine. Die well.”

The brute barely got the words out before he was back in the hulking form of his wolf, lunging at Sam.

Sam’s wolf dodged, flipping around with inhuman speed and gingerly grabbing the fallen woman around the waist with his mouth before taking off into the night - towards the pack.

He heard and felt the group of rogues take off after him, strangled snarls and growls following him, clearly not expecting to be chasing their prey again so soon.

“If they’re Lycan, they’ll outrun us,” Sam cautioned his wolf who grunted in response.

“Not before we get to our backup.”

One thing Sam loved about his wolf - he was always so damn sure.

They considered going back into the trees - but knew that with rogues, that wouldn’t give them much, if any advantage.

“As a last resort - to at least thin them out.” Sam suggested, earning a grunt of approval from his wolf.

“Until then, it will be better for us in the open once the others get here.”

Sam relayed his plan over the mindlink, sharing images and scents to guide the rest of his pack to him.

“Seconds away,” Cole assured him.

Sam noticed how the woman flopped ridiculously in his wolf’s gigantic mouth and seemed to be beginning to stir slightly when one of the rogues bit at his right flank, tearing away a chunk of flesh.

His wolf whined around the woman, remembering at the very last second not to bite down, and kicked backwards, sending the rogue flying into two others.

“We’ve got to go faster. That was a scratch but the next one - “

“I know!” shouted his wolf, pushing their body until every muscle screamed in protest.

“Goddess, help us!” Sam thought as his wolf eyed the forest.

“Stay in the open!” Garrett answered the wordless question. “We’re nearly there!”

Sam’s wolf obeyed with zeal, the words somehow urging him to go even faster, his limits now officially exceeded.

And that’s when he saw them - crashing into the clearing through the trees - two huge wolves, one as black as obsidian and one liquid gold, hackles raised, and their teeth bared into snarls.

Sam ran straight for them, ducking in between them and running behind them into the forest.

He heard yelping and whimpering and halted on instinct, torn between his desire to help his Alphas - his friends - and his… need. It was a need. To protect this unknown woman.

Cole’s voice entered his mind, more harsh than he’d ever heard it “don’t you dare! Keep her safe.”

Garrett added “stay with her. Do not let her out of your sight!”

Sam huffed, anxious. As strong as his Alphas were, even they couldn’t last long against these rogues alone. Who was this woman?

He considered possibilities as he walked deeper into the forest, finally finding a spot that felt safer - where he could just barely make out the noise from the battle - and setting down his cargo, looking at her fondly.

She was so small, and as he sniffed her again, he smelled her - her scent had returned, delicate but warm - not at all like a rogue’s scent.

Why couldn’t he smell her earlier?

With too much to think about, he settled in front of her, his ears straining to pick up the fighting.

He couldn’t tell how it was going - but every time he made out a roar or snarl from Garrett or Cole, his body went taught and he couldn’t help nervously pawing the ground.

Finally he heard them - his own pack running fast through the forest - at least thirty warriors, and - he breathed a sigh of relief as they came into view - all of them elites. He watched as they ran towards the clearing, whining that they were going without him.

He cocked his head in mild surprise, however, when two of the best warriors of the pack joined him, flanking the unconscious woman on both sides.

“Shawn? Oliver?” He asked simply.

“Alphas’ orders” they answered in unison with wolfish shrugs.

Horrible noises rang through the night air, interrupting Sam’s contemplation.

The last, terrible whimpers as wolves breathed their last, the snap and crack of bones - and spines - breaking, strangled howls, and bloody gurgling.

And then - silence.