Belinda Boring - The Mystic Wolves

Stalking to the opening of the doorway, anger and retribution drenching me, I faced the cowering lump in front of me. I could drag this out, make it suffer more, or I could end it.

Springing from my hind legs, I soared through the air and landed on top of it. With a feral bark, I demanded it look at me.

Recognition of its impending death filled its eyes, and my prey mouthed a silent prayer-a plea for divine intervention. Pouncing, my paws dug into its chest, pinning it to the floor. I leaned in to take one last sniff.

This is for Jasmine, I shouted as I opened my jaws and ripped at its body. Blood sprayed over the walls and into my mouth. Sounds of shredding flesh and limbs being brutally torn from the body filled the air, as well as the heady scent of copper. Agonizing screams followed, but it meant nothing as I focused on annihilating the pack enemy. With one quick move, I ripped its throat out-silencing it forever.

It didn’t take long before it ceased moving, and there was nothing left but carnage-blood and gore covering every surface. I stopped long enough to shake out my body, sending bits of flesh flying from my fur.

Nudging the lifeless mass with my snout, I growled a challenge for it to get up and fight some more. There was no movement.

Adrenaline still coursed through my body, but it was over. Justice had been served, with a side of ruthless vengeance, and it was time to change back.

I reached inside and called on the change, but my wolf refused to relinquish control.

I pushed, and she pushed harder.

I begged and coerced. She ignored it all.

It was then I panicked. It had been a long time since the wolf had been this strong, and there was no budging her. She was adamant if she had been in control to begin with, this all could’ve been avoided. We were to stay wolf, and everyone would be safe.

Realizing I couldn’t reason with her at the moment, I began the journey back to Jasmine’s body. She’d been concealed so I hoped no one had discovered her and moved her.

My slow steps became huge bounding lopes as I pushed myself to get back to where it had all started.

Nearing the scene, my hackles rose, and I let out a warning growl. Some of the pack had arrived and were hovering over Jasmine’s body. I barked for them to move as I roughly pushed my way through those who’d come. Daniel. Jonas. Eric.

The looks on their faces were a mixture of anger, grief, and shock. Violence was something mostly seen amongst the dominant pack members. It was rare for it to touch the females, so the death of Jasmine would shake them to the core.

Each of them looked at me cautiously, trying not to make eye contact as they assessed the situation. They could see my aggression, hear it in my low growls, and tried to show they weren’t a threat.

Crouched over the body of his sister was Mason, his head bowed as silent sobs wracked his body. I longed to comfort him but couldn’t as a wolf.

I nudged him with my snout, ignoring the blood stain I left on his t-shirt. His hand reached out and ruffled through my fur. It came back sticky.

“Hi baby, you okay?” He gave me the once over, waiting to see how I would react to him. I leaned in slowly, taking my time to pull his scent into my lungs.

Mason sat still, and a feeling of security washed over me. I nudged him again. He threw his arm around me, pulling me in close.

I could feel his strength permeating into my body, trying to soothe away my anger. I began to whimper, trying to tell him all that happened as my body shuddered against him.

“I can’t understand you, Darcy. You’re going to need to change back. We need to move Jasmine and get back to the house. Come on, sweetheart, as soon as you’re ready.” He gestured with one of his hands to Eric and Daniel, and they moved forward to pick up Jasmine.

Instantly my wolf reacted, and I nipped at them. Standing guard over my fallen sister’s body, I forced them to back up-Mason included. No one was going to touch her, not until we could figure out how to bring her back. My grief demanded it.

“Darcy, you can let go and change back. No one is going to hurt Jasmine. Eric and Daniel need to pick her up so we can take her home. She needs the pack. She needs the rituals.”

Everything he said made sense. I just couldn’t let go of the belief if we waited a little longer, she’d wake up-alive.

The guys moved to step forward again and this time, I lashed out biting at the pant leg of Daniel.

“Darcy. Stand down.” The Alpha command battered against me, ruthless in its primal demand. No one could resist it, but I tried anyway.

“She’s fighting it!” Jonas exclaimed in shock. “Look at her. She’s got a hard set in her eyes, Mason. I don’t think she’s going to listen.”

“Darcy. Don’t make me force you.” Mason ordered, sadness filling his eyes. Pure Alpha compulsion coated my body and soaked into my bones, forcing me to relax. Pain caused me to yelp as I struggled to hold my position. I didn’t want them touching her.

“ Darcy !” and with that one word, I crumbled. Eric and Daniel quickly stepped in, sweeping Jasmine up. As I watched them carry her away to the waiting car, I released a grief stricken howl that began in my stomach, and erupted from my mouth into the night.

On and on I howled, understanding all hope had been futile. She truly was gone, and the only “magic” ritual to perform now would be a burial one. I collapsed to the floor and buried my snout into my paws.

I barely heard the voices whispering. Footsteps came and went, followed by the sound of a car engine starting and the vehicle pulling away. Everyone had left-all but Mason, his hand gently stroking my fur. There was a soothing rhythm to his movement, but my wolf was far from being calmed.

I don’t know how long we sat there or why we weren’t found. I didn’t care. Nothing mattered anymore, and nothing made sense.

His voice jolted me to awareness. “You’re not able to change back, are you? Is that why you’re still in wolf form? She won’t let go?”

I raised my head and looked into concerned eyes. Mason lifted his hand and gently stroked the fur on my face, each touch filled with love. I nodded slightly, the best I could do to communicate with him. I knew this was serious-I needed to regain control, but didn’t know how to convince my wolf it was okay.

“Well as Alpha, I can force the change. I’m worried if I do though, the wolf will resent me, and I don’t want it coming between us. We could wait and see if she relents, but something tells me tonight was too traumatic, and she sees this as a matter of survival for you both.”

Mason paused, looking thoughtful as he studied the problem out. I marveled at how amazing he was. He knew exactly what was happening, and it not only spoke volumes about the type of leader he was, it showed the kind of man he was as well. He was my mate, and it filled me with a sense of security to know this was the man who would swear to love and protect me for the rest of my life.

A thought popped into my head at the same time a smile spread over his face. The light sparkling in his eyes told me he had an idea and believed it would work.

“I know how we can convince her to release you. She’s always been there to protect you, keep you safe and out of harm’s way. It’s a natural response, but she needs to realize there’s another who can do that for you as well-someone who wants to and is ready to step in. She needs to relinquish control over to me as your mate.”

Relief coursed through me as Mason shared the same idea I’d had, and something in my gut told me this was the answer. Who better to keep me safe at the moment and in the future than my mate? Even my wolf couldn’t argue too long with that.