One Last Chance

Chapter Twenty Two

Okay, I can't even begin to explain just how sorry we are for not uploading for so long. What can I say? School is awful. Well, to make up for it, you get three chapters now! :P

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Chapter 22

 Ashton

We were already running towards the house. I felt adrenaline pumping through my veins as I pushed myself to go faster. Blake was right behind me, almost capable of matching my speed, while the others were a short distance behind us.

Cole growled, catching the scent before the rest of us. We joined in quickly as the wind blew the scent of intruders in our direction. A couple of huge wolves jumped out of the line of trees, growling and snapping in our direction, blocking our path to the house.

I looked around frantically, knowing that Belle could be under attack at the very moment I was trying to get passed them. The feeling of helpless rage finally took over as I foolishly lunged forward, earning myself a new pair of claw marks.

The reddish wolf to my left quickly rammed into my side, knocking me off my feet as the other sunk his claws into the sensitive flesh of my underbelly. I yelped in pain, trying to get back to my feet. He didn’t give me the chance as his fangs sunk into my neck.

I tried to yelp in pain, but the sound was drained out by a trickle of blood that made its way down my throat. I tried gasping for air, but nothing came. Had he had a couple more seconds I would have been dead.

Cole growled in rage, lunching himself into the air with agility that surprised me as he crashed into my attacker, knocking him to the ground and landing on top of his rib cage with a loud crack. I used the change to scurry to my feet, attacking the other wolf that tried to use the chance and attack Cole.

The others quickly joined in, quickly turning the wolves into two disfigured corpses. I panted, feeling dizzy and giving my best to ignore the stinging pain in my neck that seemed to flare with every breath I took.

I felt Blake’s mind brush on mine, requesting I let him in as we once again resumed our stride. This time Blake was the one on the front of formation. I tried to focus on my steps, but everything seemed to shift unpredictably under my feet as we ran.

Reluctantly, I opened my mind, letting his mind’s voice seep into my conscious. Are you okay? His words were rushed, almost scared, and for a second I could catch a glimpse of myself through his eyes. My throat didn’t look too good, at all.

I’ll live. We have to find Belle. I growled back, knowing that I didn’t have to treat him like that. He was genuinely concerned as my friend, but at the moment I couldn’t think straight. I wasn’t exactly certain how much of it was due to my fear for Belle, and how much was coming from the wound.

I could feel the pressure of other soon-to-be-Alphas on my mind as well, and even though I was keen on keeping them out I found myself unable to do so in my condition. With a growl of annoyance I felt my walls crumble around me and their minds flood into mine.

I yelped from the sudden invasion of their words that clouded my own thoughts, easily suppressing my own will that I struggled to maintain. I almost lost my footing and fell, the only thing that kept me going was the image of Belle I constantly kept in my mind.

I ignored their words, most of which was supposed to force me to go back and get some treatment, as the nightmare I had the other night flared across my mind. I could still remember all of it, the wolves, the attack, the look on Belle’s face as that mutt pinned her down and sunk his teeth into his neck, marking her. I ran faster.