The Wolf

Ch. 43: Sorry, Nico

"Onwards!" I bellow. A chorus of yells follows.

We trudge up the steep slope of the mountain, protecting ourselves from oncoming attacks as we try and get to an ideal location for fighting. After hordes upon hordes of rogue wolves, we make it to a flat stretch of rocky land that our entire army can squeeze onto.

Wolves shift are locked in battles of fur and fangs. Druids stand in the back casting fireballs into the oncoming waves of men. The smell of burning fur and flesh causes the air to become acrid. Vampires zip through the battlefield draining enemies of blood before snapping their neck. Madness. This is the definition of madness. I stand in the middle of the battlefield, issuing orders to soldiers where our defenses are growing thin or need reinforcements.

Blood and smoke pollute the air like a thin mist. Bodies of brothers and friends lay broken and dying on the ground. I dodge a charging wolf before sinking my teeth into their neck and ripping out their throat. Blood matts down the fur around my mouth. The taste is metallic and sickening. I ignore my churning stomach and jump into the fray to defend my comrades. Blake is somewhere behind me, protecting my rear. Kayla is protecting the druids from any wolves that may slip through our defenses. And Nico is... Where is Nico?

My heart jumps with fear as I scan the battlefield for him. Everywhere I look fights are ensuing, but he is nowhere to be found. Has he already gone down? Did the enemy take him? I grow frantic as I continue my search.

There! Sol calls out, directing me to the edge of the fighting. A head of black hair is heading away from the battle.

"Where is he going?" I wonder aloud. Is he injured? Maybe he's going to try and fight Nyx alone. I won't let him. I'll stop him before he can do something so stupid.

"What's wrong?" Blake inquires from behind me.

"I have to go after Nico. He's up to something or he might be hurt. I'll be back soon, take care of the troops for me." I shift into my wolf form and sprint full speed in the direction that Nico was heading toward.

I know that it is inappropriate to leave Blake leading an army that he's not technically qualified to handle, but I know that if anyone can do it, it's him. As selfish as it may seem, I'm willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of my mate.

I make it to a hidden path that leads up the mountain. How did Nico know this was here? I start up the steep steps in my human form. They're far too narrow to ascend in wolf form. The battle becomes smaller and smaller the higher I climb. The wind carries the cries of the dying on its breeze.

Something is wrong with our mate. I can sense it. Sol reports.

"How do you figure? Is it the fact that he's sneaking away from the battle, or something more?"

No need for the attitude, pup. I sense something strange and dark within him. Noct's fear is equivalent to whatever is inside of him. What we find at the peak may not be the mate we knew.

"Do you think that Nyx finally got to him?" My voice is low. Below the surface, I can feel Sol pacing restlessly. Anger bubbles up red hot tainted with a black fear that oozes through my veins.

Let's hope that it is just that, Sol says ominously.

Rock crumbles underneath my feet, tumbling into the open space below. I scoot closer to the cliff face. "What else could it be if not that?"

Worst case scenario? That's not Nico at all. It's Nyx.

I stop walking for a second. "If we're chasing after Nyx, then where is the real Nico?"