15

GEORGIA

✿

Oh wow, I would say if Beau saw us right now he would be impressed with our speed. Man, we were really fast. Well, he would most likely be impressed for a blink of an eye, and then he would realize what we were running away from. And draw conclusions as to which area we had penetrated. Now that I think about it, he probably wouldn't be impressed. Yes, he would be mad from the start. Damn pissed.

Why exactly were we running home?

“ G , we have to transform. Then we'll be faster.” Blair's breath hitched.

I glanced at her. Her strawberry blonde hair was blowing in the wind and her expression was serious.

“G?”

"Er..." Sweat trickled down my back. My pulse quickened. "I..."

And then BENG!

I was still in the middle of a sprint. Conifers whizzing past me like a fast motion picture, branches that kept brushing against me and scratching my skin, the fast tapping of our boots as the memory suddenly came and I put two and two together.

"Watch out!" I yanked Blair down with me.

She stared up at me, startled. “Georgie, what are you doing?! Do you want them to catch up with us?”

I scrambled off her, making sure the bush we were behind was thick enough not to give us away. 'That noise. I've heard that before.” A bang. And then a scream. "That bang causes bad wounds."

"A bang?" She sat up off the floor.

"I can't explain everything to you now, but you have to trust me on this."

"I trust you, G . But what are we supposed to do? We can't hole up here and wait for them to come to us. Our pack needs warning.”

"And if we keep running now, we'll either get hurt or we'll lead them straight to the warehouse." This was a chance to prove ourselves as soldiers. "Don't you remember? Do you want to be a soldier? Then behave like them too.' I quoted Beau. "Blair, what would we do if we were done?"

She chewed on her lower lip as she thought. Then, when her decision was made, she said, "Okay, I agree with you. We stop them. But if this… this bang is as deadly as you say, then we still need assistance.”

I nodded. "Call them." The call gave away our location, but the price was not too high. We were prepared. Somehow. Hopefully.

I just wish I had my bow with me.

Blair's howl sent goosebumps down my spine. Her head was thrown back, her eyes were closed, but I was sure that her wolf would look at me if she looked at me at that moment. And sure enough, when she opened them again, her pupils were different. Light blue radiant wolf eyes.

"They mustn't see you," she said urgently.

"I won't let you down," I replied.

“Georgie, you have to. If they find out about your powers, we're really screwed. Believe me, I'd rather have those pirates than face Beau's wrath,” she quipped to ease the tense mood.

"No." I thought feverishly. Think about Georgie. think . If Arya were here now, then...

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Birds flew away and disappeared into the sky. I heard her heavy footsteps. Sniffed her sweaty, foul-smelling odor. They must not have seen a sink for a long time. uhh

Blair grabbed my hand. I squeezed hers reassuringly, even though I was dying of nervousness myself.

'We'll wait for them to pass us. Then we'll attack from behind,” I whispered, the nasty scent still in my nostrils. 'It's only two, we'll manage. Also, support is on the way. And if we don't attack them now, the other healer werewolves will find them anyway. We have no choice."

Blair nodded. Judging by their loud stamping, they came dangerously close to us.

"Didn't you say you saw her?" The pirate's voice sounded annoyed.

"Aye, I have it too!" the other defended himself.

They had almost reached us. I gripped Blair's hand tighter.

'Arrrr... Why did you just leave them there! Such a rude good-for-nothing! If you hadn't left her behind, we wouldn't be here now."

The two pirates came into view. They were moving several yards to our right through the woods, but if we looked over our shoulders, they'd see us.

Her clothes were dirty and tattered. They wore leather trousers and faded shirts with a vest over them. And they had guns with them.

"Oh, and that's my fault now? No I left her unattended.”

“Aye, it is! If you- Wait! I heard something.” The stockier of the two stopped. At first he stayed exactly where he was, with his hand on his weapon belt, then he looked left and right. He searched the forest inch by inch.

I automatically pushed myself a little more into the bush.Please don't turn to us. Please do not.

As if hearing my pathetic request, they marched on.

“We'll find this little wolf, she must be around here somewhere. What do you think she will bring us? Thousand?"

The smaller man, his clothes flapping about thin as he was, laughed slyly. 'Oh yes, a thousand or more! I'm going to form my own crew with it. And buy a ship.”

His burly sidekick, who had a lot more on his ribs than beanstalks, sneered at him. “Who would follow you as captain? Keep dreaming drunkard!"

Blair looked at me. I nodded. now .

She transformed and crept up on Beanstalk. I fixed my prey, careful not to make a peep. Fatty had two guns that I could spot from here. A long dagger on his left and the weird thing in his hand. I didn't know what it was, had never seen it. It had to be the bang.

I quietly circled the thick bushes in front of me and then in a flash I stepped behind a tree just as he was looking back. I counted to five, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then I cautiously peered out from behind the trunk.

Our prey was within reach. Again I inspected the extraordinary weapon. Then I peeked at Blair. It's now or never .

We attacked. I heard Blair's prey scream as her claws sunk into his flesh. Fatty's head snapped over to the wolf. He quickly raised his hand and aimed the bang at Blair. Without waiting any longer, I threw myself at him, snatching the gun from his hand and throwing it away.

The element of surprise was before advantage and the bang was gone, but now I was faced with another pretty big problem. The pirate reacted with lightning speed, reaching for the long dagger. I was prepared and ducked. And the whole time I tried not to look into his eyes.

“You bitch. I'll finish you off!” Fatty threatened and parried one blow after the other. “Tell me, where did you take the healer werewolf? Tell me!”

"Do you honestly think I'd tell a pirate like you anything?" I tried to avoid him as best I could. Arya had taught me that tactic. Be as flowing and supple as water , she had always insisted.

But this tactic would not last long. I had neither a sword nor a bow and arrow.

His blade missed me by a hair's breadth. He yelled. "Better you would."

"You'll never get them again!" I landed a full hit with my foot against his stomach and he stumbled back. Once he caught himself, he fixed me with a glare and I forgot to look away.

His eyes widened as he realized. "Still a!"

oh crap Just then, Blair whimpered and I saw Beanstalk reach under her flanks and squeeze. "Blair!"

But too late. Fatty had shamelessly exploited this moment, grabbed me and smashed me against a fir tree. Fine needles fell on my head. I was about to kick him again when the dagger was at my throat.

"But but. Don't let that stop you.” His foul breath hit me as he bent over me. 'What a beauty. The Ruinbringer will be more than pleased once I hand you over to him.” He smiled, revealing gaps in his teeth. He gently stroked my cheek with the dagger and his eyes sparkled as if he were looking at pure gold.

I growled as the point of his knife dug into my skin and he made a nick across my cheek. It wasn't deep, nor would there be a scar if the wound was tended to quickly. But no one should ever decide anything about me again, do something to my body without my wanting it.

Something familiar ached in my chest.

"I'll swim in gold once I've sold you."

"Where are you going to sell me?" I growled, trying to figure out how to get out of his grip without scratching my face. I focused on my fingertips, the sensation I always get when my claws protrude. But nothing.

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as he ran the blade across my face, attempting to reposition the point. No.

Then all of a sudden he was torn from me. I stumbled sideways but just caught myself.

Joy pressed him against the nearest tree trunk and crashed her fist into his face. "So you enjoy hurting and threatening young women?" Another punch. He groaned. “What do you think if I turn the tables instead? How does that sound?” Joy's fist was raised when someone stopped her.

"Joy, stop!" Hawkings stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder.

Her fist was still hovering in the air. "He hurt the pack."

"I know. But he's more useful alive."

Her knuckles turned white from clenching her fist.

'Believe me, there's nothing I'd rather do than bite his throat in person. But that will have to wait.” Hawking watched the pirate glare at him. There was a laceration on his upper lip and his right eye was already swollen shut from Joy's fabulous boxing punches.

As Joy lowered her fist, defusing the situation, Hawkings eyed me. "Everything OK?"

"Yeah sure." I wiped the blood from my cheek and just saw the pirate fish something out of his pocket. “Attention Joy!”

But it was too late. The pirate stabbed. Right in the chest. In his chest.

"The code of honor will not be broken," he gasped as the blood was already running out of his mouth.

Joy cursed and grabbed his collar. "No, damn it! You won't die from us. Georgie!”

I had already placed my hands on his chest, but even with my pitiful strength I realized that all life in his body had evaporated. I shook my head. He was dead.

The beige and gray spotted she-wolf looked up at Hawkings tentatively. Beanpole's lifeless body next to her. His throat was bitten and blood soaked his clothes.

“You did well, Blair. It was the only way.” He stroked her head. Hawkings shifted his gaze to me. "That goes for you too, Georgie."

I bit my lip and looked at the scene in front of me. Well, Blair had knocked out her opponent, I nearly got killed in the process, and our informant died too.

I sighed and closed my eyes. Felt the pressure of the dagger that had been at my throat. I hadn't been able to free myself on my own.

The long-forgotten pain in my chest continued.