Chapter 32

Aiden growled and threw himself forward at the same time as letting his elbow meet the Alpha's ribs. Lifting the Alpha off the floor, Aiden ducked his chin to the left and dropped onto his back. The Alpha grunted under the force of the tarmac and Aiden's weight. Suddenly Aiden was thrown into the air, landing with a thud as the Alpha began to shift.

Welcoming his own beast, Aiden gritted his teeth against the pain of his shifting bones and pounced at the grey Alpha. Aiden had always been a quick learner when it came to fighting and as the Alpha adjusted his defence against Aiden's snarling teeth, Aiden swung a paw, connecting his claws with the grey wolf's snout. The Alpha snarled and dove for Aiden's fleshy throat but Aiden had learned from his fights and could adapt in unexpected ways. As a wolf, Aiden had strength and agility but as a human, he had size that he could use as an advantage.

As the Alpha leapt into the air, Aiden shifted to his human form and dropped flat to the floor. The Alpha leapt over him, his claws scrambling to support himself as he tried to turn around. Aiden smirked and ran towards the trees for cover as he willed his wolf to come.

Alpha howled and Aiden knew he was pissed and calling for backup. He would be slaughtered if he didn't act quickly. Using the darkness to his advantage, Aiden prowled along the perimeter wall of the village, watching as the Alpha slowly made his way to the tree line in search of Aiden.

At the last minute, Aiden ran forward as fast as his strong legs would carry him and ploughed into the side of the Alpha, knocking him into a tree trunk with a yelp. Aiden snapped at the Alpha's hind legs as he tried to stand, but failed. Blood ran from a wound on the Alpha's hind leg and Aiden swiped his massive claws at his muzzle, then dove for his neck. The Alpha, using Aiden's own tactic against him, shifted to human form and rolled out of the way. Aiden went crashing to the forest floor, sending a cloud of soil and dust into the air.

Aiden heard shouting, followed by a range of howls from the village as some of the pack began to appear. Righting himself, he scanned the trees for the Alpha. Seeing him heading towards the village, Aiden set off on a run in an attempt to catch him. It was suicide, he knew that, but what choice did he have?

Crashing through the treeline, Aiden growled as his paws thudded across the tarmac road. The Alpha instantly transformed back into his wolf and crashed into Aiden, sending them both tumbling across the road in a blaze of teeth and claws.

Aiden felt a rib snap as he hit a tree and he yelped in pain. He saw the Alpha trying to stand but not put pressure on a front paw and he knew that if he hit that leg in the right spot and also got the injured hind leg, the Alpha would have to give in and release Charlie.

Ignoring the pain in his side, Aiden charged with his head lowered like a bull. At the last minute, he veered slightly and took a snap at the Alpha's hind leg. His teeth sank smoothly into the flesh before he spun his head, ripping a chunk out of the muscle. The Alpha howled and yelped as he tried to face Aiden, who was prowling slowly around him.

Aiden could see a crowd appearing at the edge of the village humans and wolves alike, all watching as Aiden circled their Alpha. He saw Thunder, smirking at him as he watched and Aiden instantly curled his upper lip into a toothy snarl.

You're next, he thought as he dove forward, ready to rip the Alpha apart. The Alpha yelped as he tried to dodge the attack, but failed. Aiden's teeth missed him by mere inches but his shoulder still managed to connect. As Aiden turned to leap into the air, he saw another wolf heading right for him.

Aiden and the second wolf met in a crash of paws and snouts. Both wolves stood on hind legs, hugging each other for support as they mauled at one another. The other wolf was strong, but Aiden was stronger, buckling the other wolf under his weight. Aiden stretched his mouth wide as he went in for the kill, ripping out the throat of the second wolf. Blood spewed as Aiden turned back to the Alpha with his bloody teeth bared.

Suddenly, Aiden was flung sideways. He howled as he tried to stand, pain shooting through his left hind leg. A third wolf snarled as it walked towards him, followed by a brown wolf that he knew.

Thunder…

Aiden teetered on three legs, using his tail as balance, and never taking his eyes off Thunder, he waited for the assault. Two more wolves hit his front flank and right hind leg simultaneously, sending him tumbling towards Thunder and his companion. Instantly, Thunder dove for Aiden's neck before being knocked away by a large black wolf.

Lying on the floor with his head spinning, Aiden failed to hold his shift. His vision swam as he returned to his human form, surrounded by wolves. His naked body shivered as the forest breeze washed over him.

"I'm sorry, Charlie," he said. He closed his eyes against the guilt building up in him. He was meant to protect her but he had failed at every turn.

"You can tell her that in a few minutes," the Alpha said. Aiden saw him limp into the centre of the wolf ring, blood running down his leg from a missing chunk of thigh muscle.

"Take him to the cabin, lads. He can spend some time with the woman before Hernandez comes for her. I'm sure the three of them will have lots to discuss."

Aiden wanted to wipe the sneer off the Alpha's smug face but as he tried to stand, a burning pain coursed through his leg and he collapsed to the floor.

"When they're done, we will play a game called hunt the hybrid."