Chapter 27

Flora’s P.O.V

Every single red eyes snapped in my directing in an instant.

Maws were bared, claws lengthened and their lips pulled back over incredibly sharp teeth.

The rogues looked ferocious, animals without mercy. And I had just set foot into their trap.

Clay’s eyes snapped open as soon as he got a whiff of my scent and I knew I had to act before the rogue wolves went to attack him. So I charged towards them with a battle cry and they immediately hounded towards me.

I was thrown back an instant later as one of the wolves tackled me to the ground and then all five wolves were surrounding me, ready to pounce.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for those sharp fangs to sink into my flesh, but another growl sounded from right behind me, and the one holding me down was suddenly thrown off of me.

Snapping my eyes open, I found Clay’s wolf tearing at the rogue’s throat as blood splattered everywhere. The four remaining wolves were instantly on high alert, growling and snapping their teeth as they circled around Clay.

I sat up on the ground, looking for a way to help Clay as he got cornered. He was limping, and even though one of the wolves were down, the rest of them seemed to have gotten more aggressive after losing a comrade.

They had Clay surrounded on all sides in an instant and I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. Standing up on shaky feet, I listened to the howls of my wolf that was scratching and clawing, begging to be set free…and I let my wolf take over.

Light and darkness. Pleasure and pain.

Transformation was a phenomenon so brilliant that I could not describe it in words, but I could feel my bones morphing into that of the wolf, feel the fur growing on my skin…an within a few seconds, I was standing on four legs instead of two, my coat a dark brown in colour.

I knew I didn’t stand a chance against these wolves; I was a healer, not a fighter; but at that moment, I was ready for them. If it meant I could save Clay’s life.

Finding the smallest of the four, I ran at full speed and pounced on it, sinking my teeth into the flesh at its back and dragging it away. I think I saw Clay’s attention shift to me briefly, but the next instant, I felt a sharp pain on my back, only to find that the wolf I had dragged away had turned back and went for me instead, missing my throat by a couple inches.

The pain was intense and I wanted to let go so I could back away, but that would only encourage the rogue to go for my neck. So I swallowed the pain and bit down harder, until I reached bones.

The wolf yelped and let go of me, giving me a chance to go for its neck. I took the opportunity and sank my fangs into his neck. Blood splattered all over my face and the cries of the wounded wolf drew the attention of the others. All of them left Clay at once and pounced on me, biting and clawing until I let go of the wounded wolf and fell back on the ground.

Everything hurt like hell and I was sure this would be the end of me.

I snuck one last look at Clay as one of the wolves bit down on my hind leg. He was bleeding profusely and his hind leg appeared broken, but still, his eyes connected with mine before sharp fangs blocked my vision. The rogue were getting ready for the kill. This was it.

Howl.

The sound was different, a mix between a growl and a howl. I don’t know what exactly happened but the wolves paused. Everyone just stood still, including the injured wolf on the ground, a few feet away from me.

And then the wolves turned in unison…to look at Clay.

I followed their gaze and found him a few feet away, still injured and limping…but there was something different about him, about the way he was looking at the wolves.

Several howls sounded from around us, not too far away. The howls of our packmates.

The wolves shook themselves as if they had been in a trance and then they turned tail and ran.

They must have figured out that the howls belonged to our pack mates and that they were severely outnumbered. They didn’t even bother to help their fallen comrade, they just ran.

Clay came closer and snapped the injured wolf’s neck with his fangs before collapsing on the ground. And then a golden light engulfed his form.

“Flora…” his voice was weak, hoarse. His entire body was covered in gashes and dried blood. Some wounds were still fresh and bleeding. He needed urgent care.

The wolf subsided, letting the human part of me take over and after a few excruciating seconds of pleasure-pain, I reached out with my hand towards Clay.

“We made it, Clay.” I whispered to him, my voice hoarse from fatigue. “They’re gone. We made it.”

“You shouldn’t have come…” Clay’s voice was barely above a whisper and I knew he had to be in great pain right now. “I couldn’t protect you.”

“I wasn’t the one in need of protection.” I told him firmly. “I was able to get here on time.”

Clay crawled on his hands and dragged his body towards me. He grunted in pain several times but he didn’t stop until he could reach out to me with his hands. His blood scented the air and I was afraid that it would bring back the rogue wolves. Hell, even the scent of my blood could do that.

What should I do?

Clay touched my cheeks lightly with his fingers and I realized that I was dozing off. My strength was almost down to null and I was ready to pass out. Neither were a good sign. At least one of us needed to be in shape to defend us in case the rogue did return. So I made a spontaneous decision and grabbed Clay’s hand in mine tightly with whatever strength I had left.

“Flora?” Clay’s voice sounded worried. “What are you-”

Clay’s voice faded as my vision blurred and I transferred all of my remaining energy into his body, healing him as best as I could before the drainage of power made me pass out.

But before my world was engulfed in darkness, all I could think of was that I had transferred enough healing power into Clay to save us both.