Cayden decided he had to act now.
“What happened?” Selena asked.
As he immediately stiffened, she could detect the concern in his face.
“Max needs me. There is a rogue attack. I have ordered reinforcements just in case things get out of hand. I will get you home before I go to check on Max.”
“Might I ask why, Alpha?”
“What do you mean why?” Growled Cayden. “I have to protect you.”
“You should know that I am also an Alpha, and I can fight,” she replied.
Cayden blinked; he had never seen her acting violently. Because of how subservient she was at all times, he had completely forgotten that Selena was also an alpha. But was she truly capable of fighting?
“No, you will stay here. He asserted himself, starting the car with authority.
“If that’s what you want, I won’t get out of the car. But Max needs you. It would be an utter waste of time to drop me off and then come back.”
Knowing that time was of the essence, Cayden quickly drove towards Max at full speed. His blood was pumping through his veins so fast that he could hear the rhythmic swooshing of the blood in time with the rapid beat of his heart.
**********
Max hadn’t felt this alive in years, and though he thought well about most humans, he was startled because one could create such an emotional stirring in his wolf. He had seen human women raped before, but never had it evoked such rage in him. As he dragged the black-coloured rogue wolf away from the woman, her fresh and intoxicating scent assaulted his senses.
“Stay away from my mate!” He screamed at the rogue.
The apparently peaceful glade was ripped apart by the roars of the animals and the noises of the fight. Max engaged in a fight with four of his assailants at once, biting and spinning in a sequence of actions to gain the upper hand over his adversaries. The minor scratches and bites that he had received had already left him bleeding, but he was determined to hold them off until his Alpha and the rest of the betas came.
Cayden was signalled by a series of loud yelps and barks. Cayden looked at the two wolves that were approaching him. They were sizing up the situation and seeking a weak place from which they might launch their assault. It was quite difficult for the two to go around him since he had backed against a large tree. When they got closer, he jumped on the wolf, who was the most aggressive, and attacked it. His wolf hissed menacingly as it exposed its sharp canine teeth and raised its hackles. He vigorously shook his head while biting down hard on the wolf’s left flank. The other wolf tried to dislodge him by bumping into him and biting him on the side. While he was hanging on, he got a taste of blood.
Cayden twisted away and leapt in order to get away from the second wolf that was snapping at his throat. They jammed him into the branch of the tree. The one that hadn’t been hurt charged at him and tried to scratch his skull with its claws. He ducked and sidestepped, but this caused him to run into the injured person, who then barrelled into him. Crap! Falling on his sides, he pushed with his hind legs as the other wolf straddled him, raking his vulnerable underbelly with his claws.
The wolf that was on top of Cayden put its mouth to his shoulder and clamped down. Cayden cried out in agony as he sought to free himself from his hold. He tugged and yanked on it with little success. Just get a mouthful of fur despite biting its ears.
On the other side of the skirmish, Selena studied the wolves fighting. She was safe in the car. But Cayden’s pained yelp alerted her.
No! Save my mate! Her wolf scrambled to get out. She got out of the car and shifted, which caused her beautiful gown to fall off. When she raced towards the rogues, she flung herself on top of the wolf that was holding Cayden in his jaws. She grabbed it with her strong teeth and pierced the animal’s neck while squeezing it fiercely. She viciously shook her head, which caused the other wolf’s neck to twist, and she then shattered it. The wolves who were battling with Max took advantage of Selena and Cayden’s exposed flank and concentrated on them in order to encircle them both.
Cayden sprang to his feet and raced at them. After attacking one wolf after another with his teeth and his claws, he eventually rendered all of them helpless.
Selena knew vaguely that Cayden had pulled off a dead rogue from her. She knew the wolf was dead because she’d heard the snap of its neck when Cayden broke it. Cayden was covering her fully, straddling her prone body, deflecting and absorbing all the attacks and snapping his jaws at what he could reach.
The attack was restless. She witnessed Max becoming weak and wobbling on his rear legs. Almost instantly, there were three wolves around him. Max was brought to the ground as one of them clamped its enormous jaws around his neck. Cayden let out a furious and anxious wail. Three wolves immediately converged on him. One latched its enormous jaws on his neck and pulled Max down. Cayden howled in anger and worry. Selena pushed herself off the tree and started for Max. Seething in anger, she focused her eyes on the wolves, especially on the one who had its jaws on Max’s neck. Suddenly, to her astonishment, all three wolves flew in the air, as if swatted by a giant hand. They flew with such speed that the thwack of flesh hitting trees and ground was audible.
“Selena!” Cayden’s emerald eyes shone with fear and stress, but as soon as he saw Selena standing there, most of those feelings quickly dissipated. Directing his icy anger only at the pack of wolves who had the audacity to invade his domain.
I’m fine. Help Max, she urged Cayden.
Cayden crouched over Max’s unmoving body. Cradling Max’s bloody lupine head on his lap.
“How is he?” Selena asked gravely, brows furrowed in concern. She had shifted into her human form.
“He’s hurt really badly.” Cayden ran his eyes over Max’s body. It was covered in blood and his fur was torn in places, showing raw flesh and muscles.
Selena remained still while standing. She watched as Cayden placed his palm on top of Max’s head and used his willpower to force him to transform back into a human.
Max looked extremely pallid. Cayden took notice of the lengthy tear on his brother’s neck that had jagged edges and was healing up. The injury served as a simple reminder that his friend came dangerously close to losing his life at the hands of these wolves, which made Cayden’s fury stew. The betas finally arrived with Natasha. They took stock of the scene and gathered the unconscious wolves together on one side and the dead ones on the other.
Max finally opened his eyes as his wounds healed. He first stared at Cayden, then he surveyed the surrounding area. He stood up and took a glance around, completely oblivious to the fact that he was naked.
“What the hell happened? What did you do to make her run?”
“What?” Cayden asked, wondering if Max had hurt his head so hard?
“That girl. I was trying to save her from the rogues.”
“There was a girl here?” Selena asked, stepping further.
“Yeah, I have to find her.” Max said and ran into the woods.