Alisha’s POV
I could distinctly sense the warmth seeping out of my body, carried away by my own lifeblood. My vision gradually dimmed, and my breath grew fainter with each passing moment. A critical realization loomed: my only chance at survival lay in revealing Shaunda's location, leading these hostile people onto the estate. Yet, I wouldn't allow myself to utter any word.
"You bitch, if you refuse to speak now, you'll never speak again," the man warned, venom lacing his voice. But I remained resolute, unwilling to betray Shaunda.
My silence seemed to enrage the man further. He ruthlessly drove my face into the gritty sand, his foot grinding down on the wound at my neck. "I had intended to show mercy, but it appears you have decided to choose a different path."
Blood loss had stolen my consciousness away, numbing even the agony of my neck. It felt as though I was descending into a realm of unending darkness, a world devoid of sound and light. I knew I should be returning to the Moon Goddess, but thoughts of Grandma Magaly held me back. If I left, Joey certainly would never care for her; he might even abandon her in the forest. That, I couldn't allow!
No, I refused to surrender my life like this. Magaly was depending on me! She must be waiting for me! Suddenly, I erupted with an intense will to survive!
In the boundless depths of my unconscious mind, I suddenly notice a pair of luminous eyes. They were tender yet brimming with powerful strength, and oddly familiar! These eyes blazed with a blinding, radiant light, and my heart, which had cooled, began to beat with fiery vigor.
Then, a deafening wolf's howl pierced the air, originating from the estate, deafening, but instead, it brought me safety as I plunged into the abyss of unconsciousness.
Archie’s POV
I seethed with anger, perched on the lounge couch on the first floor, my gaze fixed on the front door. My ears were finely tuned to the sounds of the outside world.
"Bro, if I were Alisha and I saw your grumpy face here, I definitely wouldn't walk in. If you're waiting for her, you can do it in the bedroom!" my wolf grumbled impatiently within my mind.
"No! I want to catch her the moment she returns and teach her a lesson! She dared to mock me..." Alisha's earlier taunts echoed in my mind, igniting an intense desire to assert my dominance. I must have her experience my power tonight, and see if she'd still spout nonsense on my bed!
"How many times do I have to tell you? You need to be gentle! Don't be so impatient and angry. Shaunda will scold you when she finds out! Can't you learn from me? See, how smart, calm, and collected I am, I ..." My wolf's advice was abruptly interrupted.
It seemed to sense something, something very significant. In a heartbeat, it leaped out of the Bay, landing furiously on the floor. I even could feel its fur bristling with anger, an almost tangible rage, as it let out an urgent, prolonged howl, fiercer than I have heard before.
Like other werewolves, I had the ability to shift into a wolf, and at that time, we are a single entity. However, we were unique in that my wolf and I could exist independently, a separate entity with our own actions. My wolf could exist while I could function as a human.
Now, my wolf had been greatly stimulated, and it didn't explain anything to me. It darted forward like a bolt, claws leaving deep marks in the floor. I followed suit. Although it didn’t speak a word, I was compelled by the profound emotions from my wolf – a mixture of anger bordering on destruction and an inexplicable sadness. A heavy, foreboding feeling weighed on my heart immediately.
My wolf and I raced with a speed that rivaled Gift-enhanced werewolves. In under two seconds, we were closing in on the island's edge. The distant crash of waves met our ears, but it wasn't just the sound; I had an ominous feeling because my night vision allowed me to see something in the distance – a group of strangers gathered by the seashore. What was worse, I detected the unmistakable scent of blood, and it was all too familiar – Alisha’s!
My heart clenched as if a vice had gripped it. Those strangers had clearly spotted us, too. Several raised weapons, while a handful transformed into wolves, their intent clear.
My wolf reached them first, unwavering. It lunged at a thug armed with a dagger, fearless and furious. The man swung his blade toward my wolf's eye, but my wolf didn't flinch. It widened its jaws, zeroing in on the thug's arm. With a graceful tilt of its head, it dodged the blade and bite on the man's arm. With a powerful shake, my wolf not only tore off the entire arm but also half of the thug's torso. Blood erupted, painting the beach in a macabre tableau, marking the onset of a brutal battle.
The sight of blood sent those into a frenzied charge towards my wolf. "Let's deal with these two before we attract more attention!"
Ignoring their words, I sprinted towards the gruesome scene where the werewolf had been torn apart.
Alisha lay there, lifeless, her stillness a haunting contrast against the chaos around. A large pool of blood spread beneath her, saturating the beach and revealing a terrible aspect in the darkness.
From the moment I saw Alisha, my brain seemed incapable of rational thought. My legs felt as though they'd lost all strength, and I collapsed onto the sand. Gently, I cradled Alisha in my arms, Her complexion was deathly pale, her face covered in sand. There were bruises around her mouth and on her cheek, where a distinct handprint etched upon one. But most horrific was the terrible gash on her neck, blood seeping through her clothes and staining my trembling hands.
Rage and despair coursed through me, a torrent of emotions that tore at my very core. It was as if my chest had been ripped open, my heart shredded into fragments. A dozen or so wolves came charging towards me from behind, intent on tearing me apart. I listened to their howls, and my mind held only one thought - they had killed Alisha! They deserved to die!
In that heart-wrenching moment, my wolf lifted its head, a mournful howl escaping its powerful jaws, reaching out to the unforgiving moon. The night sky fractured with a burst of strong light, bolts of lightning streaking like snakes, and then, with a thunderous roar, they rained down from above!