Wolf Pack - 14. Caught Between Two Packs

The two groups stared in shock at the halves of the bandit leader. Quarian recovered first, handing the sword back to Sandolin as his body rippled. His clothes ripped as he transformed, letting out an angry growl.

“Werewolf!” someone screamed.

The shock of seeing their leader killed in a brutal fashion and watching an enemy turn into a feared creature caused many of the onlookers to drop their weapons in fear. Quarian watched, satisfied, as the bandits all backed off.

Paelius rose back to his feet and turned to Sandolin.

“Sir Sandolin, please escort the prisoners to the dungeons. We will deal with them tomorrow.”

As the elf approached the bandits, a voice called out, “I’m not going to be led like a lamb to the slaughter!”

An arrow flew from the side, penetrating through the muscle on Quarian’s front leg. He let out a howl of pain and collapsed as a white blur sprinted toward the archer.

Masia knelt beside the wolf as a scream filled the air. She grabbed the shaft quivering in Quarian’s leg and yanked.

The wolf cried out, snapping at the human, and she swatted his nose hard.

“Enough of that. We need to get the arrow out and bind the wound,” she scowled.

Grabbing the arrow again, the woman pulled and with a sickening rip, the head of the arrow cleared the wound, releasing a pool of blood.

Suddenly a white wolf knocked Masia aside, scarlet blood dripping from his maw. He scrunched up in pain, his fur retreating until Danuva took the wolf’s place.

“He’s bleeding out,” the werewolf said. “Get a bandage.”

Masia hurried off, ignoring Sandolin, who continued herding the remaining bandits toward the dungeons.

Dimly Quarian realized Paelius was standing beside him. Whimpering in pain, the wolf shifted and took the elf’s hand.

“Can I do anything to help?” the prince asked worriedly.

“Quit fucking my brother. He thinks he needs to protect you,” Danuva growled. “And that idea of him taking you prisoner was stupid.”

“It… worked,” Quarian grunted.

“Only because that thing came out of the sky. And what the fuck was that anyway?”

Masia hurried toward the trio, clutching a roll of bandages in her hand. She gave them to Danuva, who rolled them tightly around Quarian’s shoulder. Placing his hand above the wound, the human began pouring healing energy into the wolf. Wincing, Quarian closed his eyes. He had seen his brother heal injuries before. This wound was going to take a while.

The iron door squealed shut, locking the former bandits within a small cell. Sandolin had no qualms about leaving them all in there to rot away, but he knew they would see the light of day again if only to be tried by the king for treason.

Pocketing the cell key, the werewolf turned and walked up the stairs to the main part of the keep. Outside, Masia, Danuva, and Paelius worked to heal Quarian, and the elf left them alone. He was not needed there, and he would just be getting in the way. Besides, how could he save a man when a part of him wished the man would die?

A gasp caught his attention, and the elf turned down a narrow hall, a hand on his sword.

“Who’s there?” he challenged.

The young neko who had brought them into the fortress fell out of a tapestry hung on the wall.

“Please sir, don’t hurt me!” she sobbed. “I was only following Master’s orders!”

Letting out a disgusted grunt, Sandolin grabbed the girl and dragged her outside. Dropping her next to Masia, he snapped, “Take care of her. I’m going to patrol the walls.”

The woman knelt beside the neko, comforting her.

“Have some pity,” she exclaimed, glaring at Sandolin.

“I do. That’s why she isn’t locked up with the other traitors to the realm.”

The werewolf stalked off, making his way toward the stairs leading to the walls. He felt no remorse for his treatment of the neko. Slave or not, she had aided the bandits, and there was no room in the law of the land for exceptions.

Climbing the stairs, the newest knight of the elven lands scanned the growing dark, keeping watch over his keep.

Half an hour into his watch, a light appeared in the woods around the castle, and Sandolin squinted, trying to pick out the source. Several more lights joined the first, and the werewolf quickly realized he was staring at an approaching army. He prayed they were elves.

Danuva held back a sigh as he looked at his work. Quarian was whole once more, still alive. The werewolf was exhausted, but he wasn’t finished yet.

Digging through his clothes, Danuva produced the green serum, placing a drop on his tongue before letting a drop fall into Quarian’s mouth. Handing the bottle to Paelius, he helped Quarian to his feet.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Better. Thank you,” Quarian replied gratefully.

“Good.”

Danuva socked his brother in the shoulder.

“OW!”

“Don’t ever worry me like that again.”

He embraced his brother tightly, then left Quarian to be tended to by Paelius. Making his way over to Masia, Danuva studied the scared Neko at her side.

“She’s Elias’ sister,” Masia said, looking up at him.

The man nodded.

“You look like him,” he said, kneeling beside the women.

The neko figered her ears, lowering her head in shame.

“We were sold together,” she said quietly.

“Do you have a name?”

“Naia…”

Danuva sat back on his heels.

“I will make you the same promise I made your brother Naia,” he said. “You will never feel the shame of being sold ever again. I will protect you.”

“We will protect you,” Masia added, placing a hand on the werewolf.

Danuva glanced at the woman in surprise.

“I guess when we get hime I’ll be adding another bed?”

“Only if you’ll have me intruding upon your hospitality once more.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, my lady,” Danuva smiled, kissing her hand.

He turned back to the neko.

“I hope you will consider staying with us. We’ll take good care of you.”

“Will I see my brother?”

Danuva frowned and Naia flinched.

“We don’t know where Elias is,” the werewolf admitted. “He ran away several weeks ago.”

“He might be looking for you though,” Masia suggested.

“If someone sees his colours he will be captured again,” Naia said, voice quuivering.

“We’ll find him,” Masia promised the neko as Sandolin jogged toward them.

“Prince Paelius, the elven army is here,” the werewolf called as he approached.

“Well that’s a shame,” a voice said.

Riardin and ten humans appeared out of thin air, quickly surrounding the group. Danuva leapt up, placing himself between Naia and the lycanthrope. There was no way this would end peacefully.

Masia glared at her brother, the source of so many of her problems.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“My dear sister, is that how you greet your brother after so many months away?” Riardin grinned.

“You snake. You are not my brother. I told Father what you’ve done-”

“Oh, hadn’t you heard? Father is dead.”

The grin on Riardin’s face grew wider as Masia paled. He turned from his sister, facing Paelius.

“The last time we spoke, Prince Paelius, I told you it was time to return home. You did not listen, insisting on leading me on a chase throughout the human lands. A chase that got a certain young cat man eaten, I might add.”

A gasp slipped from Masia’s lips and beside her, Naia let out a gut-wrenching sob.

“Oh, don’t look at me,” Riardin said as five glares bore into him. “Greggory is the one who had the pleasure.”

He motioned to a man, and a glance told Masia Danuva and Paelius were acquainted with him.

“Just as I had the pleasure with you?” Quarian asked suddenly.

All eyes turned to the werewolf, the oldest werewolf among the group.

Riardin’s glare was icy.

“I have never seen you before in my life,” he said.

“No? A year ago you visited Astara and were mauled by a black wolf. I apologise for that, though you appear to have made the most of it,” Quarian said.

Danuva stepped beside Masia and whispered, “Get Naia out of here.”

“What about you?”

The werewolf’s eyes took on a steely glint.

“I’ve killed one person today. I can do it again.”

Masia nodded.

“Prince Paelius, with your leave, I would take the innocent from here,” she said loudly.

“Oh, by all means, give that beast the chance none of us were given. I can smell the change on you,” Riardin grinned. “Which one of you deflowered my dear sister?”

Paelius nodded at Masia, and the woman took Naia’s hand.

“Come on, we need to leave,” she whispered to the neko.

Leading the girl through the group, Masia barely suppressed a flinch as she passed her brother, fully expecting foul play. He let her go, and she breathed easier, though she half expected him to attack her.

They approached the gate, Masia keeping herself between the neko and the werewolves.

“We need to tell the army out there what is happening. Don’t worry, they’re friends. They’ll help us,” she said quietly.

Placing a hand on the gate, the woman pushed the barrier open right before she heard Danuva yell.

A sudden agony bloomed in her back, and Masia stumbled against the gate, screaming. She collapsed over the neko, still shielding the girl.

“Go! Run!” she cried, the pain in her back increasing.

Naia took her advice and sprinted through the gate. Masia hand just enough presence of mind to direct her fall through the gate, holding the barrier open with her body, before darkness consumed her.

Paelius tackled Danuva, pinning him to the ground.

“Get off me!” the man roared.

“Stop! They’ll shoot you too!” Paelius hissed.

Danuva struggled to get free, to resume his reckless run toward Masia, but the elven prince was too strong for him.

“Such a shame,” Riardin sighed as Greggory lowered his bow. “Now, Prince Paelius, will you join my pack, or will you go the way of so many before you?”

“Paelius,” Quarian interjected. “Only one wolf needs to die.”

“You’re wrong. No one else needs to die today,” Riardin denied. “All you have to do is bend the knee.”

Paelius felt the pressure of Riardin’s words, the magic coursing through them. They had no hold on him though, and he straightened, shoving Danuva toward Quarian.

“No. Riardin, son of Thurston, you have proven yourself unfit to walk this world, let alone lead any people on it.”

“Are you challenging me for my pack then?” Riardin asked dangerously.

“Yes. I am.”