I closed in on the carnage ahead, set on putting an end to the man that had caused me so much distress over the years. Wolves came pouring through the trees. Chaos erupted around me, bodies colliding. Growls, whimpers, and inhuman cries of agony echoed throughout the open field. Blurs of brown and gray fur battled on either side of me. Both packs were bound to suffer great losses today. There would be no victors only survivors.

I pushed through to the spot where Joshua's now trampled body lay, only to be greeted by a sizable gray wolf, but not the wolf I wanted. No this wasn't Phillips, but that didn't matter. He'd suffice, for now. Even with his mass behind him, he didn't put up much of a fight. His size only played to his detriment. Without forethought, he lunged at me, tumbling into the dirt where I had been standing. I knew better than to give him another chance to get to his feet. Leaping forward my front claws embedded themselves deep into his hind-side, shredding the skin along his back into thick ribbons. An agonizing howl left his mouth as he whipped and bucked trying to escape my grasp.

Warmblood seeped between the pads of my paws only driving me further. My wolf wanted, no, needed to taste the coppery crimson liquid. Digging deeper into his flesh, I propelled my body forward. Maneuvering over the top of him, my teeth sinking into his neck giving the animal within me the satisfaction he so desired. A strangled gurgling emanated from him, his chest rising and dropping with each attempt to breathe. Without a second thought, I arched my neck to the side snapping his.

I didn't have time to revel in the satisfaction of the kill, feeling a hot breath on my back seconds before the sharp pain of canines piercing my flank. An involuntary yelp left my mouth as they sunk deeper into my flesh. Without warning, the wolf disappeared. His teeth ripped free from my flesh. I glanced up in the direction he had gone. Asher was now grappling with him, tumbling head over tail. White fur mixed with gray. Both were trying to sink their teeth into the other. Both desperate to hit their mark.

'Go!' Asher shouted through the link as he battled with the other wolf, finally pinning him down. The momentary distraction gave his opponent the upper hand, allowing him to flip Asher over with a backbreaking thud. I paused torn between loyalty and compulsion, but Asher was giving me an opening, my chance to find and kill Phillips, to end this war. An opportunity, I wouldn't allow it to slip through my fingers. My need to guarantee my pack's sacrifice would not be in vain propelled me forward.

Ducking and sidestepping wolf after wolf it was sheer luck that got me passed the snapping of bloodthirsty jowls and razor-sharp claws of my adversaries. Crossing the border, I moved farther from my territory, deeper into the heart of the fight. My momentum came to an abrupt halt- my path blocked, though not by another faceless Crescent Moon wolf. This one I knew, Steven, Phillips' beta. His wolf was easily distinguishable. The stark white fur covering his right paw stood out from the rest of his sandy brown pelt. His left ear was missing a sizeable chunk from it. Now, though, his front paw wasn't white but red, no doubt stained with the blood of my fallen friends.

Steven, like Griffin, was a trained fighter. One of the best. And while I was no amateur myself, I was out of practice. His head lowered, his tail whipping behind him. Excitement filled his eyes as he stalked forward. I watched as his tongue lapped at the crimson liquid dripping from his muzzle.

He slowly circled me, leaving his side exposed. Giving me the opening I needed and being the fool I was I took it. Charging forward, intending to cutting into him with my teeth only to be on the receiving end of Steven's back paw. The blow caused everything to blur as I stumbled back. My ears were ringing. Steven advanced on me, stalking me. Predator was pursuing prey. Staggering backward, trying to buy me time to recover. Unknowing I allowed him to lead me away from the fighting. Realization took over but too late.

A ferocious growl erupted from behind me. My body flipped around readying for the attack. Phillips charged hatred filled his eyes. I rushed forward, my eyes still unable to focus, colliding head first into my adversary. The brute force of the impact sent me flying backward. My body crashed to the ground, skidding along the grass.

Pain jolted through every fiber of my being. The throbbing in my head became unbearable as it slammed into the solid ground. Staggering to my feet, something felt off. In a panic, my eyes darted around hoping to make sense of it. A sizable stone protruding from the grass covered with the red sheen of fresh blood, my blood. My hand instinctively clutched my head, feeling the warm sticky substance seeping from it.

Pulling my hand away to inspect it, shock and confusion filled me as I stared at it. My hand. It was my hand, no longer a paw. I had shifted without warning. Leaving me exposed, a sitting duck.

~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~~

Sorry for the late update, but I hope you enjoy. The creative writing contest came to an end last week and today I shall be announcing the winners on my page and also posting the third place winner's entry tomorrow. Please note TOMORROWS UPDATE WILL NOT BE PART OF THE ORIGNAL STORY, but one written be a contest entry. I hope you all will enjoy reading them as much as I did.

Is Asher okay?

Why did Logan shift?

Who will survive the battle?

Thanks again for all the support. Don't forget to comment and vote.