Song: Villain playlist by Gloriae Templum

My paws thumped against the cold pavement as the three of us raced through the dark streets of Salem. Rain pelted us like liquid bullets, cutting into our sleek fur raised at the hackles. Fury crowded my vision and I pushed us faster until we were blurring streaks in the moonlight.

The second I realized how much danger Leo was in my shift was immediate. The car was long forgotten after I let my inner beast take over. The rising bloodlust compelled me into near insanity at the thought of Leo being taken away from me.

I was going to slaughter every Dark Witch and Warlock in sight before I allowed them to hurt my Mate.

My lungs were burning from the intensity of our race but I pushed the inconsequential pain to the side. I opened my mind link with Pride, sending him a quick warning.

Pride!

Rowena's alive!

She's leading an attack
on the cottage tonight.

We're on our way now.

Moonlight guided us to where we needed to go. Houses and businesses grew scarce and before I knew it we were thundering into the forest full speed. Twigs and foliage snapped underneath our pounding paws. My lips pulled back into a snarl when I caught the tell-tale scent of rotting herbs that hinted at evil magick.

They're already here.

The sound of crackling filled my ears and I saw the dark plume of smoke rising in the distance. Trauma seized my heart as I relived the first attack on my Pack. The burning houses, the wolves we lost, and the sight of Malec's tear stained cheeks spurred me on.

A shadow of a man bellowed before sprinting towards us with sparks of purple lining his open palms. I howled at my enemy, hurling myself into battle. Placing all of my strength into my back legs, I shot forward and latched onto the dark man's neck. His rancid blood filled my jaws as I ripped out a chunk of flesh. His pained cries died the second I tossed him back like a rag doll and Sky snapped his neck in half.

We barreled through the forest killing everyone that came across our path. I was panting heavily as I clawed a pale woman's stomach open, watching as her intestines spilled out. Flora ripped off her hands that were buzzing alive with decaying magick. The Dark Witch's blue eyes faded into oblivion as we left her withering corpse in our collective dust.

The closer we got to the burning cottage the thicker our enemies became. What started out as a sparse attack quickly became an organized front of us versus them. Skidding to a halt, I flicked my tail at the other she-wolves so that they'd stop with me. We glared at the line of Dark Witches and Warlocks separating us from joining the boys. From beyond the barrier of darkness they held up I saw the unmistakable signs of Pride's magick roaring to life. Strikes of heated lightning sliced through the battering rain, obliterating whoever he targeted.

Flicking my tail in annoyance, I observed the unmoving wall of foes before us. Sky growled, shifting so that her brown fur pressed against my side. It was a silent question of what we should do and I grew even more irritated that we didn't share a mind link.

Shifting my focus back to our enemies, I realized that not only weren't they moving, they weren't attacking. Their line of defense just stood there. Hiding behind the shadows of night and burning smoke.

They were waiting. But for what?

A loud yip from behind their fortified wall caused a jolt of panic to fill my chest. With only a half-assed plan and a prayer for luck, I jumped into action. Keeping my eyes on the wall of Dark Witches and Warlocks opposing us, I raced forward with all I had. Flora and Sky flanked my sides without hesitation, growling as we neared their firm line.

And then I saw it.

A quick turn of the head by a raven haired woman standing at the far left. She wasn't at the front where you'd expect a leader to stand. No, she was almost completely hidden by the shadows as she gave her silent command. Maybe she thought she was slick or too quick for us to notice.

She wasn't.

At the sight of her order those standing at the right broke free from their post, sprinting towards us. I changed course to meet them while keeping an eye on the unmoving Witch. Sky and Flora dashed past me, tearing into flesh and spraying blood everywhere. At the last second I changed directions and spun to the left. Before anyone could react I slammed my paw against the wet earth. A line of silver rushed forward and speared the raven haired Witch in the chest.

I felt her heart beating wildly as my gift pierced through her back, holding her immobile. In the moonlight I saw her wide eyes, green and untamed. Surprised. I growled, forcing my power higher until the tip of the silver spear cut through her screaming mouth.

Suddenly, she wasn't screaming anymore.

Her body fell to the damp ground with a sick thud and I joined the girls in our wild annihilation. It was clear by their dazed expressions and timid assaults that they weren't bred for war. These were the pawns that Rowena sacrificed while her best fighters waited elsewhere.

Smart on her part. But horrible for these fools.

I stomped on a blond man's head, splattering his brains into a dirty puddle. Blood that wasn't my own dripped from my mouth as I intercepted the blow meant for Sky. My protective shield reflected the magick onto the small Witch that threw it. The black blast hit her in the stomach. She froze like a statue, her skin slowly turning into marble.

I shouldered past her body and didn't bother to watch it shatter.

Racing into the second battlefield, I leapt over Reign's brown wolf and crashed into an unknown Beta. The hard earth slammed against my side and I whimpered at the harsh blow. Scrambling to my paws, I circled the grey wolf snarling at me. Scars of missing fur lined his face and a black collar was fastened to his large neck.

What.

The.

Fuck?!

"Attack!" The grey Beta growled before lurching forward. Stepping to the side, I avoided his large chomp and swiped at his back legs. His claws raked my shoulder as he fell, breaking my skin for the first time tonight. I gnashed my teeth at the snapping wolf and advanced with everything I had. We engaged in a battle of harsh bites and pulled fur until both of us were bleeding profusely. "Do better you filthy mutt!"

The battered Beta howled in response before sinking his teeth into my back leg. I screeched at the tight hold he had on me. The grey wolf snapped his head to the side and broke the bone in two. Agony sliced through my high adrenaline rush as I sank to the ground in shock.

"Yes! Good mutt-"

The Witch commanding him gurgled on her own blood as Reign swiftly ripped her windpipe out. The shocked Witch stumbled with her hands pressed to her wound until collapsing in a bloody heap. Taking advantage of the Beta's loss of his master, I reached behind me and latched onto his shoulder. My bite was enough to inflict pain but not enough to actually kill him. He howled nonetheless, digging his canines into my broken leg.

This didn't make any sense. Why was there a Werewolf fighting for a Dark Witch? And willingly too...

Biting down harder, I twisted my jaw until his shoulder blade gave way under my bite. The wolf whimpered as it fractured, staggering away from me with pain beneath his empty brown eyes. Rising to my full height, I snarled a silent command to the lower ranked Beta. He sank to his stomach slowly. With one last low growl, I snapped my jaws at his tail and watched as he took off into the forest.

Exhaustion pulsed within my roaring blood as I hobbled on my three good legs. A sinking feeling filled the pits of my stomach as I surveyed the bloody battlefield. We were holding our own against Rowena's attack and I was proud of how long we'd lasted. But I could see that our success wouldn't last.

Sky and Flora were fighting side by side but they were about to be overwhelmed by a fresh wave of fighters. Reign did his best to pick off the fleeing intruders but others saw his strategy and were trailing after. Leo was right, he was a much better fighter in wolf form. The stacks of bodies surrounding him were proof of his ongoing victory. And with the aid of Fergus's magick, Pride was more than holding his own against Rowena. Everything she threw his way was deflected with ease and I could see it was getting on her nerves.

I clawed at the few Witches and Warlocks that dared to attack me. Mostly relying on my gift, I released waves of spikes and spears whenever I could muster the energy to do so. Scores of pierced men and women littered the earth around me while the burning fire raged on.

We started out with a powerful counterattack but the tides were starting to turn. Portals circled the burning inferno and a fresh wave of Witches and Warlocks arrived. Unlike those that came before them, these people were ready to fight. The sheer determination living beneath their cold eyes told me so.

"The black wolf!" Rowena shouted. My heart leapt to my throat as they turned their attack towards Leo. I howled loudly to get their attention but it was no use. I wasn't the black wolf they were after. He was.

Pride!

You have to use
Fergus's magick!

Make a portal so we
can get Leo out of here!

What?

Pride's bright eyes met mine across the battlefield as he deflected another one of Rowena's attacks.

I haven't made a portal
since I was-

Please!

Just, try!

Tears leaked from my eyes as I did my best to kill or injure as many people as I could. My back was burning as a wave of fire singed my bare skin. I bit down on the Warlocks leg harder, begging Pride with everything I had. I could see that even with Reign at his side Leo was outnumbered.

To where?

Wherever you
can send him.

I'll need a distraction.

I can open the portal and
hold it open on the other side.

When I cross over,
get everyone through
as fast as you can.

I won't be able
to hold it for long.

It might only be seconds.

Ok!

Throwing the Warlock to the side, I rose to my full height and howled loudly. The moonlight bathed me in her powerful light. With all eyes on me, I released every scrap of power I possessed. Waves of silver spikes exploded from my body, stabbing everyone that wasn't quick enough to dodge it.

Pride hit Rowena with lightning before running away and throwing a ball of blue magick into the air. The magick slammed into an invisible wall behind Leo, a weak circle forming a shaky shape. The view beyond it was too distorted to make out anything clearly but Pride leapt in anyway.

Now, Venus!

I can't hold it!

Flora's grey wolf pelted past me to intercept the dark creatures hurtling my way. With every drop of love I had in my heart, I pushed through the pain and rushed towards Leo and Reign. Sky's bloody wolf howled as a silver whip cracked against her skin. Nevertheless, she still used her body to shield Reign and Leo from any harm.

I saw what needed to be done and I knew, I knew that we all weren't going to make it out of here. The domino effect would get three of them through but I knew I wouldn't be so lucky. Tears dripped down my face as I barreled through my enemies and slammed into Sky. The weight of my blow sent her into Reign who then knocked Leo off balance. One by one they all fell through the transparent portal until it closed behind them.

I crashed into the wet ground, heartbroken but relieved. I was vaguely aware of Flora pushing me to my paws, growling at whoever looked at me wrong. My body was spent but I still forced myself to stand without her assistance.

"Stop!" I jerked my head upwards to see a rainbow of magick hurtling towards us. At the sound of Rowena's shout they all paused mid-air. Crackling noises overcame the heavy panting Flora and I emitted. Pushing her way to the front, Rowena's sick green eyes glared at us with piqued interest. Her lips twisted into a small smirk and said, "Hello, little lamb."

I growled at her menacingly but Rowena laughed me off without another thought.

"We're not killing these two," she chuckled. "I have another idea now."

Two silver collars attached to long chains materialized within her slender hands. Flora growled at the sight and bolted forward with me hot on her heels. Of course we stood no chance taking all of them on. We knew that. But there was no way we were just going to roll over and let them collar us like weak bitches.

If we were going down, then we were going down with a fight.

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QOTD: Where do you think the others have gone? Any ideas on the Beta that was fighting on Rowena's side? What do you think Rowena has planned for Venus and Flora?