Gabriel waited at the rendezvous point, his face tight with concern. What happened?” he demanded as the soldiers stumbled past
him.
“What of the others?” I asked, ignoting his question.
“I would go get them.” I turned back toward Ravenhollow territory, wings already beginning to emerge.
“No…” Gabriel began, but I cut him off.
“Get the rest out of here; I’ll go get them.” Without waiting for his response, I launched myself into the air, wings carrying me swiftly toward the column of smoke now rising from somewhere near the center of Ravenhollow territory.
The heart of the explosion was instantly recognizable the armory, the storage place for weapons and ammunition. It became terrifyingly clear that the blast originating from the Safe Room hadn’t been contained; it had violently spread, detonating the adjacent armory as well. Now, the entire armory was engulfed in flames, the heat radiating with such intensity I had to bank sharply, circling wide to keep my wings from scorching.
Witnessing such targeted destruction, specifically aimed at both the secure Safe Room and the weapons cache, left no doubt in my mind. These soldiers hadn’t returned for intelligence; this was undeniably revenge.
Movement caught my eye–a figure stumbling away from the burning building. I descended quickly, recognizing one of our soldiers. His face was blackened with soot, one arm hanging uselessly at his side.
“What of the last one?” I asked as I landed beside him.
“He’s dead…” the soldier gasped, coughing violently. “It was… it was the… bomb.”
Shouts echoed through the trees–Ravenhollow guards alerted by the explosion, now searching for intruders.
“We have to go now,” I said, supporting the injured soldier.
“Save yourself,” he wheezed, his legs giving out beneath him.
“The bomb wasn’t part of the plan,” I said, unable to keep the anger from my voice as I helped him up.
“They killed my family,” he replied, his eyes glassy with pain. “With their armory gone, they attack and that would buy us time.”
I would need even more weapons to
I bit back a frustrated response. The mission had been about intelligence gathering, not destruction. How many innocent people had been caught in that explosion? How many guards just doing their duty, pack members who had nothing to do with any attacks?
“Get up I ordered, shaking off my thoughts. We didn’t have time for recriminations or regrets.
“I can’t,” the soldier groaned, his breathing labored.
A rustling in the bushes nearby drew my attention. Another one of our soldiers emerged, bloodied but mobile.
“Help me lift him,” commanded, already sliding my arms under the wounded man’s shoulders.
Between us, we managed to get him upright, though every movement drew pained gasps from his lips. The distant shouts were growing closer–Ravenhollow guards closing in on our position. We’d never outrun them like this.
A whistling sound cut through the air, followed by the unmistakable impact of a bullet hitting flesh. The soldier beside me jerked, a
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Chapter 190
dark stain spreading across hit chest before he crumpled to the ground.
I dropped to a crouch, pulling the wounded man down with me as more bullets tore through the fallage around us. One grazed my arm, leaving a burning trail acress my skin. We were pinned down, with no clear escape route.
“Go,‘ the wounded soldier wheezed. “Save yourself.”
Before I could respond, Gabriel materialized from the shadows, his gun drawn. He fired several shots in the direction of our attackers, providing momentary cover.
“He would survive,” Gabriel said, glancing at the wounded soldier’s extensive injuries with a grim expression. ‘I need to get you out
of here.”
“No, help them first,” I insisted, pressing my back against a tree for cover.
“The Ravenhollow soldiers are already on their way here, they would kill you, Gabriel argued, firing another round toward our
pursuers.
“I am your Queen and I say save them first,” I commanded, my voice leaving no room for argument.
Gabriel hesitated for only a moment before nodding. With quick, efficient movements, he lifted the wounded soldier, preparing to
retreat.
“I’ll create a diversion,” I said, drawing my sword. “Get him to safety
“Elowen-” Gabriel began.
“Go!” I ordered, already moving into the open.
I heard him retreating through the undergrowth as I turned to face our pursuers. There were five Ravenhollow guards advancing through the trees, weapons drawn. I needed to buy Gabriel enough time to get clear with the wounded soldier.
The first guard to reach me was young, probably newly appointed. I disarmed him with a swift strike, using the hilt of my sword to knock him unconscious rather than kill him. The second wasn’t so fortunate–my blade found his throat when he lunged too eagerly
The remaining three approached more cautiously, spreading out to surround me. I kept moving, using the trees for cover, striking quickly and retreating. My new strength and speed gave me an advantage, but I was still outnumbered.
A bullet found my leg, tearing through the muscle of my thigh. I stumbled, nearly falling, but managed to steady myself against a tree. Blood soaked through my pants, hot and sticky against my skin. Another bullet grazed my side, and a third embedded itself in my shoulder. The pain was searing, but the adrenaline kept me moving.
I took down a third guard with a desperate lunge, my sword piercing his chest. The fourth’s bullet found my arm just as my blade found his stomach. He fell, leaving only one.
The final guard was more skilled than the others, matching my movements with practiced ease. We circled each other, both bloodied and wary. I was faster, but my injuries were slowing me. Every movement sent fresh pain radiating through my wounded limbs.
Just as we were about to clash again, a commanding voice cut through the night:
“Stop.”
I knew that voice. Would know it anywhere, even distorted by anger and authority.
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The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna
