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As Alyssa leads us up another flight of stairs, my perception changes. While before, I was seeing everything as if in a speed-up movement, now the time slows down. I’ve come to recognize this as the side-effect of the purest type of adrenaline that even the drugs can’t reach. It’s when every fiber of my being senses danger, alerting me to it long before my brain gets to process it.
The hair on my arms pricks up just as the slightest hint of goosebumps appears on my skin. My hands clench into fists, my muscles further tensing in preparation for an assault. My wolf is at the ready, only a call away.
Something’s wrong, my wolf warns me, sounding on edge about what we’re about to walk into.
The temperature has dropped several degrees, which is weird because our team doesn’t have Lafayette’s ice wielders with us. The air crackles with visible static as if the electricity’s running loose.
This isn’t right, my wolf says again, urging me to listen to him and do something.
Alyssa’s almost at the top of the stairwell, three more stairs separating her from the door. Blaine’s body moves to the side enough that I get a glimpse of the door, noticing a weird flash of light around the handle. It’s gone too fast for me to be certain if it even happened, but there’s one thing I know for sure.
“Don’t touch it,” I hiss, willing Alyssa to heed my warning before it’s too late.
She abruptly turns around, and I don’t even care that she did it only to glare at me. I use the opportunity and push past Blaine, then gently pull her away from the door. Alyssa resists, probably more out of habit than anything else, but in the next moment, she relents and lets me pass.
I lift my hand toward the handle but don’t touch it. Instead, I focus on the shadows around me, calling for them to form a thick shadow hand that I guide to open the door. As soon as the shadow makes contact with the handle, a small bolt of lightning flashes, but there’s nothing solid for it to burn or electrocute.
“They’re ready for us,” I whisper a second before opening the door and bracing myself to possibly unleash hell.
Alyssa’s the first to run through it, and I want to follow but get pushed behind by Blaine who gives me a passing growl as he moves past me. The sudden noise of battle that comes from the inside helps me deal with the desire to put Blaine in his place. There’ll be time for that later.
I exit the stairwell with the rest of the wolves following close behind. I use the shadows to help me track Alyssa and Blaine’s movements, while I quickly take in the surroundings to gather myself.
At first glance, I conclude that I’m in a hallway that leads to several different offices. Since we didn’t find any sign of witches on the floors below, at least judging by the lack of sounds of fighting, it’s safe to assume that they’re all hiding on the second floor. My wolf did mention seeing movement, after all.
There’s only nine of us, which means we have to stick together and clear room by room. It will be much easier and safer when Malia, Gavin, and Jenkins join us, but until then, we have to act like a well-oiled killing machine.
Alyssa and Blaine position themselves on each side of the nearest door. I don’t need to be told to know what they’re waiting for me to do. Using the same shadow hand trick I improvised before, I open the door into what looks like an office of sorts.
Even though the room’s empty at first sight, Alyssa and Blaine rush in, their bodies ready for a fight. I stand at the doorway with the other wolves on guard for any threat that might make their way down the hallway.
The desk and two chairs are covered with a thick layer of dust. The papers are carelessly thrown across the desk, looking old and meaningless. Despite the convincing presentation of the scene being untouched, Alyssa still makes her way around the desk and looks underneath to make sure no one’s hiding. Blaine follows her lead and checks behind the door.
When they’re satisfied that there’s no one in the first room, we proceed to the second one, following the same plan. We clear that one too as well as the one next to it, which leaves us with a door at the far end of the hall.
Is it possible that there’s no one here? my wolf asks, giving words to my own thoughts. Are we too late?
As we cross the distance to the last door, the other three Alphas join us with their wolves. The realization settles over us that this is it. With all other nooks and corners cleared, this is the last room.
They’re here, I tell my wolf with a certain conviction. Someone had to put that electric lightning on the door.
Gavin uses his higher ranking to get ahead, but Jenkins silently insists on seniority. Not even Gavin can argue with that, so he allows the Alpha of the Lafayette pack at the front of the line to face whatever hides behind the door first.
That’s when the proverbial shit hits the fan.
Gavin assists Alpha Jenkins with his shadow hand to press on the handle and the moment the doors open, Alpha Jenkins rushes through it and into the immediate death. In his eagerness to pull rank and showcase his balls, he didn’t even hesitate before entering the room.
The sudden burst of orange and yellow light reached me before the immense heat that followed. My eyes didn’t have the time to adjust from the Night Vision, the unexpected and strong flash burning my retinas through and through.
Focus on your other senses, my wolf orders, already working hard to heal my eyes.
The last thing I saw was Alpha Jenkins running straight into a wall of fire so hot that his flesh melted off his bones. It was so sudden and powerful that none of us expected it.
Focus, my wolf growls when my breathing becomes faster and shallower.
When I don’t listen to him, Alpha Jenkins’ scream of agony too loud in my ears, my wolf picks a different tactic. He buries his phantom claws deep into my thigh. Though it’s not real, it certainly feels like it. I sink down on one knee, a scream caught in my throat.
Focus your senses, my wolf orders, his voice now louder and clearer.
