He tumbles both of us into the nearby fountain, causing my ears to fill with water, thus drowning out all the sounds around me.
So much so that I almost miss the thundering echo of approaching Alphas.
However, as I surface, I see them coming.
A hungry mob.
All of them with their sights set on Ailsa.
Possessed, I recognize.
Catum must see it, too, because he shifts focus, running for our intended to protect her.
But there are too many of them. Too many salivating beasts.
My wolf grumbles as my brother tackles us once more, our momentary distraction giving him the upper hand.
I take a mouthful of water, my lungs screaming for the need to inhale. I went down before I took a proper breath.
Shit!
I claw at the ground, only to find my paws waterlogged.
This is bad.
I spin, using my back legs to kick Spaten off of me. But that sends me deeper.
My back hits the floor, probably ten feet beneath the surface now.
I whirl again, determined to push off the ground to reach the air I desperately need.
Except just as I shove off the bottom, Spaten checks me again, driving me right back down.
My wolf releases a sound I can’t hear over the bubbles in my ear, my insides demanding that I inhale.
No,I fight back.No!
But the dots… the darkness… it’s starting to seep in.
And with that comes doubt.
Fear.
Terrible. Unadulterated.Fear.
I can sense Catum fighting for his life. Sense Craze doing the same.
We didn’t underestimate our opponents. We underestimated Monsterland. Their ability to be manipulated. To becontrolledby the dark villain in their midst.
My siblings never respected my rule.
It’s clear now.
And they didn’t respect our parents’ rule either.
What is this world without respect?I think, furious.What happened to Monsterland? The kingdom I love? The kingdom I once revered?
With a roar, I give it one last push, refusing to go down like this. Refusing to let go of my throne. My purpose.My destiny.
