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As the fight rages on, Matt catches snippets of urgent reports over the radio. Attacks at the lake and the dam.Stay focused. Trust your people.
He peers around the corner of the tree as the Homani and clones, blending seamlessly with the shadows, become a whirlwind of motion. They launch themselves from branch to branch, attacking with blinding speed and lethal precision. Claws and fangs meet flesh, inflicting wounds and slicing through skin as they descend upon the unsuspecting assailants.
A smile of satisfaction graces his lips as Vance's men falter in their advance, and panic spreads on their faces when they realize their dire predicament. Matt smirks as the forest turns into a nightmarish labyrinth of danger. He is surrounded by a symphony of roars of pain and desperate shouts for survival. He fights with unwavering determination, blood spilling under his hands, his every move fueled by a burning desire to protect his town and all that he holds dear.
Through the smoke and chaos, he catches glimpses of his fellow Homani, their turquoise eyes gleaming with a mix of feral ferocity and bloodthirst. They move with a primal grace. The treetops become their battleground, each branch serving as a launching pad for their lightning-fast attacks.
From Matt’s position, their plan is working. With every moment that passes, more of Vance's men become entangled in the intricate web of traps his people laid. The Homani and clones strike from above and below, overwhelming the attackers.
The wolves move with unmatched coordination, circling their prey and striking from all angles. The roars of the bears can be heard as they crush their opponents.
The half-shifted clones bring a unique advantage to the fight. Their superior healing and strength give them an edge. Their attacks are precise and lethal, exploiting the vulnerabilities of Vance's men with calculated efficiency.
With the heavy smell of smoke, blood, and gore in the air, Matt swivels around, searching for his target. He grits his teeth when he realizes Vance’s face isn’t among the fallen. Taking a deep breath, Matt bares his teeth when he detects the scent he seeks. Satisfied that the remaining Homani and clones can handle the last few stragglers, he takes off in the direction of his prey, his wolf out for blood.
Chapter twenty-eight
Lillyglancesovertowhere Brook is seated at the bank of monitors set up along the back wall of the command center. Brook checks and rechecks the slow-scan television, primarily used on high-frequency bands. This is her friend’s recent addition to the farm. Being able to tap into their existing HAM radio to give them video coverage is a huge accomplishment and advantage. After scouring for years, she is finally able to put her hard work to the test.
She shakes her head. Finn was so proud after he went out and strategically set up the cameras throughout the farm. He had bragged to anyone who would listen about his mate's intelligence and how hard Brook worked to give them eyes on the ground.
She frowns. They had only managed to gather a few cameras, so they had placed them at the dam, the lake, and in the forest, with a couple giving a view of the main street. Brook argued that walkie-talkies would suffice for security near the gate. The only downfall to the setup was the several-second delay from what was happening in real time versus when it would show up on the screens. Lilly sits at the control center, her jittery fingers tapping on the console as she stares intently at the monitors. The room is dimly lit with the soft glow from the screens. Her heart races, anxiety twisting in her chest as she waits for any sign of movement on the lake.
She adjusts her headset, tuning in to the radio, waiting to catch any chatter from Gage and the others hidden along the shore.
The monitor displays the vast expanse of the lake, its rippling surface mirroring the clouded night sky above. Shadows dance along the water's edge, where Gage and his group lie in wait, concealed beneath their makeshift fake beaver dams and ghillie suits.
There’s a flicker of movement, and Lilly’s eyes widen. She zooms in on the screen, focusing on a group of human men approaching the lake from the other side. Her gaze darts across the monitors in the control center, her heart pounding in her chest. The cameras capture the dark figures of Vance's men cautiously advancing on the lake. The traps, cunningly concealed beneath the water's surface, lay in wait for any misstep. Lilly clenches her hand around the edge of the console, her knuckles turning white as she wills her mate to stay safe.
A thin smile crosses Lilly's face as the first man steps onto a partially submerged log. Gage had meticulously planned every detail, taking advantage of the element of surprise and the edge of his group's unique abilities.
“These cameras have the highest optical zoom we could find. Hell, these things are so strong you can see a flea’s pecker,” Brook informs her, pushing her glasses up on her nose. Lilly places her hand on Brook's shoulder with a gentle squeeze. “Let the games begin.”
"Roger, this is the Bravo team. We're crossing the lake now. Over," hisses a voice over the radio.
Brook gasps. “Those idiots didn’t change their frequencies.”
She grins, hope blooming in her chest as she mutters under her breath. “You’re on my turf now,pet.”
"Copy, Bravo team. Proceed with caution. Over," another replies.
As the first trap triggers, a net of thick ropes springs forth from the water, entangling the unsuspecting humans. Panicked faces fill the screen while their shouts and shrieks reverberate over the speakers.
"Steady now," Gage says, his voice tinged with urgency and command, echoing in her ears. "Wait for my signal."
Lilly stares at the screen. Gage, still in human form, gestures to his team. One by one, the transformed clones and Homani emerge from their hiding places.
The tension in the room reaches its peak as Gage's signal moves through their ranks like a ripple across a pond. In a swift and coordinated motion, they spring into action. Their bodies move with fluid grace, blending seamlessly with the environment. On-screen, some of the clones shift into their animal forms, others in their human-hybrid form.
"Lilly, Pete wants a status update. Lilly?"
She turns a dial on the other radio and glances up at the monitor. “All clear for now.” She responds before she turns her attention back to her mate on the screen.
Lilly's eyes widen as Gage shifts into his polar bear and ambushes one of Vance's men. Powerful jaws snap shut, immobilizing him in an instant. The man's open mouth fills the screen, but his scream doesn’t cross the speakers. His eyes go dead, and a chill runs down Lilly’s spine.
Her gaze is laser-focused on the flurry of movement across the monitors. Clones and Homani alike engage in combat with Vance's men. The air around her crackles with energy as claws clash against weapons, and a cacophony of grunts and battle cries sporadically fill the control center.
Each report that comes over the radio sends another quiver to her insides. The chaos of battle is distorted by the static and screams filtering through like nails on a chalkboard. Lilly cringes, wanting to tear the headset off and cover her ears, but that’s not an option.
