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“Now or never. We make our move, find an opportunity. No matter who comes through that door.”
I knew the stakes better than anyone.
Talia was right. We had to try. We couldn’t wait for a rescue team that wasn’t even coming or hold onto hope that someone in the Deofol pack would see reason.
We had to save ourselves.
The door to the kennel opened and two guards entered, armed with tranquilizer guns and hunting knives.
“Time to hit the latrine. You know the drill.” One of the guards stepped in front of my cage, tapping the tranquilizer gun holstered on his waist. “Be a good dog and don’t give us any trouble. I’d hate to kill you in front of the princess.”
I waited for him to unlock the door, bid my time and followed commands until an opportunity presented itself.
The second guard stepped in front of Talia’s cage, blocking her from view.
Two against one. Ordinarily, I’d like those odds but they were armed and that tipped the balance in their favor. Still, it was the best chance I had to get Talia and myself out of the kennel and I knew I had to take it.
I crawled out of my cage, pushing through the pain of cramped and stiff muscles, and got to my feet.
“Good boy.” The guard pulled the tranquilizer gun from his hip holster, aimed and shoved me forward with his free hand towards the bathroom at the front of the kennel.
The other guard removed his gloves and knelt in front of Talia’s cage, reaching for a strand of her hair that draped through the bars of her window.
“I can see why our god chose you.” The golden lock of her hair slipped through his fingers. “So beautiful.”
“What the hell are you doing, Eric?” The first guard risked a glance over his shoulder at his partner. “Get away from her cage.”
That was it. My one chance and my wolf was as ready as I was to take it.
He answered my call and burst free of my human form. The transformation was excruciating and came faster than any shift I’d experienced before.
We pushed through the pain and lunged into action, seizing the small window of opportunity the second guard’s distraction provided.
I gave myself over to my wolf and let his instincts take over.
In an instant we were off the floor, lunging for the guard’s neck. He fired the tranq gun but it was too late. The dart skidded across the floor, missing its mark.
My wolf did not.
Blood filled my mouth, the copper tang coating my tongue, as my teeth sank into his neck. My jaws clamped shut, head shaking back and forth as I ripped a chunk of flesh free. Bite after vicious bite, I tore into his neck until the jugular was severed and he collapsed beneath me.
The snow dogs barked and howled, egging me on like the crowd at a prize boxing match.
“What the fu-” The second guard’s shout was cut short.
I pounced, a flash of fang and fur, took him to the ground and bit down, my teeth finding purchase in the soft muscle of his cheek.
Pain arced through my side.
The guard had drawn his knife before we hit the floor and buried it to the hilt just below my ribs. He pulled up and out, the serrated edge scraping against the underside of my rib. He raised up, drove the knife in again and pulled the blade, creating a long slash along my side.
Blood seeped from my wounds, matting my fur and coating the floor as he grappled for control in the fight. I used everything at my disposal, fang and claw, but I was losing blood faster than I could heal.
I was in danger of bleeding out and my opponent sensed it. So did my mate.
Talia cried for mercy, begging the guard to stop. Her sobs and pleas for him not to kill me, spurred me on, giving me and my wolf the push we needed to finish him.
I would die for her, but not before I set her free.
