Moonlit Fur Chronicles: Lucid Fur
Chapter 28 Clash of Alphas

I lost wolves left and right. First Kai had run off to join the leather clad wackadoodle. Now, Quinn scared off Phoenix, I seriously doubted Phoenix would return. She was beyond terrified of Quinn. I hoped I didn’t send Ellis off on a fool’s errand to protect Phoenix. I dropped the weights and ran upstairs and out the front door. I didn’t even bother with my clothes, I transformed into a wolf and charged into the woods. Ellis’s scent was strong, Phoenix’s scent was much weaker but I still caught it. My paws churned the dirt. I had about two hours before dusk. I hoped it was enough time.

I heard a shriek and a large crack. The sounds had come from up ahead. Ellis’s and Phoenix’s scents were equally strong. I was close. I heard a whine, I recognized Ellis’s voice. I broke through the underbrush to a clearing. Phoenix held a very large tree branch in her hands, Ellis was on the ground. She lifted the branch to smack Ellis again. I barked loudly and pounced between Phoenix and Ellis, it was too late. I caught the heavy branch on my shoulder. A whimper escaped my lips. Phoenix saw her mistake and dropped the branch immediately. She stepped back quickly. She fell to the ground and lowered her face. “I tried to make him leave me alone. I’m sorry Reese, he won’t go away!” I lowered my head to Ellis and sniffed him. He was fine, thankfully, just dazed. I groaned and shifted back to my human shape. Ellis shook his head and opened his eyes.

I gently cupped his snout in my hands. “I’m sorry Ellis. I’m sorry I sent you after her. Go home, stay safe. I’ll take care of her.” He whined in pain, shot Phoenix a dirty look, and scampered off. Phoenix kept her eyes trained on the dirt. “Please Reese, don’t make me come back. Quinn will kill me.” I knelt on the ground in front of her. “Phoenix, look at me,” I whispered to her. She slowly lifted her gaze. Lust flashed in her eyes for the slightest of seconds before it was replaced with fear. “You are always free to make your own choices Sweetheart. I’m so sorry I failed to create a safe environment for you.” “Well isn’t that just bloody touching?!” Artemis materialized out of the woods with eight huge wolves. Kai slunk in human form behind them. Phoenix spun around and faced them, I leapt to my feet. Kai watched me intently. I saw the pain and remorse in her eyes.

“I have been waiting for this for a long time. I am going to kill you and the rest of your pathetic loser pack,” Artemis boldly boasted. “Kai, are you ready to come home,” I called gently to her. “We miss you terribly.” Artemis flew into a rage. “You do not get to talk to my pack! You worthless man loving freak!” I ignored Artemis and held my hand out to Kai. Hope filled her eyes and she took a tentative step forward. “Don’t you move a muscle! You belong to me! You abandoned Selene and joined me! You are mine!” Artemis howled in impotent rage. I launched myself at Artemis and viciously backhanded her. “Kai! Phoenix! Run home!” I bellowed!

“STOP!” Phoenix screeched! Everyone froze. “Artemis! Take me instead! Let them go and take me instead!” We all stared at Phoenix. “Phoenix? What? No!” I exclaimed. “I don’t have a place with Reese anymore. I need you Artemis,” Phoenix begged. “Phoenix? What are you talking about?” I was so confused and fear gripped my heart. Artemis laughed. She actually laughed. “You? Why would I want you? Every single one of you is weak and pathetic! The only reason I’m still here to kill Selene! She made me look weak in front of my pack. You all will die for her sins!” I had enough of her lies! “Kai! Phoenix! Get home now!” My words turned into a growl as I transformed into a wolf. I grabbed the Power of the Alpha with everything I had.

Power surged all around me, Kai and Phoenix disappeared into the woods. I howled and charged Artemis. The eight wolves that surrounded her converged on me. They bit and scratched at me. I couldn’t feel anything. All I knew was I had to hold them off long enough for Kai and Phoenix to get away. I twisted and turned, ducked and dodged. Fangs and claws flew. Everything moved in slow motion. I sank my fangs into legs and bellies, the wolves slowly went down. My paw slipped on a loose rock. I fell hard. I felt fangs dig into my back. I roared in agony. I fought to regain my footing. My enemies sped up to normal speed. I had to get out of there.

I don’t know how I got back to my paws but somehow I managed. I yelped in pain and ran as fast as I could. My vision blurred, the pain of a hundred bites and scratches barreled to the forefront of my mind. I knew the end was near. I howled as loud as I could, I hoped my pack heard and ran away. The pain overwhelmed me. My vision faded slowly. I saw the enemy wolves step deliberately slowly towards me. They savored their victory. I wouldn’t make it easy for them. I wouldn’t lay down and die. I decided to make them work for it. I forced my eyes open, and pushed myself to my paws.

I reached inside myself and tugged at the Power of the Alpha. The intense heat I felt less than five minutes ago, was now a tiny spark. I was completely spent. I was alone and completely surrounded. I growled and pawed at the air as viciously as I could manage. It must have been pathetic, Artemis sauntered towards me slowly. She mocked me, “I can’t believe it. You aren’t a powerful alpha. I can’t believe you actually had me worried. You are weak. You can’t even fight!” The pain was unbearable. Artemis prattled on about how I was a terrible alpha, on and on and on. I rolled my eyes and snorted derisively. I swallowed hard and embraced the pain.

“Artemis, you stupid cunt. Eight on one? How is that a fair fight? You insufferable gash! All I hear from you is grandiose babble! Have you ever been in a real fight? I think you are all talk! I can beat you right now, fight me yourself. Stop hiding behind your fake army!” Artemis scoffed and stomped her foot. I rolled my eyes, “You are a child! You throw a temper tantrum when things don’t go your way.” She screamed and her body twisted and shook. She erupted into her wolf form. My eyes rolled to the back of my head and I embraced the wolf. The one time I wanted my inner wolf to take over and consume me it was strangely silent. My inner wolf didn’t stir, not even when Artemis sank her fangs in my neck.

I knew this was the end. I felt no pain. I felt an odd sense of peace. I watched Artemis rip and tear into and thought nothing of it. I felt an awkward happiness. All the pain was gone and I knew there wouldn’t be any more. A contented grin settled on my bloody lips. Death had come for me. I had sent enough dark creatures to Death, I felt like it was finally my turn. My body jostled and tumbled to the ground. The air was forced from my lungs. My vision blurred and faded into blackness.

Epilogue

Quinn heard the front door slam and watched Kai and Phoenix race into the room. Kai screamed that Artemis attacked them and Reese stayed behind to make sure she and Phoenix got away. Quinn gathered the rest of the pack and charged out of the house to help Reese. Goliath and the gargoyles awoke from their stony slumber, heard the chaos, and came to help. Quinn’s heart sank as she saw Artemis’s jaws clamp down on Reese’s neck. Artemis launched Reese high into the air. Reese landed hard with an awful crunch.

The gargoyles dived from high in the sky and attacked Artemis’s wolves. Seconds later, Quinn and the pack joined the fray. Artemis and her wolves were completely caught off guard. They had never seen gargoyles much less heard of them. It was more of a massacre than a battle, clearly Artemis and her wolves hadn’t seen as much combat as Quinn and the pack. Blood and wolf corpses littered the clearing. Quinn and the pack suffered minor injuries. The gargoyles were unhurt. Artemis was the only wolf left alive. Quinn padded toward Artemis, blood dripped from her lips. She savored the sweet scent of fear which emanated from her prey. Artemis backed away and whimpered. Quinn slowly advanced, she purposefully dragged out the slaughter. She was thrilled that Artemis was terrified of her. Quinn clamped her powerful jaws around Artemis’s throat and tore it from her body.

Goliath and Lilith gently picked up Reese and took her back to the house. Quinn howled mournfully. She raced back home and watched the gargoyles gently set Reese on the couch. The house was eerily quiet except for Dylan’s moans. The transformation from human to a werewolf was very painful and traumatic. Quinn shifted back to her human shape, threw her arms around Reese’s body and sobbed. Even Goliath and Lilith shed tears for their friend. Cordelia cried audibly; she and Reese had gotten very close over the quest to cure Lilith and Quinn.

-*-*-*-*-

I opened my eyes and sat up. I was on a log in the middle of a clearing deep in a forest. It was very peaceful and quiet. This place felt safe and warm. I felt a familiar presence. Someone close to me who I hadn’t seen in a very long time. Sloane stepped out from behind a tree and ran toward me. I raced to meet him. We collided in a happy mess and embraced each other. “Oh Reese! I have so much to tell you! It’s been amazing here!” I couldn’t believe my eyes. Sloane stood right there in front of me. But he couldn’t, he was dead for a long time.

He noticed my confusion and hesitation; he giggled. “It’s really me, ya Dork!” Happy tears drained from my eyes. “Sloane?! Is it really you? Oh I’ve missed you so much!” My voice quivered with excitement. “Oh my God, Reese, I have so much to tell you!” He beamed. His smile faded and his eyes clouded. He seemed to listen to someone only he could hear. “Sloane, what’s wrong?” A frown formed on Sloane’s lips. “I’m sorry Reese. Now isn’t your time. Max will be so sad he missed you. He doesn’t blame you, ya know. He is so proud of you and Ash.” Sloane smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry Reese. You’re out of time. You can’t stay here. You have to go back.”

“Back? Back where? What is going on?” I stumbled over my words. “I love you Reese! Tell Quinn hi for me!” Sloane smiled and waved as the forest faded into blackness.

-*-*-*-*-

Pain. All I felt was pain from every inch of my body, even my hair hurt. At least I laid on something soft. I heard muffled voices that slowly became clearer as time passed. I heard sobs. Someone held my hand. They squeezed my hand twice every few seconds. Quinn. I was so happy she was okay. I squeezed her hand twice and opened my eyes.