Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Another clap sounded but this one was followed by a growl that sounded far too close to the clap and fear tightened his muscles. He would tear a wolf apart with his bare hands if one should dare touch his wife.
A weak clap sounded, and he feared Dawn might be losing consciousness again, and when a growl followed again, Cree hurried his steps forward.
“DAWN!” he shouted.
He barely heard the clap, and he felt a stab to his heart knowing his wife was fighting to reach out to him. Never again. Never again would he go anywhere without Beast. The large dog would have found her by now, but then if he had secured the rope around her and him, he would never have lost her to the fog. It was his fault, and he cursed himself for his foolishness.
A strong growl echoed through the mist and Cree followed it, knowing the wolf was probably prowling near his wife. He pulled his dagger from the sheath at his belt, ready to take the beast down.
Suddenly, snarls and barks filled the air as if the wolves were fighting amongst themselves. Had one of the wolves laid claim to Dawn and the others objected? He had to reach her. He had to chase the wolves and keep them from not only Dawn but himself and his horse or neither of them would survive.
A nasty growl tore through the mist followed by several whimpering whines. Whoever the pack leader was, he was powerful and had made the others aware of it. But Cree was an alpha as well and like the wolf, he protected what belonged to him and Dawn belonged to him.
A soft clap sounded, and it was not far off. A few more steps at most and that was when he spotted the green eyes glowing through the mist. There had to be at least four pairs. That meant four wolves. It would be difficult to defend against four wolves but not impossible if he got to the pack leader first.
His stallion snorted and tugged at the reins, anxiously.
Cree calmed the horse with soothing yet firm commands while keeping hold of the reins and the animal reluctantly obeyed.
A steady growl drew Cree’s eyes, and he knew he gazed upon the pack leader. The wolf stepped forward, emerging enough from the mist for Cree to see him. His mouth was drawn back, his fangs bared, and saliva dripped from them. He was all black and large, like no wolf Cree had ever seen before, a majestic creature displaying his power and his fearlessness. He would not be an easy foe to fight, and with his pack with him, victory did not look promising, but defeat had never stopped Cree from entering a fray and victory was always his to claim.
The wolf kept a low growl and cast a quick glance down and that’s when Cree saw that the animal stood right over Dawn’s head.
“She’s mine. She belongs to me. I love her and will fight to the death for her,” Cree said, the wolf’s intense green eyes so human, he thought the creature might understand him.
The wolf tossed his head up and howled and the other wolves began to back away. Then he looked once again at Cree, his fangs bared, and growled, then he slowly stepped back, disappearing into the thick mist.
Cree hurried to his wife’s side while keeping a tight hold of his horse’s reins and dropped down beside her, trying to determine what injuries she suffered, the fog making it difficult.
“I am here, Dawn. Wake up. You must wake up,” he urged, anxious to get her on the horse and away from here, away from the wolves, in case the pack leader changed his mind.
She stirred and lifted her hand slightly, though it fell to the side all too soon, the simple movement too much for her.
With a fall off the horse, it was plausible to assume that she struck her head. So, Cree felt around her head and when his hand connected with something wet, he knew without seeing that it was blood. Fear twisted his gut when he saw the blood that covered his hand.
“Dawn,” he said, when her stirring stilled and when she didn’t respond, his worry soared.
He wrapped the horse’s reins around his wrist to keep him tethered to him before he carefully lifted his wife and draped her gently over the saddle, then mounted behind her and carefully maneuvered her to rest in the crook of his arm. He had to find help, a place where she could rest safely. There had to be a croft or village nearby.
He cursed the mist and plunged into it. “You’ll not stop me!”
Cree continued slowly, avoiding any shadows in the mist and calling out to Dylan every now and again, hoping to find his warriors. He stopped once he realized he had probably drifted too far away from his men to be heard.