Fake Dating Alpha Hockey Captain novel Chapter 79

#Chaptér 79: Dire Circumstances

They must sense something because their pace quickens. When we hit the stream, they take a right through the water, splashing me and adding to my discomfort.

I buck up and tough it out, but soon we are back out of the water and below the mountain, ready to climb.

Then I smell it. Blood. And pine. It’s Alex!

We can’t see him yet and begin making our way up the mountain, but the progress is slow and my sight is back to zilch. The smell is getting stronger, and my body is beginning to tingle.

That familiar tingle. We must be getting really close…

Suddenly, Rita rears back and I slide off. She shoots forward and my eyes follow her and Charles. I still can’t see anything, so I run to get closer until my developed night vision locks onto the sight that is driving them.

Below an overhand of rock, in a small crevice, lies a werewolf. It isn’t moving–and I know it’s Alex! Another werewolf, Ryan, is crouched over him, like he’s about to go in for the kill.

I scream, unable to stop myself.

When he sees the approaching onslaught, he moves in front of Alex’s body, protectively. He kneels down, ready to meet the two werewolves racing toward him.

I run even closer but make sure I’m not in the way. I couldn’t bear it if I put myself in danger and they had to rescue me instead of Alex. I would never be able to live with myself!

Rita stays back and allows Charles to make the first strike. I don’t know why they don’t both strike at the same

time, increasing their chances of overpowering him. Then again, I’m not a warrior and they understand things I don’t.

So I stand back and watch, first Charles tussles with Ryan, the two striking back and forth, one with the advantage, then the other.

After a particularly ferocious strike, Ryan is able to knock Charles against a large rock. I don’t know if it knocks the wind out of him, but he doesn’t get back up.

Now that she has the opportunity, Rita strikes at Ryan. She is significantly smaller in size. I’m hoping this makes her faster.

That’s when I realize I’m fisting my hands so aggressively that my fingernails are drawing blood from the inside of my palms.

I feel so helpless as I watch Ryan get the advantage over Rita: She bites at his leg, gaining a firm hold, only this allows him to clamp down on the back of her neck. Even I know the neck area is vulnerable, and now I fear Rita has lost any advantage.

Charles, who has made his way to his feet, now jumps on Ryan’s back, sinking his teeth deep into Ryan’s fur. I hope he’s getting meat!

Ryan throws himself backward, howling in pain–and I jump for joy.

Charles must have a good hold because he doesn’t fall off like Ryan was probably counting on. Ryan spins his torse left to right and back again, trying to get Charles off.

As they battle, I run around them–making sure to keep my distance–and kneel down beside Alex.

He’s breathing, which is good, but his breath is raspy–I fear he may have been given something to keep him

from healing.

I kneel down and wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his neck, crying and speaking words of comfort. With each tear that falls, I feel the throbbing intensity between us grow until my senses are vibrating.

There is a gash on his shoulder, and I smell the blood dripping from it. I smell other wounds, but I’m afraid to move his body to find them. If something is broken, I may make it worse.

Besides, what can I do for him?

As I lay there with him, the movements of his chest become more regular, smoother. That must mean he’s healing. If only they can hold Ryan off long enough…

But my wish is dashed against the ground with Charles’s mangled back. Whatever Ryan did, Charles’s body is barely moving, and it looks like his muscles are spasming.

Oh no! If something is broken we’ll never get him out of here!

Then I realize that may not be a concern after all. Ryan is the most powerful member of his pack, and certainly isn’t an honorable one.

For whatever reason, he wants me dead. To do that, he has to kill them.

And it looks like he might succeed.

Now Rita is the only thing that stands between Ryan and us, and I fear that he is simply too much for her.

My heart breaks in two as I watch them square off, snarling at each other and circling. In spite of our differences, Rita has always risked her life to defend me. I even feel like we’re becoming close, and this moment could end that forever.

Ryan could end us all here and now.

And he is the first to make a move, springing his into the air and lunging at Rita. Thank goodness she’s smart! She registers his move as soon as he’s airborne and slides out of the way.

When Ryan lands with a thud, I can feel the smile on Rita’s face. If only I knew what she was think when she’s in wolf form. I can almost hear her smartass mouth taunting him.

But Ryan won’t be subdued easily! He quickly runs off, out of sight, and I see Rita turning to look for him.

Did he run away? Surely not–he was winning! I look around and don’t see anything.

But I hear him, and so does Rita. Her head turns toward the mountainside above us just in time to see Ryan- descending upon her. She rears up on her hind legs and he lands almost square against her chest, knocking her backward.

Now he is on top of her, trying to get to her jugular. She’s twisting and turning with all her might, so his bite doesn’t connect in the right place, despite many efforts.

歌

Even if he’s not getting her where he needs to, he’s ripping up her neck. I can smell the blood and realize she’s probably running on adrenaline.