The Beast And The Blessed

Ninety-Four: Natalie

Natalie's P.O.V.

The sound of wolves and other creatures trampling through the forest was oddly quiet. The muffled and skilled footsteps of warriors quickly covering the distance to the mountains felt like the timer of a bomb slowly ticking down to zero.

The humans would be driven in with the other witches, the medical equipment, and the healers later that night. But those that could run did.

A fleet of wolves and Lycans sprinted through the trees like a tidal wave, ready to take down anyone in its path. The council had teleported with Joselin and my mother to their positions to block Talia and her coven of witches from being alerted of our presence before we were ready for them to know of our arrival.

The plan to siphon their magic from them had long been thrown away as it wouldn't do enough damage to be impactful with our limited time. Instead, they masked the enemy, forcing them into a bubble to keep them blind to the outside world. We didn't know how long it would hold, but we hoped it would last through our journey.

We would camp several miles south of them tonight while scouts surveyed the area. At sun-up, we would attack.

My white fur rubbed against Killian's leg for only a moment as we ran before he moved away again. It was like he was working on a timer to brush against me or to have his knuckles touch my back or side every thirty minutes as if he wanted to confirm that I was still here with him and that I hadn't fallen behind.

It was strangely quiet in the pack link. All of their emotions had been pushed down. Killian hadn't entirely placed the wall like he did the last time he was here, but it still felt like there was a thick collection of water between us, muting everything.

I had tried not to focus on those around me. Still, every now and then, I would wonder which one of the wolves running amongst the thousands was my father and if I would even need to decide about meeting him when it was all over. We would both have to survive for that.

A poisonous, almost sour smell made me slow, and the pack followed suit.

a low guttural noise, and the surrounding Lycans responded in a sort. It was an odd way of communicating. Their primal beasts were talking instead

or if it was just their

the noise down.' Killian ordered through the

with awe as the seasoned warriors began scouting a place to settle in for the night while the newcomers like myself stood

lead and choose where we would sleep. I had never run so far

we had to run, it had taken all day to get here, and night had fallen hours ago. The good news was that we were now prepared. We could rest tonight and be better

enemies, having no idea how many there were. Still, I would be grateful for every hour our people had before they had

expect him to comfort me today. He had to be a leader, and from what I had

step behind him and to his left as I observed our people, taking in every face. It would be the first

solemn and on alert, but those that had shifted and changed into the clothes they had around their leg, were laughing and

in battle before, and it put me at ease knowing that they

and Charlie sat beside Damien as she chewed on a stick of dried meat with a smile as she chuckled with her team. I wondered what her life was like when she was on her adventures, but seeing her now, she seemed more

is what she

He was watching me. His dark brown hair was easy to see between the moonlight and the enhanced vision of my wolf, and I felt my

Could it be him?

the man. Whatever

told me it wasn't the last I would see of the man. But I knew it

reason to come looking for me. I mentally kicked myself for letting my subconscious get the best of me. It wouldn't be surprising if I had even hallucinated the man's features, wanting to find my

Killian's back, wanting to see the man again to confirm, but he