Kilian’s POV

This bloody psycho walks out of the place like she’s going to a fucking meet and greet. “Spades!” I fizz, my spit meddling with vowels and other drops of sweat.
This brat just glances at me like it’s easy!
I sign two fingers to her underdog. Less than three seconds later, he reacts and begins shooting.
Through the sideway, I analyze my surroundings and aim. You’ve got to do what it takes, right, man?!
My heels burn the ground as I speed out to join Bret’s attacks, unloading my weapon on thirty-something soldiers. These are not Pallamir’s. These suits and blazons belong to King Daryl...
As I dive-roll from a furious laser beam, I back myself against this new player, feeling quite cocky. He’s a good shooter, this lad...
“Don’t get shot...might traverse your organs, and I don’t want a hole in my expensive suit,” Bret snarks as his back jerk against mine from the drawbacks.
“I’m not used to getting holes in my body. You are,” I joust across my blasts.
Bret sniggers faintly, and I don’t know why but a simper escapes me.
“Switch!” he says. The guy needs a reload. Very well...
As we turn sides, my eyes dart to the left from a tigress’s grunt.
Spades is covering my Beta, and at her feet, a pool of guts and two dead soldiers. “Others are coming from the left!” she shouts.
“It’s ok, Spades. I’ll open the way.” Nathair’s knee hits the ground, dust bursting from this mini but firm impact. Baby (her weapon’s nickname) on her shoulder, Nathair begins gunning down the enemy squadron, inching closer to us.
I swing my head down the cliff, reactor engines attracting my attention. My Gammas are warming the Jets.
I guess this is it.
Spades, I got to get her out of this hell hole.
The temple...Yes! The temple. I’ll hide her there.
“Let’s roll. I’ve cleared the way, guys,” Nathair chants, nuzzling her weapon. What a mother she’d be... I mean who knows?
Here we are, jogging down these alleys, skipping as our watchful selves scan every inch of rock and angle.
Zap!
Zap!
Zap!
BAM!!!
BAM!!!
I look down at the airstrip. My grip latched over my laser gun is so full of hate I can feel the ore bend under my clench. Relax, Kilian, two of your Jets just went up in flames...
There’s a party down there, and my bones are telling me we won’t be able to escape this. There’s Spades’ safety in my mind, these hags’ omen infecting my thought process. My men... There is no way I can leave them under fire. “To the runway!“I shout.
I halt, tapping Bret’s shoulder for him to keep running, and hush to Nathair, her hand in Hataro’s, “Stay together and keep the Kid in check!” I save the best for last and capture this wild electron that is Spades. My keyed up hands clamp on her shoulders, shaking them like maracas. “You irresponsible bi—
“Bitch?!” Spades is pouting like a sensuous witch, her irritated hip sway numbing my brain.
“No... I was going to say...biological wonder. What do you think you’re doing!?”
“Taking my chances, mi amore. You wanted to fight, so here I am, fighting.” The girl is blench. That spitfire attitude is gone. She talks Spanish more than she ever has. And there’s a twinkle in her eye whenever I catch it. It could burst into a moon drop anytime... Keep calm, Ina. No one is going to die...
“I’m taking you to the Three Moons’ Temple.” My whispers on her lips, her scent hazing my mind, her body against mine, I want to fly us out. Fuck I want to. But we would be taken down immediately. I can’t risk it. No, I can’t.
Zap!
Zap!
“Shit!” I tuck her under me, grab her hand, and fold my fingers so tight around hers that if she ever escapes, she will be missing a hand. “Stay behind me, understood?”
“Well understood, but not agreed!” she says coyly.
And then I don’t know how I can explain this. My blood dries, and my veins shrink while my nerves burn down. This little piece of-of woman runs in the middle of this warzone, and I gap. I was holding her so fucking tight!
In my pistol visor, I watch my shots slice through the shadows that want to devour her, red-lining the cowards aiming at her back. For the first time, my eyes are fixed on something other than the battlefield, watching this gracious nymph dance across this blood-shedding arena. She’s as supple as a grass blade, cartwheeling with one hand while the other fires shots.
My left eye is twitching wildly. Maldita loba loca!*
ZAP!
ZAP!
ZAP!
The wolf within me erupts with anger, my teeth grunting at the tear in my suit. Containing a wince from spreading over my face, I clutch my wound and look down to the sound of blood, dribbles of it splatting on the ground.
The glinting of the sun on these droplets catches my attention. We’re two miles from the cavern’s exit.
I can see the dunes from here.
Right, let’s do it.
I follow Spades in this mess and cross this warfield. Everyone is shouting, men on both sides falling, yelling, bright lasers shaving my head.
Time for me stops, and only my lungs seem to function. “Spades!” My eyes track her body as she flies across the tarmac, and I shiver when her head violently hits the ground.
I shouldn’t be shifting; my Spacegear is a backup option if I ever had to fly us out...
But then my Spacejets are being destroyed.
Even though Spades is hurt, the fire inside her rages as she continues to unload her pistol. I said I’d be her shield! Fuck, Kilian!
Ok, time to bring out my big bad wolf!
My Gammas take my shifting as a signal, and I can’t blame them.
Soon all my men turn into colossal wolves, their timing perfect as they surprise those assholes. There’s a storm of growls, claws, and blood spurts.
I go for the kill, place myself above a moaning Spades, and gnaw at whatever scumbag crosses me.
I take a glance under me.
“Kilian... I think I need a plaster,” shivers her smirk.
Shit! Her artery is touched. As much as our wereness heals us. Hemorrhages are not a big favorite amongst wolves.
“Save the girl,” shouts Nathair from the far end of the runway. Bret is helping her set up an automatic gunner. “We’ve got this!”
“We sure do, beautiful.” My ears catch. This Bret. I like him. He doesn’t lose sight of what’s important...
How I ache for my girl, watchfully scrutinizing our enemies approaching us. My fur reddens to a few shots, but I grind and bear it, my focus on this woman.
My only hope lies in the Temple. Spades must live.
Groaning at her, I lay flat next to her, my snout helping her onto my back.
Kilian, time to get those paws flying...
