Emma Pov

　　"What?" Faylen questions incredulously. I hug Charlotte tighter and keep my attention focused around us.

　　Brunno steps out of the car and slams the door shut. "Our old wolf pack used wizards for surprise attacks; we've seen this before," he explains as he moves to the front of the car and opens the hood.

　　Before anyone could say anything else, Brunno falls paralyzed to the ground. A scream escapes Charlotte's lips, and I startle at the sound.

　　"Brunno!" Jordan yells for his brother as he rushes out of the car.

　　"Alpha Emma, stay here with the child!" Faylen requests, her voice filled with concern as she exits the car.

　　I watch Faylen and Jordan check on Brunno. I sit Charlotte beside me, look around, and sniff for any unusual scent that might be approaching.

　　"Emma, I'm scared!" Charlotte mutters, terrified. I wrap my arm around her shoulders to try to comfort her.

　　"I'll take you home, Charlotte. I promise," I assure her gently, though inside, my emotions are churning.

　　A new scent emerges in the air.

　　I get out of the car, leaving Charlotte inside. Faylen and Jordan are still crouched over Brunno's unconscious body. Worried, I circle around them, sniffing.

　　"Is he still alive?" My voice comes out with concern as my eyes remain vigilant.

　　"Yes, it's just a paralysis spell. It should wear off in a few hours. We need to get back home, now!" Jordan declares as he lifts his brother's body.

　　As soon as Jordan does this, a beam of dark magic slices through the dry trees and hits my friend. A roar escapes his lips, and Jordan almost drops his brother.

　　Faylen pulls out two daggers from her waist sheath and stands in a defensive position. I do the same; after several training sessions with Thalia, I've learned to always carry small but lethal weapons. I take a dagger from my boot, a gift from Thalia after a sparring match between us.

　　"How many different scents do you detect?" I ask Faylen.

　　Despite the abuses she suffered from her former alpha, Faylen was a trained warrior, with more field experience than me and the twins, given her twenty-eight years of age. Faylen spins around, her short bleached hair, shorter than mine, only moving a few strands in her fringe with her motion. Her slanted, delicate eyes narrow in the east direction of the road, her sense of smell sharpening.

　　"About five, maybe six. There's a female witch with them," Faylen declares firmly.

　　Jordan places Brunno inside the car, and before he returns to us, Faylen's statement proves accurate. Three wolves emerge from the dry trees on the east side, while at the end of the road behind our car, three warriors I've never seen before appear, armed.

　　"Care to choose?" Faylen asks Jordan, who stretches his neck, and I hear it crack.

　　"Wolf with the humans." Jordan declares as he swiftly removes his shirt.

　　"I'll take the wolves then!" Faylen responds.

　　They chose the strategy I've been training them with. To mix the attacks in an organized manner. Jordan transforms into a huge black wolf; his fur blends easily into the night, but now, during the day, it stands out against the dry soil of the rocky plains. We have little advantage being in the middle of the road.

　　"Now!" I order through the mindlink for Jordan and Faylen to advance on their targets. I stay in place, near the car, protecting against any attack that might slip past them and reach Brunno and Charlotte.

　　My heart pumps adrenaline through my body, and I feel all my lupine powers tingling to be used. I allow Accalia to settle more within me, causing my claws and fangs to emerge.

　　I watch Jordan tear one of the armed soldiers apart. Gunshots are fired, but Jordan manages to disarm one of them. Faylen strikes two wolves with her daggers and runs toward Jordan to grab the discarded weapon.

　　"We only want the prophet. Hand her over, and you can all leave," a female voice calls out from behind me.

　　I growl at the witch standing in front of me. "Not a chance, you bitch!" I declare angrily, rushing towards her.

　　The witch casts a spell, a reddish light beam that I dodge skillfully, reaching her in time to land a punch on her face.

　　My promise to Matthew resonates in every muscle of my body. I would never let Charlotte be taken. The thought that others know of her powers puts me even more on alert and surges my adrenaline.

　　The witch's body stumbles back, but not before she casts a spell that paralyzes me like Brunno.

　　"Stupid little bitch!" the witch spits at my paralyzed face.

　　The sensation of paralysis is awful. I try to move my fingers, my eyes, even my tongue, but nothing obeys me. I feel my muscles stiffen.

　　"Someone get to Charlotte; she's in danger!" I plead through the mindlink. However, there's no response from Jordan or Faylen.

　　The sound of gunfire continues. Battle cries echo around. I noticed three more warriors that neither I nor my wolf pack had detected.

　　A high-pitched, sharp scream stands out among the others.

　　"Let me go!" Charlotte cries desperately.

　　No, no, no! I can't let Charlotte be taken. I need to get out of this, I need to get out of this!

　　"Accalia, help me!" I plead internally to my wolf.

　　"Trying!" Accalia responds, panting. "Strong spell."

　　My breathing quickens even more upon hearing Charlotte's continued screams. I can't see her; I'm facing away from the pickup, but a few seconds later, I hear footsteps approaching, and the screams get louder and closer.

　　"Emma! Emma, help me!" Charlotte pleads, crying and struggling. A man holds Charlotte over his shoulder like she's a sack of potatoes.

　　I want to scream for her, to shout that I'll save her. But even my eyelids won't move.

　　"Roar!" a high-pitched voice resonates within me, leaving me confused.

　　It's not any voice from my wolf pack, and it's definitely not Accalia's.

　　"Roar!" the high-pitched, female voice orders again, and I feel something different inside me.

　　"What's happening?" I question, scared.