Silas POV

I grab Lia’s arm and bring her to a crouch as I sight two warriors moving stealthily. They were clearly searching for something – or someone and it didn’t take a genius to know that I was their target. They must tracked my scent to this place and when I remembered how I was ganged up by about 30 wolves, rage began to well inside me and the only way I would be pacified was if I killed these two guards.

“Silas, don’t tell me you want to fight them.” Lia whispers quietly and I look down to see a worried look on her face.

“How did you deduce my intentions so quickly.” I smirked.

“Your eyes. They burn with fighting spirit, not cowardice.” She muttered and I was slightly impressed by her deduction.

“Then you do know I have no intention of backing down right?” I asked and then my eyes flashed with a fierce intensity. I was going to attack.

“Stay here.” I command Lia and I release her arm. I take out a silver dagger from my back pocket and crouch to the floor observing the warrior nearest to us.

“You’re crazy.” Lia squealed and the warrior turned his head to our direction and I chose this moment to strike. I lunged at him, my dagger moving fast and silent as I pierced it directly into the guard’s heart killing him instantly. The killing blow was swift and final, no time for screams, no time for struggles.

The other guard turn to my direction and snarl. I couldn’t take this one by surprise so I resolved to fight him.

The guard quickly shifted into a large brown wolf and lunged for me but I quickly rolled and missed his lunge by a whisker.

I wince in pain as my wounds throb. I hadn’t healed fully and all the movements I executed were straining my body even more but I had to kill this second guard before more warriors found us.

I reached for my wolf inside and he responded. The man was gone as I shifted into my large grey wolf, I howled at the slightly smaller wolf before me and lunged wanting to quickly put an end to this fight.

The guard dodged my attack and tried to clamp down on my hind leg but my instincts kicks in as I raise my hind’s legs and hit the guards muzzle with them sending him sprawling on the floor with a yelp of pain.

He quickly recovers and lunges for me but I dodge once and snap at his flank drawing a snarl of pain from him. He lunges again with madness in his eyes but I dart away once again.

This fight should have been over in mere minutes but my injuries were slowing me down. I grit my teeth and preserver through the pain. I clamp unto the leg of the other guard making him yelp in pain and I raise him over my head and slam him down unto the earth with a massive thud. I bite deeper into the wound making the guard howl in misery and I yank his leg off, amputating him and send blood spraying everywhere.

He was open and I didn’t waste any time. I lunged for his neck and my fangs sinks into his windpipe. The guard gurgles and thrashes around fiercely but I hold on and sink my fangs even deeper into his neck. Exerting more strength into my bite force, I yank his head right off his head and a shower of blood follows. The body writhes for a while before it goes limp. Lifeless.

I stand there panting heavily. My wounds throbbed painfully I badly needed to rest but I knew this wasn’t the time. The scent of blood filled the air and if there were other warriors in the vicinity, then they would be making their way here quickly.

I shifted back into my human form and I make my way to Lia. She stares at me with a look of pure shock and horror but there’s no time to waste.

“Get on my back. We have to get out of here before more warriors make their way here.” I command her but she still sits their staring at me with a dazed expression. I take matters into my own hands and carry her, placing her on my back.

I look around trying to decide on a direction to run towards to and I suddenly gaze up at the ancient tree. It was immensely tall with towering branches that stretched wide and then it hits me – the perfect escape route.

“Silas, what are you doing?” Lia asks in confusion as I shift my fingernails into sharp claws.

“Getting us to safety.” I reply as my eyes is still fixed on the tree. My body was burning up from overexertion and my unhealed injuries but I grit my teeth and without a second thought, I sink my claws into the thick bark of the tree and begin to climb.

The tree is enormous, its trunk was a wide as a house and my injuries were clearly taking their tool. My body begins to tremble with each movement and my face contorted with pain but I grit my teeth and press on.

We continue to ascend and the branches begin to grow thinner, swaying in the wind. I could feel Lia cling to my back and her heart beating widely.

I continue to climb and finally, I reach the top. The canopy of leaves rustles above us like a green sea. I breathe a sigh of relief and I gesture for Lia to get off my back.

I see that she is afraid of height but I steady her on a sturdy branch and then without a second thought, I collapse next to her. My chest heaves in exhaustion and I take in air greedily so I could catch my breath.

I feel Lia taking my head and placing it on her soft laps. The feel of her softness makes me groggy and before I know it, I fall into a deep slumber.