Chapter 4 Four

Dave

I charged toward Sirius, fury blazing through every muscle in my body. But just before I reached him, five rogues leapt out from the shadows, snarling and snapping, forming a solid wall between us.

Cowards. Using numbers to protect their pathetic leader.

I didn't stop.

With a roar, I shifted midair, my clothes ripping as fur exploded across my body. I shifted and My wolf took over, and we tore into them with lethal precision.

The first rogue lunged for my throat. I ducked, slashing upward with my claws. His scream was short-lived, ending in a wet crunch as I drove him into a stack of rusted pipes.

The second tried to flank me, but I twisted, caught his jaw with mine, and ripped.

Blood sprayed the floor.

The third one managed to shoot but I was faster. The silver dart sliced past my shoulder, searing flesh, but missing anything vital.

The fourth rogue grabbed me from behind, claws sinking into my ribs. I let him have that moment of victory,just long enough to flip him over my back and crush his neck under my paw.

The last rogue trembled.

Too late.

I pounced, ending him.

Breathing hard, blood dripping from my fangs, I locked eyes with Sirius.

He didn't flinch.

"Impressive," he clapped with a smirk, stepping away from Tabitha, who whimpered weakly, her body trembling in pain. "But you're too late. She's already been injected with too much wolfbane."

My growl turned savage.

I leapt.

Sirius shifted mid-charge, his beast taller, bulkier than the average rogue. He was strong but sloppy. Reckless.

I slammed into him with full force, sending us both crashing into metal beams. Sparks flew. He raked his claws across my chest. I sank my teeth into his shoulder.

We tore into each other,blood, bone, fury.

Every second felt like war. The warehouse echoed with the clash of fangs and howls of pain. But I didn't stop. Couldn't. My mate was behind me. My sons were at home, scared and waiting.

He would not win because I need to apprehend and bring him before Alpha Rhydor

I took another step forward, my claws digging into the floor as my muscles tensed. I wouldn't let him escape again.

Without warning, he surged toward me, claws outstretched, his eyes burning with hatred. The fight was inevitable. The collision was brutal. He was fast, his claws sharper than I anticipated, but I was faster.

I met him head-on, slamming into him with all my weight. We crashed to the ground, struggling against each other. His claws scraped across my chest, leaving deep gashes in my fur, but I retaliated, pushing him back with a forceful shove, and raked my claws across his chest, drawing blood.

Sirius roared in pain, but instead of retreating, he fought back harder. His claws lashed out, but I ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike, and slammed my shoulder into his side, sending him stumbling.

"You're not going anywhere," I snarled.

We circled each other in the dim light, our breaths ragged, eyes locked. Then, without warning, I surged forward, leaping at him with all my strength. I tackled him to the ground once again, this time pinning him beneath me. I opened my mouth to deliver the final blow, my teeth bared, ready to tear into him.

But just as I was about to strike, I heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind me,the pack warriors. The others had cleared out the last of the rogues outside, and they were entering the warehouse now, forming a tight circle around us.

Sirius's eyes widened, realization dawning on him. He had no way out.

But just as quickly as it had appeared, his confidence faltered. With a snarl of frustration, he shoved me off him and scrambled backward, his claws still poised for attack. "This isn't over," he hissed, before retreating into the shadows, disappearing into the dark corners of the warehouse.

I roared in frustration, but I didn't chase him. Not yet.

The warriors moved in, securing the perimeter, ensuring no other rogues were hiding in the shadows. One of them, a familiar face, nodded at me. "We'll handle the rest."

I stood up, breathing heavily, and shifted back into my human form. My body ached, every muscle screaming in pain from the battle, but my eyes never left the place where Sirius had vanished.

"We'll find him," one of the warriors said, as if reading my thoughts. "He won't get far."

I nodded, but my mind was already racing. I had to focus on Tabitha. I turned to the pillar where she had been chained, my heart twisting in my chest as I saw her condition.

She was still unconscious, but I could see the faint rise and fall of her chest. She was alive. I rushed to her, pulling her gently into my arms as I whispered her name.

"Tabitha, wake up. You're safe now."

Her eyelids fluttered, and her lips parted as she took a shallow breath. "Dave..." she whispered, barely audible.

I held her tighter, not wanting to let go. "I'm here. You're safe. We're going home."

The warriors finished securing the area, making sure the rogue threat was over.

I carried Tabitha out of the warehouse, her body limp but still breathing. The pack warriors moved aside, some bowing their heads respectfully as I passed. No one said a word. They all saw what she meant to me.

By the time we got home, my arms were trembling from exhaustion, but I didn't let go of her for a second. I pushed the door open with my shoulder and gently laid her on the bed. Her skin was pale, her breathing shallow, but she was still fighting.

I pulled out my phone and called my friend,Dr. Marcus. He was one of the best, and more importantly, he was like us. A wolf. He answered on the first ring, and after a brief explanation, he promised to be there in minutes.

While waiting, I went to the small safe room where I had hidden Ethan and Liam. The boys were curled up on a blanket, fast asleep, oblivious to the chaos outside. Relief washed over me as I knelt beside them. I brushed a hand over their soft hair, my heart tightening with love and guilt. They deserved better than this world filled with rogues and pain.

I picked them up carefully, one after the other, and laid them on their beds, tucking them in with a gentle kiss on their foreheads. "Daddy's here," I whispered. "And Mommy will be okay."

By the time I returned to the room, Marcus was already bent over Tabitha, his hands glowing faintly with healing energy as he examined her. I stood by the door, fists clenched, heart thudding.

When he finally straightened, his expression was grim but not hopeless.

"She's stable," Marcus said quietly. "Her vitals are holding, and she's strong. But..." He looked at me, his tone shifting. "She's been injected with a heavy dose of wolfbane. It's going to take time to flush out, and I can't say for sure if the pup will survive."

I inhaled sharply, my jaw tightening. "What can we do?"

"Keep watch. Make sure she stays hydrated. I'll prepare a natural detox serum that might help ease the wolfbane's effects, but it won't be instant. You'll need to be patient and hope."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Thank you, Marcus. Truly."

He gave a short nod and packed up his things. "I'll check on her again tomorrow. Call me if anything changes."

Once he was gone, I returned to Tabitha's side. She looked so fragile beneath the sheets, nothing like the fierce, sarcastic she-wolf who'd once put me in my place with a single glare.

I sat beside her and gently took her hand. "You've made it this far. Don't stop now, baby. I need you. Our boys need you."

Her fingers twitched weakly in mine.

I leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "Fight, Tabitha. Come back to me."