Rolf lightened up on his grip on Halle's hair and let her stand up straight. His hand opened and he released her hair. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Go."
She could smell his foul breath as he spoke, and like the rest of him, it sickened her. Halle hesitated for just a moment before leaping down off the porch and running to her brother. She grabbed Axel by the waist and hung on tight until she felt his hands pulling her arms away. She struggled with him, not wanting to leave his side. "No Axel, please, I want to stay with you."
Axel wanted to take Halle in his arms and check her over top to bottom to make sure Rolf hadn't hurt her, but he didn't have the time. He peeled her arms away from his sides and reluctantly but forcefully pushed her towards Kent. "Stay with Kent. He'll keep you safe." His eyes never left Rolf, who had an evil smirk of a look on his face. Their eyes met and Axel saw the madness for the first time.
Kent took hold of his friend's sister and held her tightly. She wanted to go back to Axel, but Axel wanted her out of the way when it was time to act. Kent had his orders, protect Halle no matter what the cost. He gently but firmly steered her towards the rear of the Betas. "It's for your own good Halle. He doesn't want to worry about you when he's fighting. Please, for Axel's sake."
Halle looked up at Kent and stopped struggling, nodded her head, and allowed herself to be led farther away. The last thing she wanted to do was distract Axel. Distraction meant death in battle. She knew that. She sat down next to Kent and burrowed under his arm. She still hadn't stopped shaking and sighed in appreciation when she felt his arms close around her protectively.
Rebecca and Danielle slowly approached the Dire Wolf waiting for them. He almost looked like he was salivating. The grin on his face was disgusting. They could just imagine what he had on his mind to do with them. The women held hands for strength and kept in constant contact with Carr and their mates.
Rebecca could practically feel Trey's eyes on her every move. She knew he never would have allowed her to do this if Carr hadn't been here. But ultimately, it was the Alpha's decision, and he'd agreed with Rebecca. She couldn't help thinking that Trey would be mad at her for being reckless, but just as she thought it, she felt his reassurance and felt bolstered by it. She squeezed Danielle's hand as they progressed towards the porch.
Danielle bit her lip as they made their way, step by horrifying step. The thought of that thing touching her had her ready to throw up. But she trusted Rebecca's idea. She could see Carr and the rest of the pack lurking in the shadows inside the open door. Rolf didn't know they were there, yet.
Rolf was impatient. He knew they had to have some sort of plan to overcome him. But his mind had lost all rational thought, and the Dire Wolf was arrogant enough to believe he could take them all on at once, and win, even with one arm. And he still had what was left of his pack. They had orders to attack the traitors if they made a move towards him. Of course the plan was for them to attack and kill them all eventually. But for now, time moved slowly as he watched his future mates coming to him.
He licked his lips in anticipation. In the back of his mind he remembered the Werecat, but seemed to have forgotten the association with the women. He felt his cock harden as he looked at the two women, his women, his mates. He would breed them immediately. But they were practically dragging their feet. "Hurry my dears, we have much to do to repopulate my pack. I'll have you both pregnant by morning."
Rebecca and Danielle felt their mates' rage at Rolf's statement. At normal speed they would have been at the porch within a minute, but they dragged it out as long as they could. They felt the tension in the air. All eyes were on them and the Dire Wolf as they walked up the steps together.
Danielle was closest to Rolf and cringed when his one hand came up to stroke the side of her face. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Troy seething. Trey had a hand on his brother's shoulder, and she knew it took all of his strength to stay put. She turned her head Troy's way and flashed a smile at him. Her smile turned to a grimace when the hand closed around her jaw and turned her face. She could hear Troy's growls in her head.
"Don't look at other males. You are mine, and mine only. No other male will touch you ever again. Do I make myself clear?" Rolf moved his face closer to Danielle, close enough so that all he could see was her. He didn't notice the faces of the group watching them. He didn't see the movement on the other side of him. He didn't see the bared teeth coming closer.
The blond panther opened wide and sunk her teeth into the arm holding her friend's face. She was so intent on holding on tight she didn't even hear the howl of pain.
The Betas stood in frightened amazement as they watched the sleek Werecat take hold of Rolf's arm. They saw the blood spurting from the punctured artery and were riveted in place. They'd never thought they would see the day their Alpha would be defeated, but this would be it.
He saw the sable wolf bounding for the porch and for a moment thought Axel was redeeming himself until he felt the teeth close around his calf and looked down. He saw the top of Axel's head as the teeth bit over and over again. Rolf struggled against the large cat and the Beta, and thought he might be able to get away but felt another set of teeth close around the opposite ankle. He dropped his eyes and saw the small brown wolf, the same color as he was, holding tight to his leg. He bellowed loudly, attempting to call his pack to his aid. He waited for what seemed an eternity as he fought.
The Baxter pack came forward slowly, mesmerized by the sight of the one armed Dire Wolf fighting for his life. There was no need for them to jump in. Carr ordered Rebecca and Danielle to back away. This was the Jensen Pack's fight, and the two wolves were doing well. Rebecca's bite had done it's damage and it was just a matter of time now. Carr saw wolves coming out of the house, walking out of the woods, drawn by the sounds of their Alpha in pain but none made any attempt to help him.
Rolf screamed in pain as the bite from the panther continued it's disintegration of his flesh. His arm flailed uselessly as he attempted to fight against his own sister and former second. He didn't feel the bones breaking so much as hear them. He saw his pack gathering and thought for sure someone would help him. But they just stared. Blood poured out of the many bite wounds, his arteries and major veins torn so badly they would never be able to heal in time to stop him from bleeding out.
The Jensen pack were drawn closer, watching in awe as their future was sealed. Maybe the damage done by Rolf could be reversed. As a whole, they felt relief wash over them. They would start over. But who would lead? For now they didn't really care. As long as it wasn't Rolf. They listened to every sickening crack of Rolf's bones. They heard every one of his screams which echoed in the silence around them. The only other sounds were the two wolves snarls as they bit over and over, trying to find new flesh to tear into.
As he weakened, Rolf thought back to the fateful day he and Gary had talked about what the Dire Wolf gene could mean to their race. They'd failed. But others would succeed. The Dire Wolf was meant to take over the earth. He was sure it would happen someday. But not in his lifetime. The pools of blood beneath him grew and his heart beat faintly, the flow of blood slowing.
