“Huan,” Alexiares said calmly.

The Elder Scout looked at the Enforcer out of the corner of his eye as he fired more rounds down the smoke shrouded street.

“It’s time for you to leave,” Alexiares said flatly.

“I’m not going anywhere. But you need to make sure as many of our people make it to the Rendezvous point as possible. I’ll hold here.”

The Elder Enforcer smiled, “That’s why it has to be you.” He leaned out and fired a few rounds down the street and ducked down as more return fire answered him. He looked over at the Scout who was also hunched down. “The city and the pups that lived here will need your guidance.”

“If that’s what you’re worried about Alexiares, there’s a much younger and more capable Tracker that can do all that.”

Alexiares smiled, “Ansuya is strong but for all her age she doesn’t have your wisdom. She needs you more than she knows.”

“Alexiares, if you’re trying to convince me of something you are doing a horrible job.” Huan leaned out from his hiding place and fired a few more rounds at the surrounding rooftops.

“I’m not trying to convince you of anything. I’m telling you!” With that Alexiares tackled Huan Li behind a corner of a building. Before the Elder Scout could really react Alexiares slammed his claw into the side of Huan Li’s head. The Scout blacked out immediately.

Alexiares walked out of the alley and dove behind the barricade. Ansuya looked at the unconscious Huan Li. Alexiares met the Trackers eyes and she nodded.

Grabbing Huan and slinging him over her shoulder she turned and saw a large Shape shifter backing away from the street towards their location. “Ares? What are you doing back here?” Alexiares asked when he almost ran into the Enforcer.

“Elder Jacob gave me one last order before he was taken, Elder Alexiares.”

“I bet I can guess what that was, good. I sent Aceso and her pack to the rendezvous only a minute or two ago, Huan and I am the last in the city. Help Ansuya, get Huan Li out of here. Do you understand?” Ares nodded, “Are they still around? The ones that got Jacob?” Ares nodded again, taking the unconscious Shape shifter and putting him on his shoulders.

“Okay, give me your weapon,” Alexiares demanded. Ares handed over his rifle without complaint. “Now, when I go you should have a few seconds. I can’t guarantee you any more than that. Run as fast as you can and get as many of our people out as you can. I’m trusting you to do this one last task for the City Under the Mountain.” Ares nodded slowly.

“Alex, you don’t have to do this, we can all get out, the smoke will cover us,” Ansuya pleaded.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Alexiares grimly shook his head, “That’s not how this works, and if the vampires push forward, they’ll outrun us and no one will make it to the rendezvous point.” Alexiares turned back to the incoming threat.

“It has been a great honor to be a part of your pack, Ansuya. I only regret that I won’t get to see how you might have led the Mountain. Now go!”

Alexiares gripped both rifles in his claws. He took a deep breath and burst out onto the street with both rifles blazing. He held one pointed up at the rooftops and the other held at street level.

Ares, holding tightly to the unconscious Elder, took Ansuya’s arm and ran off to the side, into a side alley, behind Alexiares. Ares ducked and weaved out of the street as fast as could with Ansuya trailing right behind. He was aware of the Elder on his shoulders but he refused to let that weight slow him down.

The two urged each other to go faster and ate up distance as they got farther and farther away from Alexiares and the place where Jacob had died. Ares hadn’t failed, he wouldn’t let himself fail. He would get out of here, he had to. Aceso and Huan Li, Keva and whoever else had made it out of the city would need his help. He could sense his mate, Physis. She was up ahead but very far away. He hadn’t let himself think about whether or not she had survived. He would make Alexiares’ sacrifice an act of honor. He would fulfill his role. Instead of a protector he would become an avenger. He ran north out of harm’s way toward his new beginning.

* * * * *

“Cease fire!” Kenneth yelled as he leaped down off the building onto the street. He approached the werewolf that was writhing in pain in front of him.

The beast had taken a few rounds to the legs, a couple to his arms, maybe a few to his gut, but he was still alive. The creature refused to make any noise though. Not a whine or whimper escaped his mouth. Kenneth walked up to his body and kicked away the useless weapons that lay on the ground next to him.

He saw the pained looked in the werewolf’s eyes. “Alexiares?! Well well well, I am blessed!” He smiled down at him. “Do you remember me at all? That first time we met at that strip club, what was it called?” He snapped his fingers trying to jog his memory, “Oh come on it’s right there on the tip of my tongue…Cat House? No, The Doll House? No, oh, well you remember right?” he asked the dying werewolf.

Alexiares growled low in his throat.

“Yeah, you’re right it doesn’t really matter.” Kenneth looked up at the surrounding buildings, at the fire in the distance, and the smoke that was filling the cavern. “Why don’t you tell me where everyone else got off to.” It wasn’t a question. “I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll kill you quickly, ease your suffering. It’s the least I can do, and it’s what you deserve for so bravely defending your city the way you did.” Alexiares eyes hardened into a look of pure defiance.

“So it’s like that, huh? Well,” Kenneth stood up shaking his head. “I wish I had more time to play with you, I really do.” Kenneth shot Alexiares between the eyes. The werewolf shifted back to his natural wolf form.

Kenneth waved with his gun to the vampires on the rooftops, “Find them! Find them all!” the vampires that were with Kenneth disappeared down the streets or up and over the surrounding buildings.

“Alexander!” Kenneth yelled out into the city. “I want to see you, Alexander! I know you’re still alive. Get your ass down here!”

Without waiting for a reply, he signaled to the rooftop once again and Natalia jumped down from her perch. Kenneth holstered his gun and held his hand out to his mate. He gently gripped her hand and turned to look at the fire burning in the distance. It had eaten up a lot of the forest that had been there, the flames towered towards the ceiling of the cavern and poured more smoke into the cavern.

“Natalia, my mate, just look at it.”