Indianna wasn't sure what was happening. One moment, she was watching Greyson run towards her, and the next, she was shoved to the ground as a sandy-coloured wolf flew over her head.
She gasped and frantically looked around. Wolves were streaming in from every direction, teeth bared, growling and looking ravenous.
She screamed as the wolves began attacking Greyson's pack.
"My pack," she whispered and rolled onto her side.
She was on the outside looking in, and it was horrible. The growls were deafening, and she flinched when she heard jaws snap into flesh. A painful howl filled the air, and she looked around desperately, praying the injured wolf belonged to Jason.
There was a blur of colours, and she failed to locate Greyson's black coat. Her heart thumped in her chest, and her breaths came rapidly.
Her eyes landed on a large grey wolf as it tackled Brandon to the ground and easily flung him aside. It looked ready to kill.
Suddenly, the wolf stopped advancing on Brandon and turned towards a wide-eyed Brooke. The wolf immediately dropped its dangerous demeanour and lowered its back, allowing Brooke to climb onto him.
"Harry," Indianna breathed and nodded. "Brooke's safe."
Indianna looked around again and cried out when she saw a dusty-orange wolf tackled to the ground by a snarling, muddy-brown wolf.
Something inside her told her she knew the orange wolf.
"Kal," she whispered.
She gasped when he howled in pain as the muddy wolf bit into his shoulder. Indianna sucked in a breath as a softer brown-coloured wolf tackled the muddy one away from Kal, and she let out a small sigh of relief.
Ace.
Indianna glanced around again, desperate to find her mate. She fought against the ropes binding her wrists, but she wasn't successful at either task.
Indianna closed her eyes and focused all her energy on Greyson. She slipped into his mind and was overwhelmed by his emotions.
He was fuelled by anger, and his hatred towards Jason was like a flame that only grew stronger. But he was also scared. He was frantic to see Indianna, and she worried that his concern for her would distract him.
I'm fine, she said, hoping to put him at ease. You'd better be too.
Indianna then went fully into his mind, and her surroundings changed. Her vision became sharper and clearer.
She was seeing through the eyes of Greyson's wolf.
Greyson's wolf was incredible, bounding over the bodies of fallen wolves and easily attacking the ones still standing. He tumbled to the ground on top of an enemy wolf and sank his teeth into its neck before quickly moving on to his next target.
Greyson paused for a moment to look around. He spotted Harry trying to defend himself and Brooke. If he only had himself to worry about, Harry would have no problem, but he was struggling with Brooke on his back.
Ace was paired with Kal, who was slowly healing from his injury. They were putting up a good fight. Greyson's eyes landed on Kirstie and Mac, who worked in sync with each other. Kirstie played with her victims until Mac ended things quickly but painfully for the enemy.
Jansen was fighting well. His wolves were strong, but they weren't a warrior pack, and they were beginning to struggle.
Greyson looked around again, taking in the number of enemy wolves. He couldn't count them. It was as if they were a vicious sea, while Greyson and everyone else were a small island waiting to be flooded.
Indianna felt Greyson's emotion just before he hid it from her.
Dread.
He knew there was only a slim chance they were going to win.
Indianna was pulled back into her own body when the rope around her wrists finally snapped. She gasped in relief and jumped to her feet.
She looked around and realised that being human wouldn't help her at all.
Indianna closed her eyes and focused on her wolf. She hadn't shifted many times. Greyson had told her that the urge wasn't that strong yet, but over time, it would grow, and she would have to shift more frequently.
She imagined her wolf. She pictured running with Greyson's wolf, playing with him and playfully tackling each other to the ground.
Indianna felt her bones begin to shift. She squeezed her eyes shut and groaned as she was forced onto all fours and her bones cracked.
It didn't hurt, but she was still new to shifting, so it was rather uncomfortable.
After a few moments, Indianna found herself on all fours. She wobbled slightly as she took a step forward, but as soon as she had balanced herself, she looked around at the horror in front of her and searched for her mate.
Indianna caught a glimpse of shiny black fur and immediately raced towards him. Now she was shifted, she could easily tell the difference between the two sides.
The wolves on her side smelled familiar and safe. Jason's wolves smelled dirty and unfamiliar.
She didn't want to go near them.
Indianna's fighting skills were below average, but her wolf was small and fast. She could weave in and out of the battle quickly, and she used that to her advantage.
Indianna's eyes locked with Greyson's. They were less than twenty metres apart.
She desperately wanted to touch him. She knew his touch would make her feel safe, even in the middle of this hell.
Before she could reach him, one of Jason's wolves tackled her to the ground. She growled in anger, thrashing around and fighting against the wolf, but he was too strong.
His weight crushed Indianna, but she frowned when she realised he wasn't hurting her. He was only making sure she couldn't interfere.
Sugar, are you hurt? Greyson demanded.
I'm fine! Indianna replied instantly, wriggling beneath the wolf. He's not hurting me.
You're Rogue's sister. I bet none of them would risk harming you and facing him, Greyson grunted. Have you seen him? Rogue?
No, Indianna said quietly.
I should have listened, Greyson said after a pause.
I should have listened to you, Indianna said. I'm sorry.
Me too, sugar, Greyson muttered.
Indianna growled at the wolf above her.
I love you. I love you so fucking much.
He won't kill you, Indianna said and clawed at the wolf.
That's not a mercy, Greyson growled.
Indianna lunged at the wolf above her when an opening appeared. She clenched her jaw around his shoulder and pulled as hard as she could. Blood filled her mouth, and she nearly gagged at the metallic taste, but she kept pulling.
The wolf howled in pain.
Indianna managed to push him off and raced towards Greyson.
They were going to lose.
She collided with Greyson and let the sparks consume her. She savoured them and held onto him, not caring about the battle raging around them.
I love you, Greyson said.
Stop saying it like you're never going to see me again! Indianna cried. You are! This can't be it! This can't be the last time!
Sugar, why did he say he wouldn't kill me?
Because of me. We're mates. If one of us were to die—
Indie, Greyson sounded pained. Mates can live when the other one dies. They're broken inside, but they're alive. Rogue just wants you. He doesn't care about what you're like on the inside. Sometimes both mates die when the other dies, but not always.
No! Indianna snapped. No, don't say that! He said he wouldn't!
He said he would let Brooklyn and Martha go, Greyson said. He didn't.
No! Indianna shouted. No, you're not leaving me!
Look around, Greyson sighed.
He hated giving up, but they were fighting a losing battle. He had thought they could win.
They couldn't.
He had too many men. He's won.
Jason's men were crowding around the pack members who remained. There were quite a few of them, but Jason had hundreds of wolves.
You don't give up, Greyson! You're a stubborn ass! You never give up!
You still manage to insult me, even now, Greyson chuckled.
Jason won't risk it, Indianna said. He wants me. He won't risk killing you and losing me.
Sugar, I hope you're right, Greyson muttered.
He said he wouldn't.
I love you, sugar.
Greyson, he won't.
"Last goodbyes?"
Indianna stiffened, and all attention turned to Jason as he walked towards them in human form, with several people behind him.
"Someone get my sister away from the mutt," Jason ordered.
Indianna howled and growled as she was grabbed and yanked away from Greyson, who was immediately pinned down. It took several men, but they managed to hold him.
"Change," Jason ordered.
He threw a shirt towards Indianna.
Indianna glared at Greyson and didn't move.
"Do you need an incentive?" Jason wondered.
Indianna cringed when she heard Greyson howl in pain.
"Change," Jason repeated.
Indianna quickly shifted back and hurriedly pulled the shirt on. Once she was human, she took a moment to absorb her surroundings.
Blood and bodies covered the ground. The smell of death hung in the air.
She caught the eyes of several pack members and gulped. The fighting had stopped. The pack knew they had to surrender.
"Now, although that was quite entertaining to watch, it was also quite a waste of time," Jason said and pursed his lips. "I don't like to be kept waiting."
"Jason," Indianna whispered. "It's over. You've won."
Jason smiled.
"It's a great feeling, victory. It's even better knowing that you thought you could defeat me." He chuckled. "That was very stupid of you, and you wasted lives."
"What are you going to do now?" Indianna asked, afraid of the answer.
"I'm going to order some pizza," Jason shrugged. "My new pack will clean up this mess, and you will come with me."
"What about..."
"Your mate?" Jason wondered.
He cast a distasteful look at Greyson, who was struggling against the men holding him.
"I want to kill him."
Indianna and Greyson both held their breath.
Jason smiled.
"But being the nice brother I am, I won't. I told you I wouldn't, so I shan't."
Indianna let out a sigh of relief, and Jason laughed.
"Relief," he mused. "It's a great feeling, isn't it?"
Jason nodded towards his men, and Indianna jumped back when they stepped towards her.
"Sister, I would have thought you'd realise by now not to fight me."
The men seized Indianna, and Jason smiled.
"Take her home."
Indianna looked back at Greyson as she was dragged away, and a tear slipped down her cheek.
I love you.
I know, Greyson whispered. You're my world, sugar.
"Wait!" Jason called and held up his hand.
Indianna was pulled to a halt and turned around to face him.
"I lied."
A strangled scream escaped Indianna's lips as Jason nodded. Wolves lunged at Greyson.
"No!" she shouted and lunged forward, but she was held back. "No! You said he would live!"
She screamed again when she heard Greyson's agonising howl and rushed towards him, red with anger.
Greyson! she screamed. Greyson, I love you!
There was no reply.
Indianna was tackled to the ground by a wolf, and she howled in agony.
She needed to get to Greyson.
All she could hear was his pain.
"Relief," Jason called. "It's always short-lived."