Tabula Rasa ~TW/TO~ Lahey

Chapter 12: Anchor

After the words that I thought Derek would never say to me echoed through the phone, I race to his Camaro and speed back to the depot. I don't need any more explanation than those four words. I know exactly what he's asking help for and he should have known that those chains, and the train cart itself, would never be able to hold the three of his beta's long. Who knows what they are doing now? Are they killing each other? Killing Derek? Killing a civilian? They can't control their shifts and the only person to blame is Derek. He knows what they are capable of, yet he didn't do his part to help control their shifts like he said he would.

Bringing the car to a screeching halt outside the entrance door, I throw my heels off to the ground after opening the car door and run barefooted to the building Derek is keeping the three newbies locked inside. Knowing they are in the cart, I jump inside and search for the wolves. Instead of finding the three betas restrained like they are supposed to be, I find them pinning Derek to the ground as they slash their claws into him. That's not the worst part, though. There are only two of them here... Wheres Isaac?

Not having time to figure out Isaac's whereabouts, I rush to the two rabid wolves and reach for Boyd first to throw him to the other side of the cart. Just as I'm going to do the same to Erica, Derek beats me to the punch and tosses her effortlessly to join Boyd.

"Where the hell is Isaac?" I ask Derek full of concern as he stands to his feet.

Derek looks over  at me with blood dripping down the side of his face, "You didn't see him when you came in?"

Before I can respond to his question, Erica takes the opportunity to dive onto Derek's back, taking him by surprise. As soon as I move to defend Derek from his own creations, Boyd wraps his fingers around my throat, stopping me in place and roars in my face. The smell of his repugnant breath hits my nostrils and some saliva escapes his lips and onto me.

This is not how I wanted to spend my night.

Boyd works to inch closer to me to succeed in sinking his teeth into my skin, but my strength outmatches him. That doesn't mean I shouldn't be cautious of him, though. I don't want to test out the theory of this particular breed being lethal to vampires. Another round of hallucinations is the last thing I need.

Also, I need to be cautious with him because the full moon is adding to Boyd's strength and is closely equaling it out to my own. I'm slightly struggling with him, mostly because the things I want to do to fend him off would easily kill him. And I know Derek would disapprove of that. Besides, I should be proud that he can fight like this. That means my lessons are paying off.

Swiftly, Derek elbows Erica's nose then runs over to push Boyd away from me. Boyd tumbles to the ground, his head slamming against the floor loudly as I take in the breath he was blocking my lungs from consuming. Not wanting him to recover so quickly, and also because I'm feeling vengeful, I throw a punch at his right cheek. If there is one thing I've learned about fighting, it's that you want to keep your opponent down. That saying about not kicking a man while he is already down is a mockery.

"Tie her up," I order Derek and he quickly complies with my demand.

While I search for Boyd's chains to do the same to him, he stands back up and rushes at me. Not having time to react, he grabs both sides of my arms and forces me out the exit train door with him as his claws seep into my skin and draw blood that trickles down my arms. I wince at the pain as he continues to rip through my flesh.

Struggling to free myself from him, I manage to release one of my arms and throw my elbow back to give him another blow to the cheek. However, he jabs his claws centimeters from my heart and a roar of pain echos throughout the building. Before I can try anything, Boyd is shoved away from me again, but it isn't Derek that came to my rescue this time. It's Isaac.