Sly as a Fox {Book One}

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

A/N: This chapter may be too graphic for some readers. Violence and (mild) gore ahead. Reader discretion is advised.

Fight

noun

-a violent confrontation or struggle

-strength or disposition for fighting; pugnacity

-a struggle for a goal or an objective

The low hum of voices fell silent the instant we stepped out of the confines of our tent. Exposed before them, I could feel the weight of thousands of stares as they watched us march forward. My stomach churned and flipped with every step, knowing that my life was on full display for those in attendance. This clearing was a stage and I was part of the main cast; the heroic protagonist for some and the antagonistic villain for others.

In the center of the field stood a pair of Lupos in their wolf forms, their chests covered by bulletproof vests to tell us that they were members of the original Alpha Guard; they were of those Lupos were refused to defect with Blithe and I from Monroe. With as violently as my nerves were buzzing, it took me a moment to notice the approaching figures on the opposite end of the field from us. Walking out from their own tent, I could see the tall forms of Raphael and Monroe walk in stride, with a more petite Mickey at her mate's side. Two additional figures walked behind them, their identities still masked. Because of the absolute silence that had fallen over the clearing, I could hear the crunching of snow beneath their feet as they walked even from this distance.

The sky continued to release its frozen creations down upon us as we walked forward. Behind us, I heard the pounding of feet from three of our own people. Matched in number, I prayed we would be matched in strength. The cold bite that the wind held failed to penetrate us as we walked hand-in-hand, our grip on each other unwavering in our resolve.

In the same manner that a tightrope-walker tells themself not to look down in fear of falling, I repeatedly told myself not to look out into the crowd of faces that surrounded me on all sides. I clenched my free hand into a fist when my will not to look broke and I peered out to my left in spite of myself. As far as I could see, people both in animal form and human form encircled us and stared back at me. Their indiscriminate faces reminded me of the background cartoon characters seated in a stadium. Serena's promise that she would be up front with Kyle rang in my mind, though I saw no evidence of either of the cats as I looked out over the endless sea of people that lined the clearing.

I forced my attention back to those growing closer to us. As the opposing group of shifters approached from the other side of the field, I began to more clearly make out the shapes of the other two "allied" shifters. The one stood taller than Monroe himself and the scent of another Orso on the wind told me of her species. I knew then that she would be Brian's focus at the time of the battle. The other shifter was considerably shorter than the other males around him and stood just a tad shorter than Mickey herself. I knew without even having to test for his scent that he was a Carca; there was no way they would side with a Volpe, let alone befriend a Volpe enough to convince them to side against me.

"Will?" Blithe asked me through the mind-link. I turned my head to look up at him. His face gave nothing away; his expression as steeled as ever as he continued to stare straight ahead. "I want you to stay as far away from me as possible when this starts." His dark eyes darted around, but never broke their forward position, entirely too focused on his target as the better predator. "I don't want him to get a hold of you and use you against me." I said nothing as we walked, turning to face forward once again. "Promise me," he insisted at my silence.