The Immortal Howl

{37}

Suddenly, dozens of wolves come barreling in, growling and thrashing at the first hybrid they can get their paws on.

They thread the vampires thin, easily destroying half their ranks and leaving the bodies for mother nature to find. They're her problem now.

Then, as if it was impossible to be more surprised, Jasper walks out, seemingly in slow motion as he navigates through the giant dust cloud.

Instantly upon spotting him, Xander shifts back again, racing toward him with supernatural speed and reaching for his throat just like he did forever ago when he found Jasper driving his car.

His fingers lock around Jasper's neck as he holds him against a tree, Jasper's face turning a dark shade of red. My face turns red, too, but it's more of embarrassment over the fact that Xander really doesn't care about being butt naked in front of anyone and everything.

"I'm here to help," Jasper manages out, his voice barely able to get out thanks to Xander crushing his windpipe.

"Bullshit. I know what you did to Violet," Xander grits out through clenched teeth, tightening his grip on his Beta's neck.

"I know what I did, and I know it was inexcusable. I know it was unfair to her, to both of you. But Violet did something to Olivia. Violet brought her back long enough for her soul to come to me."

Jasper holds his hand over his heart, a single tear slipping down his cheek, though I'm not sure if it's due to the asphyxiation or a heartfelt moment.

"And you expect me to believe you?" Xander asks, letting go of Jasper, and his body slumps against the ground, his hand immediately jetting up to hold his neck.

Obviously, he already believes him. Or he would have never let go. Or they're both going to band together and kill me. Either works.

"What do you mean she brought her back?" Xander questions, taking the thought right out of my head.

Jasper shakes his head. "I have no idea. But I know for a fact Olivia is inside me. I can feel her. Just like I felt Violet join the pack last night." Xander awkwardly takes a glance toward me and shrugs.

Well, he's not wrong.

"One more thing," Jasper raises his voice as he stands up, still shaky from being strangled. He purses his lips and takes a deep breath. "Liv's dad died this morning. He left me Alpha of the pack."

I guess there is more room for surprises... Jasper, an Alpha? Did not see that coming. Especially since he had that whole evil villain phase. Yeah, that was not pretty. Come to think of it, neither of the two boys really had that many fine moments...

"He knew what Noah was doing. He sent me to help, that's why he named me successor. I sensed you guys shifting, that's the only reason why I came here. I'm here to help, I swear."

Sharing his backstory quickly turns into a plea for forgiveness, and while I'm definitely beyond far from fully forgiving him, there are greater problems we're here to solve.

I give Xander a nod and his shoulders untense. "Alright, but we're trusting you. There's another wave coming, no doubt. If you really wanna repay the damage you've done, you're gonna help us win this thing."

The two boys share a nod, and Xander was right. Hundreds more hybrids come out of hiding, swarming around us again like a wave from Plants vs Zombies. Their numbers quickly double, then triple, and even our expanded numbers aren't a match. Zeke is unresponsive and who knows where Strength's lended soldiers are.

Then my eyes lock on it.

That dream... It's all coming true.

I eye the cliff and frown, watching wolves clash against vampires, fangs against claws in a bloodied boxing match which no one can win. This entire situation is a lose-lose. There's no way one can come out unscathed.