The Code of The Alpha

Chapter Forty-Four - Aggressive Negotiations

My paws bounded out in front of me.

Haunches driving into the soil and propelling me forward, I was running quicker than I ever could on two feet.

I had Bates's clothes in my mouth, holding them tight against the wind that blew in my face.

Thankfully, the oversized clothing hadn't ripped the first time I'd shifted, but I wasn't taking any chances the second time.

I bolted through the trees, following the metallic odor of blood that wafted through the pack land. I could only hope I wasn't following the smell of my own injuries.

Hearing a deep growl, I skidded to a stop, coming up a portion of the densely wooded area where a large wolf stood in my path.

The dark gray wolf stared me down, the fur on his neck standing at attention.

I dropped the clothing from my mouth and snarled as a warning for him to move.

He stood his ground, maintaining his gaze.

Snapping my teeth, I took a few quick steps forward. But his stance remained solid, still blocking the path.

A vision of Bates's bloody skull danced before me, eliciting a rush of courage and panic.

I don't have time for this.

Just before I could attack, the wolf kneeled down on his front two paws and began to shift back into his human form.

I was shocked to see Lincoln standing in front of me, covering himself with both hands.

"You shouldn't be here," he told me firmly.

I picked up Bates's bloodied shorts with my teeth and dropped them on the path in front of him.

He stared at the shorts for a moment before reaching out to grab them.

Lincoln's eyes widened as he smelt the blood that stained them, realizing whose shorts they were and whose blood they were covered by.

"Where is he?" He asked. "Luca's house? The tower? The meeting house?"

I began to shift back, Lincoln turning to give me a moment to cover myself with Bates's shirt and boxers.

"He's in the basement of the meeting house," I said, trying to catch my breath from the exhausting run.

Lincoln turned back to me and I saw the hesitation in his eyes, torn between his loyalties to the pack and those to his friend.

"My dad was there," I told him. "Bates lost a lot of blood. He needs help."

"You're hurt," he said, stepping towards me.

I backed away from him.

"Bates needs your help more than I do. Please. I need someone to go to him that can help," I begged.

"I'll go get Dr. Witt and I'll tell her to meet you at the meeting house," Lincoln said. "But you need to leave here."

Suddenly, a loud howl echoed through the trees, the branches shivering at its intensity.

That was the call of an Alpha.

I took off running, ignoring Lincoln's shouts behind me.

I ducked and dodged the protruding tree limbs in the path that I took, running as quickly as I could and ignoring the sharp debris on the forest floor that cut into my feet.

When I emerged from the trees, I froze.

Portion of the border gate was bent inwards, laying on the ground. It opened into the pack land, offering a gateway inside.