What’s Mine, is MINE

Alistair's POV

This woman is truly infuriating but if she wants to play, so be it.

I ran after Noir as she barreled through the crowd. When she shouted and jumped over my Beta and his mate, Rune pushed forward. But as soon as Noir barked orders and howled, Rune escaped as I was jumping over a stack of timber.

I ran past most of those who shifted on spot as I followed Noir before I became crowded and lost in the pack. When the pack changed their direction, I noticed a single gray wolf kept straight ahead.

"NOIR. RIVER. Come back! You've gone too far! You're heading towards the pack border," I shouted through the mindlink but it turned up empty.

Rune stopped instantly and began smelling the ground until he caught River's scent. When he did, he trudged forward and by the time we made it to them, Noir's wolf was falling down a ravine.

My body, along with Rune's, flooded with fear as we watched them but it was soon followed by relief that they stood from that fall only to be replaced with anger as I saw a wolf approach them. When I saw who the wolf transformed to, I was livid.

Calder.

In that moment, anger and fear drove us blindly towards them, hopping down rocks and dirt mounds until we stood behind Calder.

When he didn't budge, Rune dipped his head down and snarled.

"Easy, I'm not here to fight," Calder said over his shoulder.

"Nebo! Cuyler! I need you and a group of warriors at the river. NOW," I demanded through the mindlink as, at least, 15 of Calder's warriors made themselves known.

"You have two choices pup," Calder began.

"Either you return with me and forget this whole ordeal or your mate dies and Dark Wood burns. The choice is yours."

Rune's ears perked for a brief moment when River looked in our direction before they found their place back flat against his skull.

"Why are you so fascinated by me anyways, Calder," Noir spat as she replaced River.

"You seem fixated on me and my sister. More than anyone else actually."

I watched Noir and for a moment, pride swelled in my chest.

"You still need just punishment and since this mutt took you from me and your pack, that punishment has gone unfulfilled," Calder answered, a little too cheeky for my liking and based on Noir's demeanor, her's as well.

"She's stalling," Rune said, breaking my focus for a moment.

"I told River. Noir is stalling so they can get here."

"You are fucking sadistic and even more delusional if you think I'm going back to Moon Rock," Noir growled, taking a stance.

Calder chuckled. It was an eerie sound and sent a brief wave of nausea through Rune.

"You think you have a choice, dear Noir but you—."

Calder didn't get to finish as Noir charged him, her body shifting back to River so quick that I was even dumbfounded as she pinned the man on the ground.

River snapped her massive jaws in his face repeatedly, saliva kissing his skin but all Calder did was laugh.

Just then, three wolves lunged forward knocking River off of Calder and they tumbled into the shallows of the river.

The sound of fighting enveloped me; yelps, whines, whimpers, snarls, growls and whatever other sounds came from that direction, overwhelmed me and when I was about to shift again, Nebo, Cuyler and the others burst through the thicket.

Rayshon was the first at River's side, helping her fight off her attackers before my attention turned back to Calder who's expression went from pleasure to pure terror then to pompous smug.

As Rune approached the despicable man, Calder took a few steps back and shouted, "WHY do you defend her?! She is troublesome and defiant!"

Rune vanished and I stood in his place before shouting, "SHE. IS. MINE!"

Stepping closer to him, I snatched him by the neck, Hael gradually coming out.

"You will leave well enough alone or so help me, Máni as my witness, I will kill you," I spat, face to face with the man.

I didn't want to kill him in front of Noir. I didn't want to kill anyone in front of Noir. I didn't want her to see that.

When Calder didn't respond, I tightened my grip, claws digging into his flesh.

"Do I make myself clear." I growled.

Calder didn't say anything but gave a nod before whistling, forcing what remaining warriors he brought to retreat as I released him.

"Next time I will kill you."

Without warning, he returned to his wolf form and ran.

With this, I turned to River who was unconscious underneath Rayshon. When he snapped at me, I growled and his unnaturally blue eyes faded back into their brownish-green.

Looking at River's bloodied body, I sighed.

"Put her on my back," I ordered, letting Rune take over.

Once she was placed, we went home.

Rayshon - Cuyler's Wolf.