Without Mercy

by Belinda Boring

  “I don’t care about your stupid pack or its archaic rules. They mean nothing to me. I love her and I will have her, whatever it takes.”

  “But vampires? You went to vampires?” I knew I was tempting my fate but I couldn’t keep the incredulous tone from my voice. Gary relaxed a little as he took in a breath to speak.

  “I was desperate. Depressed. They found me and offered me a way to get her.”

  “Yeah, but at the cost of your soul!” I exclaimed. “No one is worth that.”

  He moved so quickly. One minute I had my back to him and next his hand was locked around my throat, in a death grip, the barrel of the gun resting between my eyes.

  “Say it again, I dare you. Say Jasmine isn’t worth it and I’ll splatter your brains all over the ground.” Gary’s eyes were crazed and I knew I’d pushed him too far. There’d be no reaching him. One of us was going to die.

  We stared into each other’s eyes, willing the other to relent. A firm voice broke our concentration. “Let her go, Gary. It’s me you want and I promise I’ll go with you. Just stop this madness.”

  Gary released me to look at Jasmine, suspicious hope on his face. I dropped to the floor, gasping for air with my hand massaging my throat. I’d give this for the human; he had an iron strong grip.

  “Leave us alone. Gary. Please,” Jasmine growled.

  It was the please that drew my attention. There was a hint of animal in the sound and my stomach dropped as I watched Jasmine fight to rein in her wolf. It was relentlessly trying to gain control now, the trauma of the evening triggering it to break free and surface.

  The situation just went from dangerous to dire. Jasmine didn’t have a good grasp on the beast side of her nature. She hadn’t been pushed this far. The Pack had decided to gently ease her into it. This wasn’t the ideal time to learn mastery.

  Judging from the convulsions racking her body, we were going to have a real problem in a moment. Scratch that. Gary was about to have a problem and my wolf howled in anticipation.

  “You need to calm down, Jasmine. Take deep breaths. Everything’s alright,” I spoke softly, watching her carefully. “We’ll figure this out. Just try to keep your body relaxed and mind focused. Okay? Don’t give in, fight to stay human.”

  Gary reached down and grabbed me by my jacket, dragging me to my feet. “What’s happening? What’s wrong with her?” He used the gun to point at Jasmine, who had dropped to all fours, panting heavily.

  “She’s changing, you idiot, and she doesn’t have the pack to help guide her. I need to get her to Mason before it’s too late.” I used my hands to roughly shove at Gary. “Let me go now!” I threw every ounce of compulsion into my voice. I didn’t care what his issues were, Jasmine needed me and that was all that mattered.

  “No! No Mason. Just you. Fix her.” The gun’s trigger clicked back on as he aimed it at me. “Now”

  I lost my temper. I thought nothing about diplomacy or trying to ease the weapon out of his hand. It didn’t matter that he seemed just as on edge as I was. Jasmine’s whimpers were becoming louder and louder as the change began to take over.

  “There’s no fixing her! This is who and what she is – she’s a werewolf and if I can’t stop her changing, she may not be able to hold onto her humanity. Do you get it, you jerk? Your macho act of stupidity here...” I pointed at his gun, “has triggered her wolf. She’ll be too strong to fight and will take control. Maybe forever”

  I ran over to where Jasmine was lying. She was now in the fetal position, lying on her side and I could see her muscles and joints starting to lengthen and rearrange themselves. Her nails had grown longer, sharper at the tips and a light coat of fur rippled and flashed over her skin. It would be only moments.

  “Come on, Jasmine, baby. Fight it.” I groped my pockets for my cell phone and cursed out aloud. Of course, this would be the time I left it at home.

  I began a silent chant in my head for Mason, trying to send a frantic call through the pack bond. I wasn’t sure whether it would work with me being in human form still because I’d had difficulty with it before. Strong emotions also blocked me from communicating with Pack sometimes. Mason thought it was because the intensity overloaded the circuits but I couldn’t focus on it now. I needed to help Jasmine.

  “I can sense her Darcy; she’s desperate to get out. She’s strong and I’m not sure I can hold on to me too when she comes.” Fear blazed in her wolfish eyes. The yellow tinge almost glowed in darkness of the evening.

  “Do you remember what we’ve told you in the past? About how as you feel her pass, to focus on what makes you Jasmine? Tell me what you’re going to think about?”

  “I’m going to think...” Her thought was cut short as a gut wrenching scream erupted from her mouth. The press of the gun barrel returned to the side of my head.

  “Enough with your damn gun, Gary. Enough!” My own wolf, hungry for action, felt that much closer.

  “What’s happening? Make it stop! It’s not supposed to be like this. I meant to kidnap her, whisk her away where I could have a chance to win her over, make her see that she could love me. I wanted to get her away from pack and all things wolf, and we would’ve been happy.”

  The arrogant facade Gary had been maintaining started to crumble as hysteria crept into his voice. He drove his hand through his hair and began to pace back and forth, the gun still in his grip.

  “Just take your gun and walk away! Mason will arrive soon and you’re not going to want to be here when I tell him what happened. Forget about Jasmine, about us all. Just leave!” I screamed the last words at him as I used my hands to try and soothe Jasmine.

  “No, I’m not leaving without Jasmine. Fix her and we’ll leave together.”

  I almost choked on my shock. This guy was truly delusional if he thought I was letting him anywhere near Jasmine again. Standing to my feet, I turned to face Gary and stalked towards him.

  “You’ll go and you’ll go now before I rip your throat out. I’ve had enough of this. You’re wasting my time. Don’t make me do something I’ll regret.” I shoved him and pointed to down the street. “Run, while you can. You think Jasmine will be scary? You have no idea what it’s like to face an infuriated alpha wolf and Pack members. You have no idea what it’ll be like facing me.”

  The sound of a wolf growling behind me interrupted my angry rant. I closed my eyes, not needing to turn around to know she’d changed and from the electricity that was dancing over my skin and the tension beneath it, it wouldn’t be long before I’d change as well.

  “Run, I will not warn you again!”

  A look of revulsion crossed over Gary’s face. I turned around to face Jasmine and it didn’t take a genius to see he didn’t like what he saw. His reaction was confusing because this was nature at its finest.

  Jasmine was a breathtaking wolf – silver fur with white tipped ears and paws. Her snout was ebony and her fur shined in the moonlight.

  “Make her change back!” he screeched.

  I reached out with my senses to see whether I could find Jasmine, but I was too distracted by what was happening around me. “I don’t know if I can. I don’t know if she’s there. Mason will have to help her.”

  I took a step towards Jasmine, with my hands raised in a submissive gesture. Technically, we were the same in the hierarchy of the Pack, I wouldn’t rise until Mason and I had officially sealed our mate bond. I hoped that my showing her I meant no threat, she would calm enough for me to reach her. Her hackles were still raised and there was a low grumble coming from her, but I was sure it was directed at Gary more than me. Jasmine would smell I was part of the Pack, whether she was herself or not and know I wasn’t a threat.

  “Don’t go near her!”

  “Make your mind up, Gary! You either want me to help her or not.” I was getting sick of his interference. Sick of his presence and I was ready to snap. Play time was over and it was time to put end to this.

  Using my werewolf speed, I turned and lunged fo
r Gary, baring my teeth at him. I caught him by surprise and quickly had him pinned beneath me on the floor. I wrestled for control of the gun and misjudged a move. A second later, I was underneath Gary, with his fist pummeling into my face.

  A loud howl echoed and was followed by an angry growl of warning. Gary turned to see Jasmine launch herself at his back. He raised the gun and fired.

  The shot thundered and time seemed to stop. All I could hear was my shallow breathing and the sound of a body thudding to the ground.

  “Nooooo!” an agonizing scream erupted from my throat as I pushed the shell shocked Gary off me and scrambled over to where Jasmine now lay, still in wolf form.

  A pool of blood was steadily formed underneath her and my fingers frantically tried to find where the bullet entered so I could stop the bleeding. All I could see was fur and blood as tears blurred my vision.

  I lowered my head down to the wolf’s body and could hear Jasmine’s heart slowly giving out. She seemed to shudder a little as if her body was trying to rally one more time before she was finally still.

  “Don’t you dare die, Jasmine. Fight!” I started to shake her but had to stop as the change reversed itself. In the event of death, anyone who died in wolf form would revert back to their human selves. As I rolled Jasmine to her back, I administered CPR.

  Was it thirty compressions and two breathes or two breathes and fifteen compressions? I couldn’t remember. My brain wasn’t able to calm itself long enough to remember.

  A memory pierced the moment. “It’s better to do something than nothing, Darcy. Do what you can.” It was the voice of the instructor advising me after I’d asked what to do if I forgot.

  I began pushing down in the middle of her sternum, not stopping when I heard one of her ribs pop. I kept repeating the numbers over and over in my mind like a mantra.

  Nothing was happening. Jasmine continued to lie still on the ground, each moment passing becoming colder and colder as her body’s heat started to leave her. Hysteria threatened to explode from me.

  I would’ve kept working on her if I hadn’t heard a noise behind me. I was so focused on saving the life of my beloved friend and future sister, I’d forgotten about Gary.

  Part of me hoped he’d taken my advice and left. My wolf, she hoped he’d stayed. Grief tormented her and she demanded justice for the death of her fellow pack mate. She begged to be released so she could execute him and in my weakened state, I took down the walls and set her free.

  I tried to do this the civilized way and it ended in disaster. I should’ve let her out at the very beginning, let her destroy the threat. If I had, Jasmine and I would be on our way home right now, laughing about ways to torture Mason.

  I took a deep breath as I leaned forward and closed Jasmine’s eyes. I kissed her softly on cheek and whispered I’d be back for her.

  Something within me finally snapped, my wolf was in full control. Placing my hands on the floor to push myself up and turned to face my enemy.

  The gun was on the ground a few feet away, useless. The enemy stood a short distance away, shaking from shock as it stared at Jasmine in disbelief.

  It didn’t have the right to look at her. It had no right breathing and if I had anything to do with it, it wouldn’t be in a few short moments.

  I took a measured step forward, power soaking my cells as I called on the change to happen. “You will pay for this.” My voice was an octave deeper, but steady as a rock, as I sized up my enemy. “You killed her so your life is forfeit. So says pack law.” A hungry smile covered my face. “I told you to stop. You didn’t. I told you to run yet you stayed. Because of you, my sister is now dead. Run as fast as your vampire laced body can because when I catch you, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”

  “It was an accident, Darcy. I didn’t mean to shoot her. I loved her! I never meant for this to happen.” My enemy was frantic and began to back up slowly.

  He mimicked the submissive gestures I’d shown Jasmine earlier. His hands held up in peace, but there would be none now. The wolf was here and she was without mercy.

  I took another step forward and jerked as my muscles and joints moved. It had been slow and painful for Jasmine, but Mason and I had been working on my changes. As the mate of the Alpha, he told me there would be times I’d be challenged and it was important I could change fast and often. If my enemy thought he had more time, he was sorely mistaken.

  “You really should’ve run” And with that, a savage pulse pushed through my body. One minute I was Darcy and next I wasn’t.

  Standing in all my wolfish glory, I saw my enemy cower as he watched me change into two hundred pounds of aggression and raw energy. I may not be as spectacular as Jasmine, but my chocolate brown fur was thick and luxurious, my fangs sharp and eager to shred.

  My humanity whispered in my head, trying to convince me against attacking, but my grief held too tight a grip. Somewhere else inside I could feel Mason was close by but I shut that off too.

  This was personal and something I wanted to deal with. By killing Jasmine, my enemy had crossed a line human Darcy couldn’t argue with. Pack dictated retribution and the thrill of it set my senses ablaze.

  I stalked towards my enemy as it backed up, looking over its shoulder for help. Hoping for privacy to enact its kidnap, it had gotten just that, but that also meant no one would be coming to its defense now. No one would hear it scream in terror.

  I faked lunged and it squeaked in terror. Head back I howled, the noise jolting the enemy before me. It finally turned and ran.

  My enemy became prey.

  I paced back and forth eagerly, allowing it a few moments head start before leaping into action. Barking out a war call, I loped after it, careful not to catch my prey too quickly. I wanted to draw out the uncertainty. Torture it.

  Down the street I chased, pausing to test the scent on the air. I knew exactly where my prey was, but also smelled the pack. They wouldn’t get here in time. Even if they did, this was my kill, my sentence to execute.

  I skidded to a halt at the opening of an alleyway. Instead of running into a populated area or flagging down a passing car, my prey chose to hide where there could be no escape.

  If he thought the filth that littered the ground could disguise his fear riddled odor, he was about to be disappointed. The trash crunched under my feet as I entered the alley and stood for a moment, taking in my surroundings.

  I ignored the rats rummaging around. Howling out the equivalent of “ready or not, here I come” and slowly began stalking through the alley. It took only a second to narrow down where the coward was hiding – a boarded over doorway. His sweat drenched body radiated a “here I am” sign. I crouched down and waited.

  Moments passed. Silence filled the air. I wanted it to think danger had passed it by and everything was safe. I wanted it to relax before I pounced and ripped it apart. Slowly.

  Cautiously, I saw it begin to move, testing each movement for a reaction. When it seemed appeased, my prey stood up and peered into the alley way, scanning its surroundings. It relaxed, releasing the tense breath it had been holding, and as it stepped out I growled. I snapped at the strangled response as my prey jumped back into its hiding spot. The smell of urine was strong as it wet itself.

  Stalking to the opening of the doorway, anger and retribution drenching me, I faced the cowering lump in front of me. I could drag this out, make it suffer more, or I could end it.

  Springing from my hind legs, I soared through the air and landed on top of it. With a feral bark, I demanded it look at me.

  Recognition of its impending death filled its eyes and my prey mouthed a silent prayer, a plea for divine intervention. I pounced, my paws digging into its chest, pinning it to the floor. I leaned in to take one last sniff.

  This is for Jasmine, my mind shouted as I opened my jaws and ripped at its body. Blood sprayed over the walls and gushing into my mouth, causing me to gag but nothing could distract the wolf.

  The sounds of shreddi
ng flesh and of limbs being brutally torn from the body filled the air, as well as the heady scent of copper. Agonizing screams pierced my ears but I tuned it out as I focused on annihilating the pack enemy. One quick move and I ripped its throat out, silencing it forever.

  It didn’t take long before it ceased moving and there was nothing left but carnage - blood and gore covering every surface. I stopped long enough to shake out my body, sending bits of flesh flying from my fur.

  I nudged the lifeless mass with my snout, growling a challenge for it to get up and fight some more. There was no movement.

  Adrenaline still coursed through my body, but I knew it was over. Justice had been served, with a side of ruthless vengeance and it was time to change back.

  I reached inside and called on the change, but my wolf refused to relinquish control.

  I pushed and she pushed harder.

  I begged and coerced. She ignored it all.

  I panicked. It had been a long time since the wolf had been this strong and there was no budging her. She was adamant that if she had been in control to begin with, this all could’ve been avoided. We stay a wolf and everyone will be safe.

  Realizing arguing would be futile at the moment, I began the journey back to Jasmine’s body, hoping no one had moved her.

  My slow steps became huge bounding lopes as I pushed myself to get back to where it had all started.

  Nearing the scene, my hackles rose and I let out a warning growl. Some of the pack had arrived and were hovering over Jasmine’s body. I barked for them to move as I roughly pushed my way through those who’d come. Daniel. Jonas. Eric.

  The looks on their faces were a mixture of anger, grief and shock. Violence was something mostly seen amongst the dominant pack members. It was rare for it to touch the females so the death of Jasmine would shake them to the core.

  Each of them looked at me cautiously, trying not to make eye contact and backing away slowly. They could see my aggression, hear it in my soft growls and tried to show they weren’t a threat.

  Crouched over the body of his sister was Mason, his head bowed as silent sobs wracked his body. I longed to comfort him but couldn’t as a wolf.