but once it was here, there was no avoiding it. Tonight, it was either kill or be killed, and we had young pups on the premises. Pups who had already lost everything and come to us for protection.
I glanced back at Anna’s prone form. She’d be heartbroken that the violence of the world had invaded the safe space she wanted to create. In a way, I was glad she was missing this. She’d struggle morally with the idea of killing humans. Guilt would eat her up inside, and she’d always question whether she could have prevented the deaths from tonight’s battle.
I flicked through the cameras, calling out locations to our guys on the ground. I sent mental images to help them locate the invaders, and the battle turned in our favor. Our guys were highly skilled warfighters that far outclassed the human attackers, but that didn’t mean the humans weren’t dangerous. A stray bullet could kill the best of us.
Two of our guys were hit, but unable to pull back to get medical assistance. I switched through the cameras, looking for a clear path for them. It was only by chance that I flicked through one of the screens that watched the beach.
“Shit!” I called out to Austin. “The initial attack was a decoy! Twenty humans landed on the beach and are headed inland.”
There was a small section of forest that separated the main house from the beach, but most of the new housing units that we were building were directly in the path of the invaders.
“I’m taking the twins,” James growled through the bond. “Caleb, don’t leave the house.”
I felt the twins’ determination. All of our best fighters were on the west side of the property. We still had guys here on the east side, but they only did basic training. Their jobs in the pack were more on the business/construction side of things.
“Team seven and eight,” Austin ordered. “Take positions to protect the housing units. We have civilians there. If you don’t have a weapon readily available, shift.”
“Shit, shit, shit,” I cursed aloud. The humans were heading for the most vulnerable of the pack, and they wouldn’t have mercy. James and the twins wouldn’t be enough to stop them. I cursed myself. I’d been so focused on the obvious threat that I hadn’t kept watch over the entire perimeter. There were already more humans attacking then I’d ever expected. I had no idea how it had been possible to find so many willing to slaughter our kind.
Anna’s pups both started barking excitedly, but I assumed it was because the gunfire was much closer now. It was a miracle they were settled until now.
I heard the bed creak behind me and whirled around. My jaw dropped when I saw Anna stand from the bed, her eyes staring blankly into the distance.
“Anna?” I asked worriedly.
The two little dogs danced at her feet, happily barking for her attention, but she didn’t seem to see or hear them.
“Anna?” I called to her again as I stood from my chair. “Are you okay?”
Anna’s eyes slid toward mine, but there was a coldness there that I’d never seen. Her green eyes were usually bright, but something unrecognizable slid behind them.
“Death comes tonight,” she said in a hard, emotionless voice.
She flung her arm out, the window exploding outward. The two pups squeaked in alarm and scampered away, taking refuge under my desk.
“Anna!” I shouted in alarm as she walked toward the broken window. “Wait!”
I ran toward her, but she jumped before I could reach her.
Blond hair flashed in front of me as she disappeared out the window, and I leaned over the second story, my eyes searching for her in the darkness below.
There was a flash of light, then she strode confidently across the green lawn, heading right for the beach.
“Anna’s awake,” I said through the bond. “She jumped out the window and is heading right for the beach attackers!”
“I’ve got her,” Mason called out.
I saw his dark form dart out from the shadows of the forest and run toward her. She never hesitated, never slowed, just held up a hand to stop him in his tracks.
Anna’s form started to glow brighter, illuminating the darkness and casting long shadows over the lawn. She disappeared into the forest, Mason slowly following behind her as if he were caught in her spell.
“Caleb!” Trevor shouted at me. “I’m pinned down and need assistance.”
I wanted to run after Anna, but I couldn’t let the rest of my team die.