The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate

"You would fight me." Samuel repeats slowly, as if in disbelief. "For him"

was someone I would have to be afraid of

"Not just for him, but for your sense of honor as well as mine." Hell him. With that wild look in his eye, I don't trust him: enough to even turn my back on him for a minute. Of all the dangers out here, the invaders and the bullets and the raging bears. I never thought Samuel Or someone that I would have to protect others from.

Yet here we are.

"You're crazy." Samuel says, like I'm the one who's in the wrong "You are absolutely insane."

"Then it shouldn't matter to you what happens to me from here on," I say. "Turn around and leave." I still need his help to move Caleb, but I'm not going to let Samuel anywhere near Caleb after the things he said tonight.

Whatever, you cr

crazy bitch," Samuel says, finally backing away. When the bears attack you, and you are left all on your own. I hope you remember this moment and how you pushed me away."

I don't move, don't even lower my knife until he's backed far enough away that he is outside of the alley. Once he turns and disappears down the street, I return to Caleb's side. Returning the knife to his sheath between my breasts, I grab at Caleb's arm again and pulling, try to drag him into a more secluded comer of the alleyway.Content is © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

We make it about two inches before my strength gives out and hop down on my ass. Caleb is of tall stature with all muscle. He's heavy, far heavier than I can hope to carry. But where there's a will, there's a way.

Determined, I push myself to my feet. This time, I try grabbing him around the middle and tugging. I yank with all my strength, but again, we don't go anywhere.

Caleb grumbles this time, and peeks one eye open, just slightly. Harper?"

I shush him at once. It's dark back here, but if anyone hears any talking they will certainly try to investigate.

"What's happening?" he asks, quieter this time. His voice is wrecked, sounding like it's caught somewhere between wolf and

man

"You fell from a window," I tell him.

He grunts. "That's why I can't move. All of my bones are broken. He exhales a wheezing breath. "Shit."

"Just stay quiet, I'm going to try to get us out of this." I look around. There's a flat board leaning up against one side. If I could get Caleb onto that, and then find something ball shaped to put underneath it. It takes me a while to realize Caleb is watching me

When I meet his gaze, he says, "You have to leave me here."

Thinking I misheard, 1 inch closer. "What?"

"You can't carry me. They'll find us both. They'll kill me, but I don't want to think what they'll do to you."

"I'm not going anywhere."

He groans, and I'm not sure it's just from the pain. "I am King, damn it. And I command you to leave me behind."

I roll my eyes at him. "You can punish me för disobeying you when we survive this."

Then, with renewed effort, I grab his shoulder and try to yank most of his weight over my back. He must help a little, shifting and kicking his legs.

Together, we make it toward the corner of the alley, falling behind some boxes before we both pant with exertion. Caleb is stretched out on top of me, I turn to hold him in my arms.

"Harper." he says, breathy now. He's weak and winded, soon to fill unconscious again. "Run"

"Hush," I tell him.

Then, suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps stops just outside the alley.

"Have you checked down here?" one of the soldiers asks.

I freeze, afraid to move. Caleb is totally slack now, unconscious again.

The light of a flashlight beam peers into the alley. It searches this way and that, all from the safety of the street. Yet from that angle, the light never quite reaches our corner. We're safely blocked by the edge of the building. The flash

flashlight moves away, returning the alley to darkness.

""Nothing in there."

"Well, he has to be here somewhere. The wolf didn't just sprout wings and fly away. Keep looking."

""Yes sir!" says the other

All of them move away.

r two.

I exhale in relief. We are not out of the woods, far from it, but at least the immediate danger has passed.

It's only a matter of time, though, isn't it? I very well can't carry Caleb out of danger on my own, and sooner or later, someone will think to check this alleyway.

In the quiet, other questions begin to formulate inside my mind.

For this scale of an attack to happen, for it to be this successful, something must have gone fundamentally wrong.

More likely, someone or ones betrayed the King. This had to be an inside job. All of these bear soldiers didn't just parachute into the premises. For them to be where they were, they already had to be inside somehow. How long have them been infiltrating?

And who was the one, right under Caleb's nose, who orchestrated all of this.

An Alpha, waiting for a chance to usurp the throne? But they'd still have to wrangle power from the bears, unless the bears promised a partnership.

Still, with as prideful as Alpha wolves are, I struggle to imagine them wanting to rule with anyone, especially not the bears.

Who then? Someone who has been seething under the King's rule, and wanted him out of the way, no matter the overall cost?

Someone who wanted chaos?

Someone who wanted death?

My brain starts to hurt trying to think of the possibilities.

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Well, whoever it is and for whatever reason, I have to make sure those plans were fruitless. Maybe they managed to sew chaos for a time, but they would not win in the end. The King will survive this

Π

I hear a whistle noise and freeze again. There are no birds this for underground. Again, I hear the sound as it draws closer. Then, a slight sound like someone is sniffing.

With Caleb draped over me, I can't even reach my knife anymore to defend us. But still I hold my breath and brace myself. I will fight if I have to. Somehow I will find the strength.

The whistle sounds again, closer. Someone has stepped into the alleyway. The move swiftly and silently. I can't hear them at all. I only see them when they step in front of a broken window and a hint of light reflects off the side of their face. It's a man, tall with broad shoulders. I wish I could see more, but I can't from my position.

My only relief is that he doesn't seem to be holding a gun.

I might have a chance. If he tries to physically attack us, I might be able to reach my knife and slash him.

He whistles again, a sharp high sound followed immediately by a low sound.

I don't make a noise. I don't move a muscle, except for my heart which thunders wildly.

Like he can hear it, the man turns to look at me. He looks me right in the eyes.