Chapter 78
Kane’s POV
The ridge loomed ahead, its jagged edges cutting into the night sky like dark teeth.
The faint glow of the flares still burned in my mind, acting as the start of this war…
But since then, the world around us had grown deathly quiet now, all except for the occasional crunch of snow beneath our boots as we advanced toward the
base of the mountain.
“Keep low, I murmured to my own men who I kept close, my voice barely audible as I gestured for Seth and Viktor fan out behind me. The ridge wasn’t overly high, but it was steep enough to demand careful footing – and silence.
Purcell’s intel had been clear: Dimitri’s snipers were perched here, using their elevated position to watch over the compound’s northern approach incase men would attempt to pass through the centre of the ridge…
Snowflakes clung to my lashes as I tilted my head back to assess the climb. The battering wind restlessly whipped against my cheeks, but I barely felt it. My wolf prowled restlessly within me, every muscle in my body coiled and ready to strike if needed…
“Tools,” I ordered, reaching back to unstrap my picks from my bag.
Around me, my team followed suit, their movements swift and deliberate – leaving no room for fear or reconsideration. Seth shot me a grim look, his breath misting out in to the air, but he said nothing as he drove his pick into the icy rock face first.”
It was always fairly humorous to be on a mission with Seth, and I would be lying if I said that I didn’t somewhat enjoy how much he hated having to put in so much effort – knowing that he would prefer to just cut straight to the fighting ahead of all this.
Viktor followed close behind us, his expression unreadable as he motioned to his men to spread out and begin the ascent on the mountain edge – placing a finger to his lips to signal for everyone to remain quiet.
The climb was slow but steady, the biting cold numbing my fingers despite the thick gloves covering them. Each swing of the pick sent shards of ice cascading down, but we pressed on, inching our way up the ridge that thankfully wasn’t too tall…
Halfway up, I paused, pressing my back flat against the rock to survey the area above. The sharp scent of wolves hit me, faint but distinct, My wolf growled low in my chest, his senses sharpening as I scanned the ledges.
“Snipers are close, can sense them…” I whispered down, barely audible over the wind.
As an Alpha, our senses were always working overtime, benefiting us in scenarios like this one – our wolves were always fighting to give us an advantage in every way they could.
Viktor nodded in response, his golden eyes narrowing as he pointed to a rocky outcrop just ahead. “There’s the opening. We make it on to that and we
should find them!”
With a nod, we began to pitch our way higher as a team, relying on the other half of our group to conquer the opposite side of the ridge all in good time…
.
If either of us attacked too early, then we would grant the enemy time to notify the opposite side meaning that if we were still stuck climbing – they could very easily send us falling to our deaths before we can get to them!
Forcing ourselves to move faster, every muscle flexing and tensing, we eventually made it on foot, successfully claiming the top of the ridge, as we found a
1/3
1:40 pm P
Chapter 78
position to keep watch for the others making it from across the way – which eventually, they did minutes after our team.
“That way!” Viktor whispered, pointing to a bend of rocks, as I followed his gaze and spotted the faint silhouettes of two wolves perched on the ledge, their
rifles trained on the snowy expanse below.
They were conversing in the distance around a small fire, currently unaware of our presence.
Perfect!
I shifted slightly, glancing back at Seth. “Wolf forms, but be quiet.”
He gave a sharp nod, his lips pulling back in a feral grin. A ripple of power surged through me as I let my wolf take over, my body shifting seamlessly into its true form my large tan Alpha wolf.
The cold was a distant memory now; the strength and agility of my wolf took its place instead.
The others followed suit, their forms twisting and reshaping in near silence. I prowled forward, my paws sinking into the snow with muted crunches as we spread out, flanking the snipers from either side.
The first kill was mine.
I moved with lethal precision, my muscles coiling as I launched myself out on to the ledge. My claws sank into the sniper’s neck before he even had a chance to turn. The scent of blood hit the air as I dragged him down, his body limp before it hit the ground.
The second sniper whipped around, his rifle swinging toward me, but Seth was faster. His massive form collided with the wolf as shots fired from the impact out in to the open space, Seth’s jaws locking around the sniper’s throat in a savage bite.
The gurgled cry that followed after was brief, cut short as Seth tossed the body aside with a growl.
The metallic tang of blood filled my nose, and I glanced back at the others. Viktor and his men had already taken out another pair of guards further down the ridge, their wolves standing over the bodies like shadowed sentinels as we moved along it quickly.
The kills had been clean, efficient. No alarms had been raised – thankfully.
I shifted back into my human form as we nearer the end of our spree, motioning for the others to do the same. “Good work,” I said, my voice low but firm.
“We must move forward. The compound isn’t far now, right?”
1
Viktor stepped forward, wiping a streak of blood from his jaw as he pointed to the map. “Yes we’re close now. The next set of guards are stationed at the compound’s outer gate. If we take them out quietly, we’ll have a straight shot inside.”
Seth frowned, his brow furrowing as he studied the map. “What about patrols? If Dimitri’s wolves spot the bodies out here before we make it then-
“They won’t, Viktor interrupted. “The storm is on our side tonight. It’ll cover the scent and obscure the bodies. His patrol guards won’t want to check all the way out here until morning no doubt.”
I nodded, trusting his assessment. “Then we stick to the plan. No mistakes. We can’t waste time, if the other teams attack before we make it then it will be harder for us to break inside to help them!”
The team regrouped quickly, their faces grim and determined as we continued to travel along the tops of the ridge. My wolf prowled beneath the surface, restless but focused. The scent of Dimitri’s pack was growing stronger now, a constant reminder of the fight approaching ahead.
2/3
1:40 pm P
Chapter 78
It was a brief fifteen minute walk or so as we reached the ridge’s peak, I crouched low, motioning for the others to do the same. Below us, the compound came into view
a sprawling fortress of stone and steel, its walls reinforced with barbed wire and guarded by towering watchtowers.
The faint glow of torches flickered along the perimeter, casting long shadows over the snow–covered ground.
“This is it, I murmured, my gaze locked on the fortress below.
Viktor crouched beside me, his eyes scanning the area. “If we can get Purcell to the gate, then he can scan us through with his thumb print, after that – it’s an easier fight on the inside. There are more snipers in the towers though so we have to stay hidden to avoid being shot at with silver bullets. We’ll need to take them out before the other teams reach the gates to keep our numbers up.”
“There’s got to be a better way to take out the snipers before the alarm is raised?” I breathe in frustration, knowing that the chances of keeping every one on our team alive against the firing of silver bullets was slim.
“What do you suggest?” Viktor asks, as my brows furrow in deep thought.
There’s always another way…
Comments
5
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
