Insight

Elkin, Ellie, and Blair had been waiting for their time to move. Once they saw Selena and Eve on the back deck, they knew that time was nearing. The trio jumped down from the trees and began carefully making their way into the yard.

They were almost half way across the side of the property when Callie intercepted them. She smiled viscously and pulled something from her belt. What appeared to be a small black bar. Until it extended into a long, metal baton when Callie swung her arm down.

I've got her. Move. Ellie's wolf reached out.

Elkin wanted to argue but he had a patient waiting. Ellie stepped in front of Callie and balled her fists in determination. Callie didn't hesitate another moment before she swung at her. Ellie leaned back, just out of the baton's reach. She grabbed the object and thrusted it back toward Callie.

The handle was slick and wet from the downpour. The force of Ellie's move, slid it out of Callie's grip and jabbed her in the ribs. Callie regained her grip and pulled the baton toward her, kicking Ellie in the stomach. She fell backwards, hitting the ground. Ellie scrambled to her feet but not fast enough.

Callie swung the baton, hitting Ellie across the face. She stumbled back and spit a mouth full of blood onto the ground. Her lips were busted and her nose was throbbing painfully. She shifted quickly, tearing out of her clothes. Callie stepped toward her but Silas ran at her from behind. He knocked Callie to the ground.

Ellie's jaws latched onto Callie's shin. She yelped and grabbed the Baton off the ground. Callie hit Silas in the face, it cracked loudly over his skull. He staggered back and collapsed. Ellie moved to jump on her but Callie kicked her back and ran toward the trees.

Ellie walked over to Silas and laid her head on his chest. He was still breathing and his heart was beating strongly. She released a relieved breath. He was alive. She didn't want anyone to die for her. Not today or ever. She felt Austin's gaze on her. Ellie looked up to see him across the yard. He nodded at her before going to join another fight.

Elkin and Blair continued their steady progress toward Eve and Selena on the back deck. A shadow wolf spotted them and ran at them. She was growling and baring her teeth. She knocked them both to the ground.

Elijah saw this interaction. He couldn't stop himself for rushing forward, out of the tree line. He grabbed the wolf in his jaws and shook her violently, snapping her neck. He dropped the limb body as Blair helped Elkin to his feet.

Bastian felt a familiar power crawling through the air. Dolan power. He turned his head sharply, smiling viscously. Flint threw a wolf off of him and followed his enemy's gaze. Elijah. Bastian had seen him. Flint didn't have time to glance back at Bastian before the rogue Alpha ran toward Elijah, Elkin, and Blair.

"No!" Selena stood on the back porch, watching the battle.

"Go." Eve stated from her place on the deck. She had been sitting for so long that she felt like rainwater was filling her veins.

"But-"

"Bas will kill him, Selena. Go!" Eve barked.

Selena ran down the steps, toward the commotion. There were only six shadow wolves left alive. They circled the group. Their teeth and snarls met all those who tried to close in on Bastian.

Two of them lept up and bit Flint. They were trying to wear him out, biting and fleeing. Returning to repeat the process. The Alpha growled, trying to grab them. The StarLight members were grabbing the wounded and the dead, moving them into the trees for coverage. Some out of sight and hearing range.

"We meet again, old man." Bastian stated.

Elijah transformed into his human skin. He met Selena's gaze from over Bastian's shoulder. She froze in place when she saw the expression there. He was determined but more than that, he was resolved to this fight. To however it would end.

"You've grown, boy." Elijah looked at Bastian pointedly.

"Did you think killing my parents would go unpunished forever?" He asked.

"Their death was their punishment, so no. I didn't." He retorted.

"They were innocent, you old son of a bitch." Bastian stated in a deep tone.

"They were traitors! As are you!" Elijah growled.

"Was I a traitor when you threw me out?! When I was twelve fucking years old?!" His voice was loud and more aggressive than Eve had ever heard it.

"You were a threat." He replied stiffly.

"A threat to Flint being Alpha, hell yes. But the threat I pose to StarLight... No, Elijah. You made this traitor yourself!" Bastian shouted.

He swung his leg out and kicked Elijah in the chest. Selena tried to move toward them but a shadow wolf lunged at her and took a bite of her thigh. Blood ran down her leg as she struggled to stand.

Flint grabbed one of the wolves circling him and cracked its spine over his knee. The remaining wolf jumped on his back, biting into the back of his neck. He bent over, slinging the animal to the ground. Another wolf attacked him, trying to drag him down by the bicep while his companion recovered.

"Get up!" Bastian barked at Elijah.

Elijah shifted into his wolf form and lunged back at Bastian. Blair took Elkin's hand and pulled him away, toward the back deck. Elijah growled. The power emanating from him prevented anyone else from getting involved. Selena was struggling to reach him, ignoring the waves of strength trying to prevent her movements.

Bastian laughed and removed his heavy, dripping shirt. He threw it to the ground as the heavy rain bounced off his shoulders. He shook his hair out of his eyes and cracked his knuckles. He'd been waiting for this fight his entire life. Now that it had come, he was thrilled and confident.

Elijah didn't move first. He was examining his opponent, watching him in hopes of anticipating his actions. Bastian was impatient. He lunged toward Elijah, leaving his right side open.

Elijah clamped down on the soft flesh below the ribs. He didn't get the chance to rip the meat away. Bastian grabbed his muzzle and opened his jaws, throwing him to the ground.

"Woooo!" Bastian hooted, touching his bleeding wound. "Now this is fun!"

You're blood tastes oily, like your father's. Elijah's wolf reached out to him.

The rogue Alpha's expression darkened immediately. He lept onto Elijah's back, grabbing his back right leg. The leg that would never heal. He pulled it to the side, cracking his pelvis and shattering his bones. Elijah growled and panted, unwilling to give up the fight.

"Elijah!" Selena howled painfully.

She felt it. Electricity. Her own injury felt like it was on fire. Crumbling her bones. Electricity flowed from it and it was so hot and overwhelming that all Selena could do was scream. She hadn't felt Elijah's electric soul beside hers in a long time. So long that she'd nearly forgotten how strong it was.

Elijah! Her wolf began to howl, breaking free.

His emerald gaze snapped to hers. He had heard her. Bastian wrapped his hands around Elijah's throat. Flint burst into his wolf form. The power radiating off of him pushed the wolves around him to the ground.

Selena, we will always lo-

The thought was cut off as Bastian twisted Elijah's neck, snapping it. Flint howled as pain radiated through the mindlink. Through his very soul.

"Ahhhhhh!" Selena screamed, writhing in pain.

Her wolf form was produced from the sheer agony she felt. It poured down her spine like lava. Burning her and sweeping away the electricity she'd just began to feel again. The sensation of Elijah... Of his life, his love, his presence... It felt cold and distant. As it faded away, so did her consciousness. She passed out.