Rylee and her team retreated.
Though theoretically not possible, the wolf skeletons snarled with an eerie rasping voice that sounded more human than wolf.
Lev stood on his hind legs, his body glowing and roared, then planted his paws on the ground and charged. As they sprung on him, Lev slashed them with his powerful paws, breaking them into splinters like lumber going through a wood grinder.
The skeletons tried to bypass him in pursuit of his team and were blocked not only by his huge bear body, but radiating heat that set them aflame. Never had he experienced such heat, yet it seemed fueled by his rage.
The other non-skeleton werewolves hesitated on seeing the glow around the fierce bear.
Calopus called back his skeletons and turned to Lev, “Join me and I will make you king of all the packs.”
Lev shifted to human form. Heat emanating from every pore, giving him an eerie glow. “What did you do to Rachel?”
Calopus lowered his head in submission and splayed his arms to his side. “Your mate is unharmed.” His werewolves changed into humans, but snarled at Lev.
“Where is she?”
“Join us and I’ll take you to her.”
Lev flared his nostrils. Her most recent scent lingered on the path to the platform. Yet, only the blood of a dead werewolf lingered. His heart stilled. The scent of a female lycan imbued with Rachel’s aroma slammed into him. A female werewolf had eaten her. He shifted to his monstrous half-man half-wolf form and roared.
“Kill him,” commanded Calopus.
A dozen werewolves leapt on Lev. He met them with lethal claws that slashed and melted their skin. Their agonizing yelps reverberated throughout the burial ground. The creatures dissolved as if they’d fallen into a barrel of radioactive waste.
The warlock’s other werewolves tucked their tails between their legs and ran. The new formerly dead werewolves remained, snarling next to their evil master.
Calopus sneered. “Kill him.”
The skeleton werewolves attacked, biting and clawing at his flesh. Lev broke them apart, but a few got through and bit him. He grabbed them and broke their necks as if twigs rather than bone. Lev’s blood streamed down his chest and back. The venom weakened him. Pain coursed through him as if undergoing the change. Lev took a beleaguered breath and collapsed to his knees. The necromancer aimed his Wolfsbane rifle at him.
Before Lev could sprint to safety, a she-wolf leapt on Calopus and ripped off his arm. He screamed and dropped the rifle.
The golden brown she-wolf backed up, blood on her jaws and cocked her head as if confused about what she had just done.
Calopus held his torn flesh and called to his pack, “Kill the bitch!”
Like a cowardly horde of hyenas, his living werewolves peered from behind the building where they had taken refuge.
She cocked her head at Lev; glowing familiar amber eyes met his gaze. Rachel? The venom must cause hallucinations.
The skeleton wolves and the normal werewolves twisted and turned their attention to the beautiful golden she-wolf, then gave chase. Unable to reach him, she turned and ran into the forest.
Lev sprinted toward the forest and leapt over the pack stalking the she-wolf. He turned and roared. Each living and non-living werewolf burst into flames. No other object or creature except those pursuing her burned. The stench of ash filled the air. The remaining non-dead werewolves ditched the attack and scrambled away. Some into the forest, and others into the catacombs. The she-wolf circled and ran behind Lev.
Lev could not believe it. The she-wolf smelled like his mate. “Rachel, is it really you?” He shifted to wolf form and sniffed every inch of her.
“Hey, not the ass.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“Apparently, your bite turned me into a werewolf.” She tilted her head. “Wow. I even speak wolf.”
“How can that be?”
Team Greywolf’s helicopter hovered above them.
Calopus’ fellow humans picked him up and another lifted the Wolfsbane rifle. One of his men aimed it at Lev. Before he could shoot Lev, a sniper shot the enemy in the head. Then popped another. Until all, but Calopus lay dead. Nice of Thorn to let me take vengeance on Calopus.