Katelyn's POV
My eyes widen as I watch my own life flash before my eyes. But before Brian could land a hit on me, another person shoves me out of the way. And before I could run anywhere, the person grabs me and pulls me close. Their hold on me firm as growled defensively, almost too defensively for my comfort.
"Back off from her," they growled.
Jason?
Jason's POV
"You destroyed her home, Jason. Why would she want to be with you?" Brian hissed.
I smirk. "Because I'm awesome."
Katelyn rolls her eyes. "Ugh."
Katelyn's POV
I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose as Jason and Brian go at it like two kids fighting over a toy. A very annoyed toy.
"She'd be safer with me," Brian sneers. "I have control over my instincts. Unlike some people."
Jason scoffs. "Oh, please. You're a vampire. You literally drink people. At least when I lose control, I don't suck the life out of someone-well, not literally."
Brian glares. "Charming. Tell me, Katelyn, do you really want to spend your life with a reckless, unpredictable beast?"
Jason crosses his arms. "Oh, yeah? And you think she'd be happier with an abusive, manipulative corpse?"
"Excuse me-"
I throw my hands in the air. "OH MY GOSH, shut up!"
Both of them freeze mid-argument, their heads snapping toward me.
"You two sound like literal children!" I snap, glaring at Jason. "You destroyed an entire city over a revenge plan that didn't even make you feel better!" I glare at Bryan. "And you emotionally and physically tormented me for years and expect me to just waltz back into your arms like nothing happened?!"
They both stay silent.
"Can I be released now? Please?" I asked Jason.
Jason's POV
I hesitated. I...I can't. No. Not with those vampires..."Uhh...SORRY, NO!"
I quickly scoop up Katelyn into my arms and run away faster than I've run before.
Katelyn's POV
"JASON, PUT ME DOWN!" I screech, kicking my legs wildly.
"Nope!" Jason shouts back, effortlessly dodging debris and leaping over a half-destroyed car.
"YOU CAN'T JUST KIDNAP ME!"
"Not kidnapping! More like... aggressive rescuing!" He grins, holding me tighter as he picks up speed.
I groan, flailing in his grip. "THIS IS WHY PEOPLE CALL YOU RECKLESS!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he huffs. "Yell at me after we don't get eaten by vampires!"
I look over Jason's shoulder, heart pounding. Bryan and his vampires are chasing us.
"You better have a plan," I growl.
Jason's ears flick. "Uh... run really fast?"
I slap my forehead. "I hate you."
Jason just smirks. "Nah, you love me."
Jason's POV
Andrew and Stephanie are in their wolf forms as they catch up to us. They let out loud howls, alerting nearby packs. Brian and the other vampires also catch up to us and he swipes at Katelyn. But I won't let him get her. Even though she's not a werewolf anymore, she's still mine.
I twist mid-stride, barely dodging Bryan's claws as they slash through the air inches from Katelyn. A deep growl rumbles in my chest, my instincts flaring like fire.
Mine.
Bryan snarls, his fangs glinting under the shattered moonlight. "You always were possessive, Jason. It's pathetic."
I bare my teeth in a vicious grin. "And you always were a controlling, obsessive freak. Guess some things never change."
Katelyn's POV
I clutch Jason's hoodie, my heart pounding like a war drum. I'm starting to hate this. Being human again, being caught between two monsters fighting over me like I'm some kind of prize.
Bryan's cold, calculating eyes flick to me. "Come now, Katelyn. You know he's not stable. Do you really think he can protect you forever?"
I glare. "He's already done more for me than you ever did."
Howls from many other wolves echo through the forest.
Jason's POV
The howls send a shiver through the air, vibrating in my bones. Reinforcements. My reinforcements. Bryan's smug expression flickers-just for a second-but I catch it.
I smirk. "You hear that, Bryan? That's the sound of your loss."
Bryan scoffs, but I can see the tension in his jaw. His vampires shift uneasily behind him as dark silhouettes begin emerging from the trees. Wolves of all sizes, their eyes gleaming in the moonlight, their growls forming a deadly chorus.
Andrew and Stephanie stalk forward, their fur bristling, their eyes locked onto Brian like he's already dead.
"You've made a mistake coming here," Andrew growls, his deep voice sending a chill through the clearing. "And I don't take kindly to threats against my people."
Bryan chuckles darkly. "Oh, Andrew, always so noble." His gaze flickers to Katelyn. "And yet, you let her leave your pack so easily. Werewolves have always been so... careless with their own."
I start to lunge. But Stephanie stops me with a glare. "Take her somewhere safe."
Somewhere safe. Right.
I glance at Katelyn, tightening my grip around her. "Hold on."
She barely has time to protest before I take off, weaving through the trees at full speed.
Katelyn's POV
I squeeze my eyes shut as the wind whips past me. "Jason, where are we–"
"You'll see," he mutters.
We burst through the tree line, and my breath catches at the sight ahead. The massive, wrecked form of Jason's wolf mech looms over us. I remember this mech. Jason didn't have another seat that I could sit in because "he wasn't expecting someone to come along".
Jason skids to a stop, kicking up dirt. He sets me down and immediately climbs onto the mech and starts pulling at a metal panel on top of the mech's head. With a grunt, he pries it open, and drops in.
I hesitate, but another distant howl reminds me we don't have time to argue. With a deep breath, I follow, sealing the entrance behind us.
Darkness surrounds us, broken only by the faint glow of emergency lights lining the walls. My heart pounds as I turn to Jason.
"So... now what?"