Chapter 10: Fury Unleashed

---Dax's POV---

The night was colder than usual, the sharp bite of winter settling deep into my bones despite the heat radiating from my wolf. My senses were on high alert, every sound amplified as I sprinted through the forest. The bond between us thrummed erratically, her fear and pain seeping into me like a poison. I was too late. She was in danger, and I had failed to protect her.

The howl had torn from my throat without warning, a primal declaration of fury that echoed through the trees. I knew it would alert the rogues, but I didn’t care. They had her. The one thing in this world I couldn’t bear to lose.

My paws pounded against the earth, and the scent of mildew and blood grew stronger with every step. The decrepit cabin loomed ahead, its windows boarded and its frame sagging with age. My wolf growled low, the sound reverberating in my chest. Inside, I could feel her—hurt, but alive.

I shifted seamlessly as I reached the clearing, my claws retracting into hands and my fur giving way to skin. Jack and the others flanked me, their expressions grim and determined. We had planned for their attack, but not this. Nothing could have prepared me for the rage coursing through me now.

“Dax,” Jack muttered, his hand gripping my shoulder. “We need to be smart about this. They’ll expect us to charge in.”

“I’m not leaving her in there,” I snarled, shaking him off. “You can strategize all you want, but I’m going in.”

Before he could argue, I moved, my wolf lending me speed and strength. The rogues had taken positions around the cabin, their stench saturating the air. They were ready for a fight, but so was I.

The first rogue lunged at me, his teeth bared and claws outstretched. I dodged easily, slamming my fist into his jaw and sending him sprawling. The others followed, their movements a blur of fur and fury. My pack joined the fray, their howls blending with the chaos as we clashed with the rogues.

But my focus never wavered. Every instinct screamed at me to get to her, to rip apart anyone who stood in my way. The bond between us guided me, a tether pulling me toward her. I could feel her pain, her exhaustion, and her unyielding will to survive.

The door to the cabin shattered under my weight as I barreled through, the wood splintering around me. The sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. She was slumped in a chair, her wrists bound and raw, her face bruised but defiant. Ronan stood before her, a dagger gleaming in his hand.

“Well, if it isn’t the knight in shining armor,” Ronan sneered, his grin twisted with malice. “You’re just in time.”

My wolf roared, clawing to the surface, but I held him back. I needed control, precision. “Let her go, and I’ll make your death quick.”

Ronan laughed, the sound grating and cruel. “Do you really think it’s that simple? She’s bait, Dax. And you fell for it.”

I moved faster than he could react, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. My fist connected with his jaw, the force sending him crashing to the ground. The dagger clattered from his hand, and I kicked it away, my eyes never leaving his.

“You made one mistake,” I growled, my voice low and deadly. “You underestimated me.”

Before he could recover, I turned to her, my hands trembling as I untied the ropes binding her wrists. Her skin was cold beneath my touch, but she looked up at me with unwavering trust.

“Dax,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “You came.”

“Always,” I murmured, my throat tight. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”

Her hand found mine, her grip weak but reassuring. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

The bond between us flared with relief and determination. But the danger wasn’t over.

The tension in the air was thick, palpable, crackling with the promise of violence. I could feel my wolf stirring within me, a coil of raw power, every muscle tightening in preparation. My eyes stayed locked on Ronan as he rose slowly from the floor, a sneer on his lips, like he had all the time in the world to savor this moment. But the gleam in his eyes made my blood boil. He was too damn confident.

My only response was a snarl, low and feral, as my wolf clawed for control, pushing against the surface of my skin. My senses were razor-sharp, his anger and the hunger for violence in the air burning through me. I crouched slightly, my body prepared for whatever came next. I was done with words.

Ronan moved first, quicker than I anticipated. His claws flashed as he rushed at me, a blur of motion, aiming to rip me apart. I twisted, sidestepping with a growl, my fist connecting with his side in one fluid motion. The sickening crack of bone echoed, but Ronan didn’t slow down. His body twisted midair, and his legs swept beneath me, knocking my feet out from under me.

I stumbled but recovered quickly, pushing myself back up. The wolf inside me roared, my blood boiling with rage. I wasn't going to let him win. I swiped my claws across his chest, tearing through his leather jacket and leaving a deep, bleeding gash. Ronan hissed, a savage growl escaping him as he staggered back, clutching his wound.

But he didn’t back down. The bastard actually looked like he was enjoying this—relishing the fight. That realization sent a spike of fury through me. My hackles rose, and I readied myself for his next move.

He lunged again, his fists outstretched, claws digging the air as he aimed for my throat. I twisted, ducking under his strike, my body moving with the precision of a predator. His claws scraped across my shoulder, burning with the promise of more pain, but I didn’t flinch. It only made me more determined.

I countered with a backhanded strike, my fist connecting with his temple, sending him reeling. Blood splattered across the floor as he staggered, his face contorted in a snarl. Before he could recover, I was on him, moving like lightning. My hands slammed into his chest, sending him crashing into the wall with a bone-shattering impact.

He groaned as his body rattled from the force, eyes wide with disbelief. But he wasn’t done. His pride wouldn’t let him back down. With a twisted grin, Ronan shifted, his body contorting as his bones cracked and reformed. In an instant, he was in his wolf form—a massive beast with fur as dark as the night and eyes glowing with malice.

He was bigger than me. His wolf form was far more imposing, but I wasn’t about to back down. My wolf roared in response, a force of nature unleashed, ready to finish this.

We circled each other, the air thick with the scent of blood and sweat, the tension building to a breaking point. Ronan lunged first, his jaws snapping shut, aiming straight for my throat. But I was faster. I ducked under his jaws, driving my shoulder into his side. The sound of bone snapping echoed through me, but it wasn’t enough to stop him. Ronan's claws raked across my side, pain flaring in my body, but my wolf surged, feral and wild.

I let out a roar, a challenge, and with one final explosive surge of strength, I shifted fully, merging my human form with the wolf’s raw power. I drove Ronan’s head into the floor with a vicious slam, my knee pinning him down. The sound of cracking bones filled the cabin as my fists rained down on his face, each punch faster and more brutal than the last.

His snarls weakened with each blow, his resistance fading as I pummeled him into submission. Finally, with one last earth-shattering punch, I drove my fist into Ronan’s skull. The sickening crunch of bone reverberated in my ears as his body went limp beneath me.

I stood over him, breathing heavily, chest rising and falling with the exertion. The cabin was silent now, save for my ragged breaths and the lingering scent of blood. The fight was over. Ronan was no longer a threat.

The fight was brutal, but it was over quickly. Ronan had underestimated the strength of a wolf protecting his mate. I turned back to her, scooping her into my arms.

“You’re safe now,” I said, my voice breaking. “I’ve got you.”

As I carried her out of the cabin and into the safety of the forest, the bond between us pulsed with a quiet, unspoken promise. Whatever came next, we would face it together.