Shadows of Destiny

112 Journey Back To The Estate

~Leo~

I could feel the nervousness in the car as we were heading back to the Estate. Larry had not said

much, but he had given us something big to work with; it would be nice to catch Yuri and end him

without it becoming a war outrightly. It would be great to spare all the lives that might be lost in the

process, but it wasn't up to us.

"I am nervous about this visit," Vino said, breaking the awkward silence in the vehicle. We maintained

our sitting arrangement the same as when we were heading to the City prison.

"Hopefully, we catch the bastard," Devin said, enraged.

"I have a wedding to plan, and I need peace," He added.

Of all of us, I felt sorry for him the most. Yuri had hit him hardest. He had ridiculed him and made him

seem weak. He had belittled his nickname and shamed him. The painful part of everything was that

Devin did not lose the South because he was weak or stupid. He lost the South because of the

disloyalty of his people. I was lucky to have true alphas in the East and people that weren't easily

swayed, or else I, too, would have been without a pack.

"We will get him, Devin. And we will make him pay for what he did in the South," I said, and Devin

bowed his head.

I had said what was bothering him.

It was amazing how he functioned with all that had happened to him lately.

I commended him for being tough.

"Thank you, Leo. I know I am definitely on the winning team," he said, looking at me with a broad grin.

He always had the time to smile, no matter how stressed out he was. I could see he believed what he

said, making my heart swell.

We needed hope, and Devin's hope was alive and kicking. His confidence and faith touched my heart,

and I hoped fate would smile upon us. I prayed that we would look back at all this and laugh.

"I am glad too because I would be lying if I said I do not miss my girls," Vino confessed and bowed his

head. This whole thing had affected everyone, creating enemies for Yuri.

"What do you think the Claymans' gain is in all this? What do they want?* Vino asked, and I shrugged.

It was hard to say.

Vino had the right to be curious.

They already had it all. Money and power. What else would they want? I guess we will never know until

we arrest them.

We got on the isolated road to the Estate, meaning we would soon be home, when the window on the

driver's side shattered, and the driver's head hit the steering wheel.

The car began to sway at high speed and headed for the woods. We crashed into a tree, bringing the

vehicle to a halt. The driver's body slid to the side, and there was blood and a bullet hole at the side of

his head. He had been shot, and he was dead.

I did not think twice before I started barking orders.

"Wear your goggles and gas masks!" I yelled and reached for mine.

Wearing it quickly. The nitric acid was with us, so I was ready to spray when I heard more gunshots.

We had not come prepared for a gunfight.

"We can't remain in the car. We must find cover in the woods and try to get to the Estate on our feet," I

yelled.

I had never felt death this close before, but for the first time, I doubted we would make it. Bullets and

guns were rare. It was a crime to make them and sell them. Yuri must have been desperate to go this

far.

I opened my side of the car, and Vino followed. More shots were fired, and we began to run.

I heard Devin scream, and I knew he might have gotten hit. So I slowed down for him to catch up with

me while I told Vino to run as fast as he could and get help.

He was part of Sylvester's pack, so if he was close enough to the Estate, he could link someone for

help.

Vino did not want to go ahead, but I forced him. We prepared for silver dust and combat, not silver

bullets. Our chances of survival were slim.

Devin caught up to me, limping. His hand and leg were bleeding, and I knew he had been hit.

"We have to find a hiding place so I can dig the bullets out. Come on," I said, and I helped him.

I heard the car blow up and saw the explosion's light while feeling the heat of the blast. It was a close

call. A bullet must have hit the tank.

No one was chasing us so the attack might have been from afar. Bullets could travel fast, but I did not

stop to find out.

We kept moving until we got to a cave.

We entered, and I helped Devin roll up his sleeve and trouser. He was sweating, and that made me

doubt it was only silver.

Growing my claws, I dug into the hole and dug out the bullet in his thigh. I did the same for the one in

his shoulder, and we tied it with pieces of his shirt to stop the bleeding.

I doubted his healing capacity would set in, so I supported him to help him get to the Estate.

"Are you sure about this," Devin said, trying to breathe. He did not look good at all. He looked very

pale, and I knew he could die if we lingered in the cave.

"I need you to hang in there, Devin. There is still much for us to do together. Remember you said we

are on the winning team? Remember Susan," I asked him, and he nodded. I could see that he knew

the severity of his situation.

I made him hang his hand over my shoulder, and we headed out.

I tried to move as fast as possible.

I would have carried him if he had been smaller, but this would have to do.

Our phones had been blown up with the car, and I wasn't part of Sylvester's pack, so I couldn't link

anyone.

"Please hang in there, Devin," I said, my voice breaking for the first time. Because I knew the Estate

was still a bit far from us on foot.

"Shift so I can carry him," Black said in my head.

Devin was big, but I was sure my wolf was big enough to manage.

I stopped and looked at Devin. His eyes were closing.

"I am going to shift, and I need you to lay on my back so I can run," I said, and he nodded slowly.

His lips were dry, and I knew he was dehydrated, but there was no water. I did not bother to take off my

clothes. Every second counted.

I shifted immediately, and Devin managed to lie on my back.

He weighed a lot, but the fear of losing him gave me the strength I needed to push.

I began to sprint towards the Estate.

While I ran, my heart was in my mouth. I prayed to the goddess to give me strength and give Devin

time. I prayed for speed and pushed with all my might. I hoped Vino and the other Kappa were safe. I

hope Vino was fast enough to move close enough to get help.

My legs moved quickly, and everything was a blur.

All I could think of was getting to the Estate. I ran for about forty minutes and decided to get on the

road.

It was the fastest route to the Estate.

It would take me another forty minutes if I continued in the woods, but if I used the road, I would get

there in twenty minutes. Every minute counted, and we had used forty already. I decided to take my

chances on the road.

Devin wasn't moving on my back anymore, and I became scared.

I pushed myself harder, not giving up hope, trying to make twenty into fifteen minutes.

I was still running when I saw headlamps.

It was a van.

I ran to the middle of the road, not caring who it was. The driver hit the brakes, and the tyres screeched

against the tarred road. I could smell burnt rubber, but it was the least of my concerns.

"Leo!" I heard Vino and Marcel's voice.

Vino had gotten close enough to link someone, and Marcel had sprung into action. I was glad, but I

wasn't at ease. Devin's fate was unknown.

They came to help put Devin in the van. I shifted back quickly, and they turned the vehicle around to

head to the Estate.

Going to the hospital would be suicide because those snippers might still be on that road.

I looked at Devin beside me at the back. He was already unconscious. I felt for his pulse, and it was

faint. Tears streamed down my cheeks; profound fear was in my heart, and I kept telling him, 'Just a

little longer,' even though I knew he could not hear me.

It wasn't long ago that we were talking in the car about winning and getting Yuri. It wasn't long ago that

he had smiled at me. I wiped away my tears, afraid I would lose my friend.

"How is he doing?" Vino asked me with a shaky voice.

"His pulse is faint,* I said, and Marcel floored the accelerator.

We were at the Estate gate in no time. The gate was open wide, and Marcel drove in and headed to

the Entrance. Erik, Claudia, Linda, and Amelia were waiting.

I saw Claudia with an epinephrine pen, and the first thing she did when we arrived and brought him out

of the van was feel for his pulse and then hit the pen on his thigh. She held it there and counted while

the pen clicked.

Soon I saw his chest rise and collapse, making his breathing regular again, but I knew it was temporary

until the issue was fixed.

"Carry him to the infirmary; run a line. We need to flush out whatever they put into him,’ I heard Claudia

say. Her voice and hands were shaking. She was afraid, but she composed herself.

Amelia ran towards me and hugged me. She was afraid and shaking. I tried to find Susan.

"Where is Sue?" I asked.

"She fainted," Amelia said, and that was when I knew she was crying. I looked into her swollen eyes.

"I am here. Moonlight. I am fine," I said, and she nodded and buried her head in my chest. We had

indeed just had a close call.