Kevin’s POV
I stared at the huge mountain we had to climb over to get through. It was one of the many hurdles of nature that we had to deal with and I was already getting cold feet.
The mountain was huge and wide with no edges that we could hold on to to climb through.
I glanced at Ella to see her reaction since she was opposed to the idea of going through this path but she seemed to be at peace.
Her eyes sparked with excitement with an intensity that was only ever present when she had a challenge before her.
“Shall we?” She grinned, turning to me.
I shook my head at the sudden change in her mood. She was a weird one.
“The mountain is round and might be hard to climb especially in this condition that the men all are,” Liam suggested, moving closer to me. “We just had a fight, ran, walked a long distance, and some of the men sustained injuries that their bodies would have used up energy to heal. How about we rest up at the foot of the mountain for tonight, eat and rest so we can have strength? We can climb the mountain tomorrow and be on our journey.”
Damien nodded. “I agree with the beta, my lord. I think we could all do with some rest. It’s not like anyone is still chasing after us.”
“Good. Let’s rest.” I nodded, waving at them to settle down and rest.
I sat down, leaning my back against the mountain and yelped as I pulled my back away. It was hot. How were we expected to climb this?
“What happened?” Damien asked, looking at me.
“Feel the mountain.” I said instead.
He moved closer and yelped as I had done. He looked at me with narrowed eyes and I tried my best to not laugh.
“You are wicked.” Damien hissed at me. “Why didn’t you tell me it was hot? I didn’t have to feel the unnecessary pain.”
I smiled. “Lessons are better taught with experiences.”
“I see you are in a good mood.” Damien sighed, sitting at the foot of the mountain and avoiding leaning his back against the mountain.
“Let’s find wood and smoke some meat for dinner.” I said, glancing at Augusta who had the bag of our supplies with him.
I hoped that the supplies would be enough for us. Hopefully, the river would have fishes so we wouldn’t have to eat too much of the supplies till we get home.
We had a huge pile of money with us but I doubted we would find a place to get food.
We needed to get home soon if we didn’t want to die of exhaustion and hunger. By my calculations, we should be home in the next five days.
I couldn’t wait to get home. I couldn’t wait to get Ella back home and show her off in front of everyone and claim her as mine.
I was eager to do what I should have done five years ago.
“Loki and Damien should go for woods.” Liam said.
“I just sat down.” Damien grumbled. “Alright.” He said, getting up on his feet.
“Let me search for the meat.” Augusta said, dropping the bag.
Grrrrrrr!
I tensed at the sound and looked around, wondering what that was. I didn’t think anyone was there was with us.
“Did you hear that?” Ella asked.
“I did.” I nodded.
“I think there is something here with us.” Augusta said, packing the stuff back in her bag and tying it. “We should inspect what is out here with us before we plan dinner.”
“I agree with that.” Liam nodded.
I strained my ears, waiting to pick up on the sound but I didn’t hear anything. I was almost getting relaxed and assumed that there was nothing here with us until I heard it again.
Grrrrrrr!
“What was that?” I said, wondering what the thing was.
I got the answer I was looking for and my eyes widened as I saw two beasts burst out from the other path which was the forest and charging at us with loud growls rumbling in their throats.
I had only a minute to be grateful that I didn’t lead my men through the forest before yelling orders at my men.
“Run.” I shouted, scrambling to climb the mountain.
It was slippery and my hands couldn’t grasp onto anything. It was hot as well and sizzling through my flesh.
I glanced at my men and saw that they were having the same problem that I was. Being in a panic wasn’t helping and we couldn’t go back. This was the only way forward and that was what we would do, move on despite the challenges.
“What do we do, Kevin?” Loki yelled in panic. One of the beasts was almost at his side with its teeth wide open.
I sighed, rubbing my temples as I waited for an idea to land in my brain.
“I didn’t fight that bastard to be eaten off by a wild beast.” Cephas hissed. “We have to fight off the beasts if there was no other way.”
There. Beast. I smiled as the answer rolled into my head. We were beasts as well.
“Shift everyone and climb.” I ordered them.
The mountain shouldn’t be that hard and hot on our paws. The men nodded and shifted right before the beasts got to us.
I felt the hot breath of one of the beasts on my skin as I shifted and jumped on the mountain, clenching on the surface with my paws and grateful I narrowly escaped death.
I looked back to see my pack all on the mountain and the beasts standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up at us with shock and hunger filling their eyes.