Chapter 179: Chapter 179
"Retreat! Honey, come back first. It’s too dangerous over there!" Ethan’s order came through the link, with an unquestionable urgency. The Hunters had stabilized their positions, their fire growing heavier. Continuing the assault would only lead to unnecessary casualties. My squad members agreed to withdraw in stages, regrouping with Ethan and the others first. But as we crept back along our original path, nearing the edge of the core living area, Jacob accidentally kicked an empty metal can. That damn tin made a deafening clang in the silent corridor. "Movement over there!" Nearby hunters were instantly alerted. Spotting us, they raised their guns and fired. "Watch out!" I transformed instantly. The white wolf lunged sideways, knocking the lead hunter flying. Jacob and Xaver charged simultaneously, their claws and fangs unleashing terrifying lethality in the confined space. The fight was brief and fierce; several hunters were quickly taken down. But the gunfire had undeniably exposed our position. "Move out!" the twins urged. Just as we were leaving, Jim’s toe caught something hard. He looked down, it was the keychain that had fallen from the lead hunter I’d knocked down earlier. A very faint but familiar smell crept into his sharp nose. It was the special tobacco smell in Stephen’s room, mixed with the hunter’s own sweat and blood. "Wait!" Jim picked up the keychain, triumphant and excited. "This scent... it’s Stephen’s key! The key might have been entrusted to this man!" Hope reignited. Though the risk was immense, we couldn’t give up this chance. "Take a chance!" I declared without hesitation. Guided by memory and the map, we swiftly located the dungeon entrance. A massive lock hung on the heavy iron door. Xaver took a deep breath and inserted the largest copper key from the bunch into the lock. A soft click echoed through the tense silence like thunder. The lock opened! Fortunately, with the help of Brett’s memories, we easily avoided the camera and the automatic machine gun, cutting off their circuits. The scene inside the dungeon was heart-wrenching. In the dark and damp cells, there were a dozen or so densely packed rooms. Some were empty, with only bloody experimental equipment remaining, while others were crowded with werewolves. Most of them were scarred, and some had limb disabilities, with numb or frightened eyes. The strong lingering smell of lycotine left them so weak that they couldn’t even stop the bleeding from their wounds, let alone fight. "Let’s go. You’re saved." I tapped the iron door to snap the wolves back to consciousness. "Hurry! The hunters could return any moment." Xaver struggled to lift an unconscious, emaciated werewolf. The dominant Beta’s scent was crushing their minds. We eventually managed to bring them out and reunite with the others. I relayed through the link that Ethan had managed to distract the hunters a little longer. Kyle, ignoring his still-bleeding wounds, frantically searched for his packmates. We rescued many, but every time he spotted a familiar face, he threw himself into a fierce embrace. "No time! Support each other! Anyone who can walk, follow us!" Ethan growled. The hunters’ fire grew fiercer, and many of our pack were wounded. As we fought our way back toward the relatively open perimeter of the base, the distant roar of engines suddenly filled the air. Blinding headlights sliced through the night as several SUVs sped toward the entrance and came to a screeching halt. Instant tension gripped me. Ethan’s squad and I assumed defensive stances, while the other wolves accelerated their retreat. We exchanged a wary glance. Who could it be? Hunter reinforcements? Or allies?