"I need a man here!"
Dallan felt a splash on his face even before the words managed to escape his lips. He heard a roar; another wave rolled forward with raging speed directed at the bottom of the ship.
"I am here, my alpha!"
Dallan looked at the side to see one of the warriors standing behind him, close to the steering. He muttered a curse under his breath as he handed the steering over to the warrior. The boards would not hold on much longer, he knew that. He silently cursed the night again as a bolt of frightening lightning streaked across the sky, momentarily producing light bright enough to see as far as the angry approaching waves.
He did not need the streak of lightning to see, neither did he need even the slightest form of illumination. His eyes which were glowing bright yellow had all the eyesight properties required in a weather like this. He heard a yell that followed a loud grunt as a wave slapped hard on the side of the ship where he was carefully trying to tread.
Dallan grunted and grabbed onto a rope for support. The ship tilted to the side and he lost grip—and footing.
"F*ck!" He rolled towards the edge. He managed to grab the railing, but it wasn't a strong grip. Dallan looked down. He doubted if even wolves could survive a fall into the sea in such weather. Just as he looked up, a firm hand gripped his wrist.
"Hold onto me!"
Dallan gripped the railing with one hand and pushed himself up as he was dragged back to the surface. His long hair was ungracefully matted around his head. A quick swipe of his palm stopped the strands from obstructing his view. "Thanks, Kai," he appreciated the helper.
"You are welcome. I pray we survive this. The men are in control of the ship. They are doing a very good job, if I must say."
"Have we any reward for this night?" Dallan steadied himself by holding onto the shrouds supporting the mast. He indicated for Kai to do the same. "Please tell me we do."
"Unfortunately, we don't. We have practically nothing for tonight. I warned you about coming to sea at night in search of crazy mermaids."
"I will get one," Dallan said with a kind of determination that scared Kai.
"Please don't tell me we won't leave until we get one. Please don't do that."
"That is exactly my plan. No one leaves this storm until I get a mermaid. I have searched for one for so long. I want one at the pack for the powers they possess." He wiped his face and turned to look Kai straight in the eyes. "No one leaves, not even you. As my brother, friend, and beta, you are mandated to always stay by my side."
"Good heavens!" Kai grunted in exasperation. He had heard that line so many times; now, it almost made his ear ache—if the cold wasn't an additional factor. He held onto things to steady himself as he entered the captain's cabin.
Dallan raked his dark hair back. He could not leave empty-handed. He just couldn't. What would the pack say?
They will definitely say things about him losing his hunting skills or growing weak. He needed one mermaid, just one to capture and probably force out information of her species's whereabouts from. They had to get one mermaid or die at sea.
The last option seemed more suitable if they got nothing. The sea, waves or cold would do nothing to hold him back. It was Kai's idea to bring this archaic pirate ship. Now, Dallan was regretting it. If they had brought something with an improved engine, he doubted if they would still be stuck where they were.
Dallan was about yelling for someone to give him an update when he saw something.
No, someone.