I can hear Lexa screaming, and it gives me strength. I put all my effort into a massive shake, twisting and snapping wildly. They latch onto me, biting and ripping at my fur, but I don’t stop, hearing yelps and howls all around as I give back twice what I get.
After a few frenzied moments, I stagger backwards to survey the damage. Two of the wolves are dead, while the others are so injured they can’t rise. I walk back towards the head of the circle, my eyes focused on Lexa’s father.
“Looks like it might be your turn, Vince,” he says coolly. “The boy is done.”
I’m nowhere near done, you fucking bastard!
My lips peel back from my teeth as a deep growl rumbles through me. Even though I’m bleeding from multiple wounds and I can barely stand, I will kill this fucker as my last act on this earth.
He will not have you, Lexa. This, I swear.
Then Lexa’s father gestures to one of the others, who goes over to hold Lexa as Vince lets her go. Lexa’s father shifts to come into the circle with Vince.
Fine, then. I’ll kill you both at once.
Vince lets out a weird, coughing little laugh as he approaches, baring his teeth. Lexa’s father stalks me carefully, paying attention to how I move.
He’s a wily old fuck, and clearly enjoys killing. I have to be careful.
Suddenly, Vince leaps towards me as Lexa’s father swiftly moves around to flank me from behind. Vince lands on top of me, pressing me into the ground and snapping at my face. I twist under him like a snake, going for his throat.
Strong jaws clamp around one of my hind legs, and I feel teeth digging into me.
In seconds, he’ll snap my leg in two. I’ll overreact to the pain, crumple to the ground, and wait for them to come in.
It’s a good bet that their confidence would be high enough at that point, I could lure them close enough to take them out. Once that’s done, I can collapse where I stand, knowing that Lexa is safe.
I wait for the pain, but it never comes. Vince stops snapping at me, still holding me down with his paws, but looking up into the hills with his ears pricked.
Then I hear a faraway howl.
Galen!
Even though I told them not to follow, I can’t be angry. Their timing is perfect, and maybe I won’t have to die after all.
Lexa’s father lets go of me to shift back to his human shape. He points at the man holding her and screams.
“Kill her!’
Vince yelps in dismay, leaping off me to run towards Lexa.
Well, holy fuck. We agree on something. He doesn’t want her to die, either!
The world slips into slow motion as I launch myself at Lexa’s father. He turns too slowly, his eyes widening in shock as he sees me coming for his throat. In his human shape, he’s defenseless against my teeth.
As I wrap my jaws around his neck, he lets out a frantic scream that gurgles into silence as I slowly crush his throat. His blood tastes sweet on my tongue as he twitches feebly, flopping on the ground like a fish.
All around me, I can hear sharp screams and sudden yelps as my pack and Galen’s sweep into the mountains, hunting down the enemy wolves. I turn towards Lexa.
The man ordered to kill her dropped her and turned to bolt into the forest. Vince is almost on her, and I charge, rushing towards them.
As Vince approaches, Lexa shifts, her wolf form pure white and glowing silver in the early morning sun. She leaps at Vince, tearing his face with her teeth. He staggers back, howling as he loses his footing and goes down.
Lexa keeps coming, but I jump on Vince before Lexa can get to him. Snarling, I got for his throat, only to have him slither out from underneath me and try to run.
Even as my pack and Galen’s come flowing out from the trees to surround us, Vince tries to keep running. My wolves part like waves, letting me run him down. When I finally leap forward to grab his tail, he howls as if his soul is being ripped out of his body.
That would be too good for you, motherfucker.
