I whipped my head around and saw him—Blaidd.
I lunged toward him. He raised his hands, saying something I didn’t hear.
Kill him, I hissed.
I leapt, my paw slicing toward his neck.
Blood for blood.
He blocked me with his arm, but I caught the scent—metallic, sharp.
He was cut.
We struck again and again.
Miss.
Swipe.
Three deep gouge marks raked across his face.
We blinked—hesitated—and lost our chance.
The giant wolf stood before us.
We snarled, snapping our teeth, circling each other like prey.
His snout dipped close to my tail, and I snarled back.
I didn’t care if he’d infected me.
I didn’t care if he’d made me a monster.
It was better than being a weak human waiting to die.
The wolf stopped circling and sniffed the air. His jaw slackened, a long pink tongue lolling out as he panted. His snout tipped upward. He sniffed again.
What is it doing? I asked, hesitation rippling through me—but I couldn’t tell if it was mine.
Recognising a queen, the voice said, laughing as the wolf stepped back.Chase him.
I didn’t understand what was happening, but we leapt—
And he turned and ran.
We chased him down the stairs, claws skidding, bodies colliding with walls. I caught the flick of his tail as he vanished into a room.
Get him, I shouted as he burst through the far side and into the trees.
We tore after him.
The world blurred, yet my vision sharpened beyond anything I’d ever known. Branches cracked. Wind screamed past my ears. I could hear him—his weight, his breath—just ahead.
We were gaining.
I thought we were.
Before I knew it, we’d circled the island twice.
