Collided midair. This time, neither of us dodged. Pure force against force. My claws sank into his shoulder. His teeth clamped on my foreleg.
Pain! But I didn't let go. I bit down harder. So did he. His fangs pierced skin, hit bone. The grinding sound echoed between us.
See who breaks first!
We rolled across the ground, snapping bushes, crushing rocks. Blood splattered everywhere, black under the moonlight.
Finn suddenly released his grip, reared his head back, and slammed it into my face. Everything went dark. I had to let go. Finn flipped me over and pinned me beneath him. His front paws pressed my shoulders. His hind claws dug into my stomach. His jaws opened wide—
No!
I twisted, but his weight was crushing. His fangs came closer. I could see my own blood still dripping from them...
Then a rock flew in and cracked him in the head.
His aim faltered.
I seized the moment, threw everything I had into a roll, and knocked him off.
Then I saw who'd thrown it.
Layla stood nearby, another rock in her hand, ready to throw again.
She hadn't left.
She was helping me.
But now she was exposed.
I snarled at her to get back.
Finn saw her too.
"How touching," his mocking voice slithered through my mind. Finn climbed to his feet. "Then I'll kill her first. Make you watch..."
I lunged, caught his hind leg in my jaws, and yanked hard. He hit the ground. I jumped on his back, claws ripping into his spine.
Once. Twice. Three times. Flesh tore. White bone showed through.
Finn howled, thrashing and rolling wildly to throw me off. I clamped my jaws on the back of his neck—right where the spine met the skull.
With everything I had—
Crack.
Bone snapping.
Finn's body convulsed violently, then slowly went still.
I released him and stepped back.
Finn lay on the ground, slowly shifting back to human form. Fur receded, revealing pale skin. The wounds looked brutal. Blood pooled beneath him.
But he was still breathing. Barely. Like his last breath.
I shifted back too, dropped to my knees beside him, gasping for air. Everything hurt—ribs broken, shoulder torn open, back shredded. But I was still standing.
Finn's eyes opened slowly and stared up at the night sky.
