Good riddance to both of them. Have a great life.
As I stumbled through the alley, caught up in my bitter thoughts, I didn’t hear the footsteps creeping up behind me. It was only when I heard the familiar barking voice that I fumbled to a stop.
“So, here you are, creeping around in an alley like a rat,” Mav sneered.
I growled. Dealing with the bastard alpha from previous night was the last thing I wanted to do right now. “What do you want?”
He pointed aggressively to his cheek, which bloomed a deep purple. “Remember this?”
I must have punched him harder than I thought. “Yeah, I do. I’m surprisedyouremember with how drunk you were last night.”
Mav scowled. “You think you can just punch a customer and get away with it? I think I deserve some kind of compensation. That, or retribution.”
I barked a humorless laugh. “Retribution? What, you want to hit me back? Is this grade school?”
Mav didn’t reply. He launched himself at me, yelling and holding his fist out. I sidestepped it easily.
“Are you still drunk?” I asked. “My grandma could throw a better punch, and she’s six feet under.”
Mav’s face twisted in rage. “Shut up, you cripple!”
The word was a harder slap in the face than anything Mav could ever physically do. I stumbled, stunned by the slur. Mav rushed forward and got a free punch in. The force of it knocked me to the ground. I groaned and struggled to get up, but the prosthetics hindered me from doing so.
“Not so tough now,” Mav muttered. “Why don’t you just stay there?”
“Eat shit,” I snapped.
Mav growled and withdrew his foot to kick me while I was down when Ryu’s voice cut through the alley.
“Stop!”
Mav stopped and stumbled back. “You! You’re that guy from last night!”
Ryu ran up to me, ignoring Mav. “Scar, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I can handle a punch,” I muttered.
Ryu helped me stand up and this time I didn’t complain. I appreciated his assistance.
“What are you doing attacking him?” Ryu demanded.
“An eye for an eye,” Mav spat. “He punched me, so I’m just returning the favor.”
“He punched you because you were harassing an omega in his bar! Maybe you should’ve kept your hands to yourself!”
Mav stormed up to Ryu and glared down at him. A few inches of height separated them. Mav was clearly trying to intimidate Ryu, but the shorter alpha didn’t back down—the same way he didn’t back down to me earlier. I admired his spirit.
“Do you have a problem?” Mav sneered. “Because the cripple and I can solve this problem on our own.”
A flash of light exploded in the alley, illuminating everything. Mav stumbled back with a yelp. I narrowed my eyes against the light and grappled onto the wall to stabilize myself. When the light faded, Ryu was gone—and in his place stood a huge serpentine dragon with white horns, whip-like whiskers and a mouth full of teeth.
“Don’t you ever say that word again!” Ryu snarled, his voice distorted and draconic. It sent a deep shiver down my spine.
“What the fuck?” Mav cried. “What are you, some kind of weird snake?”
Ryu’s dragon let loose a primal roar, the kind that chilled you to the bone. He slashed the ground by Mav’s feet with his three claws, leaving streaks in the concrete.
“I am a dragon,” Ryu cried. “And if you have a problem with my friend, then you have a problem with me.”
