And no tomorrow for one of them.
Caesar had every intention of spending the rest of his life with Sera, so he was going to end things tonight.
He would be victorious, there was no other choice.
The moment Caesar’s paws hit the pavement, he lunged.In a bone-jarring clash of teeth and claws, a lion and a jaguar met.Otto’s roars echoed across the park, full of hate and fury.Caesar answered with a bellowing roar that shook the ground beneath them.
Fur flew.Blood splattered.The world was nothing but claws and fangs.
And rage.
Otto twisted, his sleek form agile and quick.He lashed out with razor-sharp claws and caught Caesar in the side, slicing through his fur and skin.Pain flashed through him, but he didn’t stop the fight.He lunged again and caught Otto in the shoulder, fangs slicing deep and scraping bone.The bastard rolled and kicked Caesar off.
Around him, the battle was raging.
Eight jaguars and a multitude of park shifters were fighting, some human and some in their shifts.A wolf snarled as it collided with a jaguar, teeth snapping.One of the lions took down a jaguar, slamming him full-body into the pavement with a sickening thud.
But Caesar didn’t focus on anything or anyone but Otto.
He knew the park shifters had his back and could handle themselves.
This wasn’t a battle for dominance or pride, it was a war, and one that Caesar intended to win.
Otto came at him, slinking low with a snarl, claws gleaming in the streetlamps that illuminated the grisly battle.As Otto spun on him, Caesar pivoted to let him pass and then sank his claws into his flank and pulled him off his feet.Otto turned with a howl and they clashed again, claws digging into flesh, sharp teeth snapping.Caesar clamped his jaws around Otto’s neck and tossed him to the side like a doll.He hit the ground with a smack and rose to his paws, shaking his head and swaying slightly.
He padded forward and Caesar tensed as they circled each other.
They were both bleeding, both panting from the fight.
His body was aching, his side bleeding profusely from Otto’s claws, but he wasn’t going to stop.There was too much at stake.
Somewhere to the side, a jaguar’s pain-filled howl was cut off, and a bear roared in victory.When Otto lunged, Caesar met him with a brutal swipe of his massive paw, sending him skidding to the side, claws trying to get purchase on the pavement.
Otto was fast, but Caesar was bigger and stronger.And he was fueled by a greater purpose—setting Sera free.
He roared, his lion claiming her to the heavens.
She was his, damn it, and worth every drop of blood that poured from his wounds.
Otto slipped past Caesar’s claws and went for his leg, claws curling into him.Caesar roared in agony but didn’t give up.With a twist of his body, he lunged and clamped his jaws around Otto’s shoulder, crunching into his bones with a snap.Otto shrieked, thrashing to get free, but Caesar dragged him down, teeth tearing through muscle as they crashed to the ground.Otto kicked upward, his claws catching Caesar in the belly and ripping flesh, drawing blood.
His grip loosened on Otto’s shoulder and the male pulled free, but Caesar pivoted and knocked him back down again.
Otto hit the ground, his head banging on the pavement.He staggered upright again, still snarling.
Caesar, bleeding from his semi-useless back leg and the deep gashes in his side and belly, rose onto his paws and let out a furious roar, his ears pinning to his head and his shoulders rolling forward as he faced off against the male who would take everything from him.
Otto sank down onto his paws, his eyes glowing bright amber, and then he launched forward with a powerful cry, teeth bared and claws extended.
Caesar tilted forward and braced for the impact, the male hitting him like a truck.But Caesar didn’t let himself get knocked off his feet; he grabbed Otto’s neck like a wayward cub and rose onto his good back leg, lifting Otto into the air.He slammed him down to the pavement with as much force as he could muster.
Otto thrashed and clawed, but Caesar lifted his head and opened his jaws wide, clamping down on the male’s throat.Claws raked Caesar’s side, catching on his ribs, and blood poured from deep wounds.
But he didn’t let go.
He bit hard, growling into Otto’s neck.
Otto’s movements slowed.Then stopped.
