A flutter erupted deep in my belly, not strong enough to move me, more of a quiet reminder that August was watching. A shadow crept into my peripheral vision, and then the oily musk scent of Justin snaked into my nose. I skipped away, never taking my gaze off Liam who remained still as a boulder while his leghealed.
Cassandra snarled, ripping the heavy silence. She took off running, her strokes slow but powerful. Liam dashed, sketching a wide arc around the dueling ring, making her run after him, making her expend preciousenergy.
When I noticed he was favoring his left leg, worry enveloped me. Was her saliva laced with silver the same way as herblood?
Justin bumped into me, and I staggered but stayed upright and growled athim.
Didn’t see you there,bitch.
My white fur made me stand out in pitch blackness . . . I practicallyglowed.
I growled at him before snapping my attention back toward Liam. He was still running but had slowed down considerably. Again, I worried it was from pain, but then I noticed Cassandra had stopped chasing him and imagined he was evaluating her nextmove.
I liked what you did to your new house, but you gotta admit, it was a little . . .sterile.
My skin prickled at Justin’s implied admission. Of course he’d been among the Creeks who’d vandalized my home. He’d probably led the whole damnteam.
After this duel, I’ll kill you, Justin,I muttered between clenchedteeth.
He made a noise that sounded like a chuckle.’Cause you think Cassandra will let you out of this ring alive? She knows you’re a bitch that can’t be tamed. Which makes you a liability. She doesn’t keepliabilities.
Good thing she’s not going to win thisfight.
Oh . . . she’s not gonna lose. Shecan’tlose.
As the clouds shuffled off the moon, I could see every twitching muscle in my Alpha’s body, every sweep of eyelashes, every pulse of air. He lifted his tail high in theair.
Get away from Justin, Ness.Liam spoke into my mind without breaking eye contact withCassandra.
I loped off toward the other side of thering.
Cassandra dipped her muzzle, and then she burst toward Liam. His muscles coiled like springs as he exploded forward, running straight at her. Just before their bodies connected, he executed the sharpest turn I’d ever seen a wolfmake.
Cassandra dug her claws into the ground, spraying the faces of the shifters on the cusp of the dueling ring with grass and dirt. Flicking her ears, she turned and dashed after Liam, neck extended, snout inches from Liam’s tail. Jaw wide, she seized it. Liam growled, and then his back paw came up and scraped Cassandra’s cheek, shoving her face away, inflicting another deepgash.
She grunted as she released his tail and hacked up black fur, cheek weeping blood. How was he going to end her with just his claws? None of her injuries had healed yet, and if he added any more, not making contact with her blood would become nearimpossible.
Stashing his tail between his legs, Liam pranced away. I didn’t know how deep she’d chomped down, but he would need several minutes for his skin to zippershut.
Cassandra’s nostrils flared, and then her head canted toward me. For numerous heartbeats, she stared my way, blue eyes thin andcalculating.
My navel heated up to scorching as something wet bumped my rump. I whipped around and growled.Did you just sniff me, youprick?
What if I did? What are you going todo?
Justin was looking for me to attack, because if I made the first move, I’d become fair game for Cassandra tokill.
The dark-brown wolf leered at me.You smell awfully sweet for something thatisn’t.
You touch me again, and I will rip your testicles off and toss them to the coyotes.My breaths came in violent spurts.And then I’ll killyou.
Will you be ripping them off with your mouth? ’Cause I’ve been fantasizing about your head between mylegs.
A shrill bark erupted from the field, and I spun to find Liam standing over Cassandra. He swiped at her neck, and she swiped back, the dark tips of her claws sinking into hisbelly.
He let out a cry that had me pitching toward him, but before I could get close, Justin planted teeth that felt like twin saws into my hip and dragged me to the ground. I spun and batted him away, the pain so violent it blanched myeyesight.
Up . . . I needed to getup.
