Suddenly a grey wolf lunges out of nowhere, knocking the russet one out of the air.
They go tumbling across the ground, knocking into the canvas side of a tent and nearly bowling it over. Both wolves jump up again, circling each other.
A growl rumbles from the russet wolf’s chest as its jaws lunge for the grey one’s neck. The grey wolf answers with a deeper, more threatening snarl, positioning itself firmly between us and the russet beast.
The wolves collide in a blur of teeth and fur, their bodies twisting and tumbling across the ground. When the grey wolf finally clamps down on the russet one’s jugular, I taste bile rising in my throat. Hot blood pools around them, seeping into the ground and melting the snow.
I watch, paralyzed, as the russet wolf’s struggles grow weaker, then stop altogether.
After a long second, the grey wolf raises its head, meeting my eyes. My heart stops as my eyes land on the white star on the wolf’s forehead. Runa.
I don’t know what to say, and several seconds pass as Runa’s amber eyes hold mine. Then, before anyone can do anything, another chorus of snarls erupts from the center of camp.
My gaze snaps to a space between the tents where I can see Fox and Viktor still locked together in a fight. I’ve seen Viktor out on the practice field, and he’s nowhere near as talented as Fox. If this were a sword fight it would already be over, but as wolves they’re well matched.
I’ve never seen Fox fight anyone who was even close to his level before. What if Viktor actually kills him?
The fear settles inside me, sharpening my mind. I suddenly feel less drained, and take a pointed step back toward the center of camp.
“Wait!” Jett hisses, reaching for me. “Where the fuck are you going?”
I don’t answer, too focused on the fight to think about anything else. Both Fox and Viktor’s fur look matted with fresh blood, but it stands out far more noticeably against Fox’s white coat. How much of that blood is his?
The other wolves seem to have stopped fighting for the most part, and those who are still standing begin backing away, creating a wider arena for the two alphas as their battle intensifies.
Fox’s teeth snap at Viktor’s throat, missing by a whisker as the dark wolf dodges. Fox lunges again, but Viktor feints left and drives forward, forcing Fox back one step, then another. The crackling fire hisses behind him, orange embers swirling dangerously close to his tail.
Sweat breaks across my forehead as Fox’s back paw slips at the fire’s edge, sending sparks flying. The scent of burning fur rises in the air.
Suddenly, Fox looks up. His ice blue-eyes seem to find mine without effort, his gaze locking with me across the chaos.“Sword.”
The split-second connection jolts through me like lightning. I blink, startled. I could swear that thought didn’t come from me.It didn’t even sound like me, but I don’t bother to waste time questioning it.
“Give me your sword,” I hiss at Jett, glad that this time my voice comes out almost normally.
“Wait, but?—”
“Sword!” I hiss, reaching for the hilt of the blade strapped to his belt.
Jett finally reacts, yanking the blade free and handing it to me. I spin back around, and the blade catches firelight as I hurl it spinning through the air, end over end toward the white wolf.
Instantly, bones crack and fur recedes as Fox’s wolf form blurs into his normal shape—a ripple of magic and muscle that happens between one heartbeat and the next. His fingers close around the spinning hilt mid-air, the momentum carrying his arm in a fluid circle and the sword slashes into the black wolf’s throat.
A dull, wet sound echoes through the camp and Viktor’s snarl transforms into a gurgling gasp. Dark arterial blood spurts from his neck in a perfect crimson arc, then he sways once before collapsing in a heap, unmoving.
For a long moment no one moves. Fox stands framed by the enormous bonfire, naked and bleeding, with the nearly decapitated wolf lying at his feet. He lowers his sword, letting it hang loosely from one hand.
The silence is absolutely deafening, and I can actually hear the rhythmic drip, drip of the blood oozing off Fox’s sword.
Then, a lone cry pierces the silence as Kai, still in wolf form, tips his head back and howls. Luka joins him, then Inga, then I nearly jump out of my skin when Runa, who is still beside me, adds her voice to the chorus.
“What the fuck is happening?” Jett asks, pulling my attention.
I shake my head. I don’t know, but it feels significant.
The hair on my arms stands on end as dozens of wolves join in howling. Those still in human form slam fists against their chests before tilting their heads to expose their throats.
I gasp with understanding. “They’re bowing to him.”
