I wait, feeling a change inside me.
A strange force rises, my focus sharpens into something razor-thin. Everything slows, and suddenly I realize I’m not seeing five seconds ahead anymore, but closer to ten! Something that has never happened before, and it gives me a real advantage.
I know he’s about to break through, and I’ll have a fraction of a second between his foot dropping and his arm lifting the gun again. That’s when I throw.
The throw has to be perfect, precise, and powerful.
My brain runs the calculations, figuring out exactly how much force to use and at what angle to release it so it lands right. In a fraction of a second, all those numbers fall into a pattern my muscles will have to follow.
Bam.
Bam.
The door gives. Now.
The table is shoved aside by the force of his kick.
This is my moment. I lean out just enough and throw, already knowing it will land.
The bottle hits his gun hand hard, knocking the weapon to the floor.
That’s my opening.
I launch at him and realize I have another advantage now, one I didn’t have before.
Claws slide out from my fingers!
What the fuck?!
I’ve entered the highest form of fighting mode, the one only an alpha reaches when protecting his mated omega.
He’s highly trained, I can see that, but he doesn’t have what I do, he can’t see ten seconds ahead.
My strike lands, claws tearing across his cheek and temple, blood spraying instantly into his eyes, blinding him.
Then I hit him with all my might, straight in the jaw, knocking him out cold with a single blow.
His body drops, and I’m on him immediately, ripping off his belt, flipping him onto his stomach, tying his hands behind his back, then using my own belt to secure his legs. All super tight, since I’m well aware alphas can tear regular handcuffs apart when enraged, so it needs to be a perfect fit.
My movements are fast but sure, even as I feel a warm trickle of blood running down my arm. I know the wound isn’t serious enough to kill me.
People from nearby departments start spilling into the hallway, first cautiously peeking out, then rushing in once they see the attacker down.
They approach me, but I notice them hesitate, stepping back slightly.
"Are you in the fighting mode?" Dimitri asks in a trembling voice, shock all over his face.
His gaze flicks to Blue, clearly putting things together, probably assuming we’re mated.
"Looks like it," I reply, and wow! My voice sounds completely different, low and rumbling, like it’s coming from somewhere deep and dark.
I realize my claws are still out, but there’s more.
I can sense pressure in my gums, like my mating fangs want to emerge, but I force it back.
Fangs? Really?
The shock is immense, because I know there’s only one situation where an alpha can manifest both claws and mating fangs in fighting mode.
