“The fuck?”
“Isadora,” Zahara called in warning, but Dominic couldn’t focus on her.
He blinked and the image was gone, but so was Isadora. He spun, sending his senses out to read on her location and barely had time to leap back as she swiped at his throat, claws extended.
Romano rushed into the ring. “What the hell was that?”
Dominic didn’t have time to think about it. Isadora was moving again, leaping from side to side with dizzying speed before she somersaulted into the air, her flexible back letting her spin so she was facing the ground, and she reached for Dominic’s head.
And. Sunk. Her. Claws. Into. His. Neck.
“Isadora, you let your father go right this minute!”
Zoey’s cry fell on deaf ears, and Dominic had to use his own Alpha call to slam into Isadora and rip her away from him before she took his fucking head off.
She hit the ground with a yelp, and Silva made it to her side before he could. “Aw, pup. You have to finish the kill, or it doesn’t count. No points today.”
“But I made him bleed. I at least get ten for that.”
“Okay, I’ll give you ten. But you have to take a chunk next time, or it’s a no-go.”
Romano spun around. “Are you out of your gods damned mind? She could have killed the Alpha and you’re betting points.”
Silva rolled her eyes, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “But did he die?”
“That would have been, like, a thousand points,” Isadora grumbled.
Zoey stepped forward, reaching a shaking hand toward Dominic’s neck. “I don’t understand what this is.”
Dominic sighed and nodded. Giuliana moved to heal his wounds while Pasquale kept an eye on Isadora.
Smart wolf.
Zahara stood off to the side and watched Isadora closely, but Dominic couldn’t read what was in her gaze. Her fingers danced at her sides, but he didn’t feel magic in the air anymore.
“She’s a wolf, Zoey. A strong one. Without an outlet for her aggression, she’ll be worse off. No other wolves would risk hurting her, and they aren’t strong enough if she decides to use her Alpha call. Hell, she was able to make me feel fear long enough for her to get her close. This is the only way,” Dominic explained.
“She’s just two, Dominic.”
Dominic shook his head. “She may be two, Zoey, but in her development she’s a child of six and a wolf of maybe twelve or thirteen. This is hormone time, when wolves get more vicious and learn to fight. With everyone here, she can fight and work it out of her system.”
“But she hurt you.”
Isadora looked up at her dad, watching Giuliana close the wounds, and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m a freak, aren’t I?”
“Uh, yeah. And that’s awesome!” Silva did a little dance before leaning in for a high-five, but Isadora just curled her knees to her chest and rested her forehead on them.
The sight took Dominic to his knees in front of her. “Baby, look at me.”
Big, watery eyes met his, and Dominic reached out to push tears away with his thumb. “You are a wolf. I can heal from anything quickly. Giuliana helping me right now just makes your mother feel better. You are growing fast, and we’ve never hidden that from you, but being a freak, as you put it, is not a bad thing. One day, you’ll have your pack and no one will ever hurt your people. They will fear your retribution. All you must do is be kind to those under you. Love them. Guide them. Have you practiced what your bisnonna has been teaching you?”
Isadora nodded and looked to Zahara before tucking her face once again. “Yeah, and you’re going to be mad.”
“Why?”
“Tell him, Isadora,” Zahara urged, stepping forward.
“I used it,” she whispered.
