Page 75 of Griffin

“Why do you keep appearing at the most inconvenient moments?” he sneered, his voice laced with irritation.

“Let him go,” I demanded, my voice a low rumble.

Michael trembled slightly, his eyes pleading. “Griffin?—”

Todd ignored him, his smug smirk returning. “Or what?” he taunted.

Then I saw it. The fingers gripping Michael’s arm weren’t fingers at all. They’d elongated, twisted into talons that pressed dangerously into Michael’s skin.

I remembered seeing a hawk flying overhead at that ice cream place in Cinderfield. Something clicked into place. Todd was a damn shifter.

Michael had joked once that Todd claimed to be “99% human, 1% shifter.” That had been a straight-up lie.

“I’m only going to warn you once,” I growled, my voice rough as gravel. “Let him go.”

Todd’s smirk deepened, his grip tightening.

“And if I don’t?” Todd asked mockingly, his eyes glinting with malicious glee.

“Let’s settle this,” I said. “Just you and me. Michael doesn’t need to be involved.”

“Fine with me,” Todd said.

The moment Todd shoved Michael away, my heart leapt into my throat.

Michael stumbled, his eyes wide with shock, but before I could reach for him, Todd was already rushing at me.

His talons extended, sharp and deadly, swiping through the air. I barely ducked in time, his talons missing my face by inches.

My wolf roared inside me, the protective instinct surging with the force of a tidal wave. Enough.

With a snarl, I let the shift take over. My bones snapped and reformed, muscles swelling as thick fur coated my body.

My vision sharpened, every detail of the backyard coming into vivid focus, and the metallic tang of Michael’s blood hung heavy in the air.

Todd didn’t wait. He lunged again, his claws partially shifted and glinting in the dim light. He moved fast, but I was faster.

I dodged his next strike and countered with a swipe of my own, claws raking across his shoulder.

He let out a guttural cry, staggering back, but he didn’t retreat.

“You think you can take him from me?” Todd spat, his eyes wild. “He’s mine!”

I didn’t waste my breath responding. Instead, I growled low in my throat, circling him.

My wolf wanted blood, wanted to end this threat to our mate once and for all, but I forced myself to stay focused.

Todd wasn’t just desperate—he was dangerous.

Todd came at me again, slashing wildly. I deflected his attacks, though one of his claws nicked my side.

The sting barely registered over the adrenaline coursing through me.

With a well-timed strike, I slammed into him, sending him sprawling to the ground. But Todd wasn’t done.

Snarling, he pushed himself up, his movements erratic. His gaze darted past me to Michael, who was still standing frozen a few feet away.

Todd’s expression twisted into something truly unhinged. Before I could stop him, Todd bolted past me, reaching Michael in a heartbeat.

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