Page 34 of Howl You Doin'

Caleb's nostrils flared. Despite the chaos of snarling wolves and flying fur, one thing was clear - Victor didn’t have the courage to come here himself. These were just foot soldiers, but they fought with the desperate ferocity of true believers.

A brown wolf lunged at his throat. Caleb twisted away, his muscles bunching as he slammed the attacker into a nearby table. "You know," he projected to Wade, "I'm starting to think Victor's too scared to face me himself."

"Less talking, more fighting," Wade replied, tackling another Nightfang member.

Caleb's attention drifted back to Fiona as she danced through the battle, her flames casting shadows across the walls. The sight of her made his chest tighten with that strange primal pull again. She moved like wildfire given form, beautiful and deadly.

His distraction cost him. Sharp teeth raked across his side, drawing blood. Caleb snarled, whirling to face his attacker - a stocky grey wolf with a scarred muzzle.

"Getting soft, Rivers?" the wolf taunted. "Too busy making eyes at your witch to protect your pack?"

Caleb's response was to seize the wolf by the scruff and throw him across the room.

A black wolf with white paws charged at Caleb. He met the attack head-on, bowling them over. As they tumbled across the floor, scattering decorations, the wolf sneered, "Some alpha you are. Can't even keep your people safe at a party."

"Says the wolf currently eating floor," Caleb retorted, pinning his opponent. "How's that working out for you?"

The combinedmight of Eclipsed Moon and Fiona's flames finally proved too much. The Nightfang members began retreating, limping and bleeding, through the broken windows. The scarred grey wolf paused at the exit.

"Victor will show everyone how weak you really are," he spat. "You can't protect them forever."

14

FIONA

Fiona conjured a small flame in her palm, illuminating the path as she and Caleb made their way to the safe room. Her heart still raced from the fight, but organizing chaos was her specialty. The wound on Caleb's side had already begun healing, but she noticed him favoring it slightly.

"You should let someone look at that," she said, gesturing to his injury.

"After everyone else is taken care of." He pushed open the heavy door to the safe room.

The crowd inside immediately surged forward. Questions overlapped into a cacophony of worry and fear. Fiona stepped in front of Caleb, raising both hands.

"Everyone sit down and take a breath." Her voice carried across the room. "If you're injured, move to the left wall. If you need help finding family members, gather by the right. Everyone else, middle of the room."

"But what about-" someone started.

"Now," she said firmly. To her satisfaction, people began moving.

Caleb touched her shoulder. "I'll check the injured."

"Not with that side. You'll handle the family reunions." She poked his chest gently. "I've got medical training from my event planning days. You'd be surprised how many wedding mishaps need first aid."

He opened his mouth to argue, then closed it with a slight smile. "Yes ma'am."

As she moved among the injured, treating cuts and sprains, she heard Caleb's deep voice reassuring worried pack members. He knew everyone by name, remembered their families, asked about specific concerns.

"Quite the powercouple you two make," Emmett said as she wrapped his wrist. "Haven't seen anyone handle him quite like that before."

Her cheeks felt hot. "We're not-"

"Yet," the elder said with a wink.

Working together, they got everyone sorted within an hour. Most injuries were minor - scrapes and bruises from the initial panic rather than the fight itself. Fiona created floating orbs of warm light around the room, casting a comforting glow.

"Ready to let me look at that side now?" she asked Caleb.

"It's fine-"

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