Page 62 of Nearly Dead

The first battle is chaos.Cheers echo so loudly from the gathered crowd that I can barely hear the punches land.It’s more a display of raw strength than bloodshed.The challengers circle each other in the center of the arena, partially shifting to their wolf forms.Muscles bulge, bones crack and reshape, fur sprouts along limbs as each competitor embraces their beast.

I hear the beating hearts around me.It’s like a song calling me into the wild.The sight stirs my own wolf.I find myself eager to join, to test myself against the others.I resist the urge.I’m here to observe, not to participate.

Sully’s transformation is something to behold.He flows smoothly into the partial shift, his body expanding with raw power.His face elongates into a wolf’s muzzle and his eyes blaze gold in the torchlight.He towers over the challengers, a perfect blend of man and beast.

The contest itself is controlled brutality.Blood flows, but not freely.This isn’t about killing.It’s about proving superiority.

Sully charges at several competitors, throwing them out of the ring.I hear their thuds as they crash into the warehouse walls behind me.The gathered werewolves watch in rapt attention, occasionally howling encouragement to their preferred champion, and taunting those who don’t do well.

I have a feeling this night is only going to get worse.Thank goodness I’m not competing.

I find myself strangely fascinated.This is part of my heritage now, this primal display of power and dominance.The wolf in me understands it on a level my human mind never could.

One by one, the lesser challengers yield until only James, Rhea, and Sully remain.They circle each other, growling and snapping, looking for weaknesses to exploit.

“Get in there, hybrid!”A hand shoves me hard against my back.I fall forward into the circle, stumbling before landing on my hands and knees.Pain shoots up my unshifted limbs.Springing to my feet, I instantly try to back out.

“Alpha!Alpha!”they chant.They tighten their circle around the arena, pushing at me whenever I try to get out.“Alpha!Alpha!”

A loud roar comes at me like a warning.Sully crosses his arms, and I swear his shifted face smiles, as if this was all planned.

My heart is beating faster now.This is not what I agreed to.

ChapterFourteen

“Show us what you’re made of, hybrid!”

James is the first to strike, lunging at me with extended claws.I dart out of the way, diving onto the hard ground.I hear my bones crack as pain rolls through me.Fear causes my heart to pound.But there’s something else behind it.Excitement?Exhilaration?Violence?

I hear James’ feet slide on the dirty cement, claws scraping as he stops his momentum.I have no choice but to defend myself.

I roar, the sound ripping from deep inside.The vampire in me tries to calculate, but the wolf rips forward, uncaring of strategy.I’m forced into a full shift.Fur sprouts over my body and I feel as if I’m being ripped apart from the inside.My spine arches with a snap, and I feel my ribs crack.My vision sharpens.I hear James’ harsh breath and count his every footfall like thunder in my ears.

My clothing tears and hangs off me in shreds.James doesn’t let up or give me time to adjust.He crashes into my side, rolling me onto my back.The shouts of the crowd rise up.I feel their frenzy tearing through me.

I defend myself against his attack.Claws bite into my side and it only inspires me into action.I act on pure instinct.James expects brute force.I give him precision and savagery, claws raking across his chest as we collide again.

There is no balance, only survival.

But even in the chaos, I feel the pull of both beasts inside me.The wolf howls for dominance, the vampire craves blood, both demand I kill the man who dares attack.It would be so easy to lose myself, to snap James’ neck and let the bloody taste of victory fill my mouth.My last thread of humanity anchors me.I won’t be the mindless monster they fear I am.

The fight continues, a savage dance of claw and fang.We crash and roll until finally I get lucky and manage to catch his arm.I use his momentum to throw him across the arena.James crashes into scaffolding but recovers quickly, snarling in fury.

He wobbles as he tries to return running in a curved line that doesn’t quite reach me.Sully pushes him down when he comes close to his side.James falls against the ground with a moan.

Sully roars and several hands dart out to drag James away.

They don’t give me time to regroup or protest.

Rhea’s attack is more patient, more tactical.She circles around me as if waiting for an opening.I glance toward Sully, trying to keep him in my eyeline when Rhea darts in with surprising speed.She rakes her claws across my arm.Blood wells from the wounds.The pain is immediate and sends an electric jolt of awareness over my body.I flinch in surprise, trying to reach after her.She eludes my claws.

The look in her eyes hits harder than any physical strike.Shewantsthis battle, thirsts for it.She wants me broken beneath her.My blood marks her like a trophy.

I know all of this because I want the same thing from her.I want to crush her smug face beneath my heel and tear her limbs from her body.I remember the goblin squish as I defended myself.I will defend myself again.

I snarl, the sound guttural and low.If she wants a monster, I’ll give her one.I didn’t start this fight, but I’ll end it.

The warehouse echoes with growls and the impact of bodies colliding.Fights are breaking out in the crowd, fueled by our show.The energy turns feral.Snarls and yelps echo off the walls.The pack is unraveling, stirred by our violence, hungry for blood.It’s not just a fight anymore.It’s a challenge to every wolf watching.My presence is waking something dangerous in them.

---