Lila lifted a finger."Just a sec," she replied, smiling sweetly.

I held my breath.What was she doing?

Suddenly, Briggs released his hold.The Blood Fang wolves gasped for air.

Then Lila pounced.Her foot connected with her tormentor's groin.He doubled over with a grunt.

“That’s for putting your hands on me.”

Her fist followed, smashing into his face with a sickening crunch.Blood spurted from his nose.

“That’s for ruining my favorite t-shirt,” she spat.

My heart raced.Her tenacity was scary yet impressive.

Lila sauntered towards us, a satisfied smirk on her face that disappeared when her brother wrapped her in a quick, tight hug.

I couldn't help but ask, "Lila, why did you wait for Briggs to release them?"

"I try to keep fights fair,” she answered, wiping blood from her knuckles on her pants.

I blinked.

Briggs's low chuckle surprised me.His eyes softened as he looked at Lila, a hint of pride in his expression.

The object of Lila’s wrath lay curled on the ground, groaning.His pack mates glared at us, fury and fear warring in their eyes.

In a blur of motion, Briggs lunged at the nearest foe, his claws slicing through flesh.Colten and Baylor followed suit, their movements quick and precise.

They killed five of the six in less than three seconds.Then the Darkwood wolves closed in on the last one.

The wolf trembled, fumbling in his pocket.He produced a small envelope, holding it out with shaking hands.

Briggs snatched it from him."What's this?"

The wolf shook his head and dropped to his knees with his hands up in surrender.

Briggs glared down at him, then at the envelope in his hand.“Go back to your master.”

The wolf scrambled to his feet, shifting mid-stride as he fled into the forest.

"You’re letting him go?"Colten’s eyes blazed.

Baylor’s muscles tensed for pursuit."I’ll run him down."

“No,” Briggs countered.“You’ll stand down.Both of you.”

A flash of movement caught my eye.Lila darted towards the treeline.

"Lila, no!"I shouted.

The teenager was fast, but Briggs was faster.He caught her before she crossed the boundary.

She whirled on him, her long, dirty blonde braid nearly catching him in the face.

"Let me go," she hissed."I can catch him!"

An intense, knowing look passing between them.Briggs chuckled, a rich and warm sound so at odds with the situation.