Page 97 of To Hunt A Wolf
Otherwise, I’d wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze until her eyes popped out of her skull. If only to end this.
Now, all that matters is saving Levi.
Regardless of what’s happened in our past, I refuse to leave him here, in the hands of these monsters.
My wolf rises swiftly to the surface, tearing my skin apart in her haste to get free. My bones pop and lengthen, and I drop to all fours, baring my teeth at both of my captors.
If Kari thinks I’m going to just walk out of here without a fight, she never really knew me at all either.
Thiago grins—he, at least, saw this coming.
His shift is nearly as fast as mine.
I snarl and lunge for Kari, but Thiago is quick. The moment his paws settle on the cold floor, he shoves me back. My claws rake over his fur, opening shallow gashes along his right side.
He doesn’t even flinch as he counters my movements and goes on the offensive. He’s trained well—but I’m better.
Unfortunately, he has an entire team of soldiers on his side.
Our fight spills into the hall, and I do my best to keep from becoming surrounded. Unfortunately, that’s a losing battle with so many opponents.
Thiago’s the only one of them who fights me as a wolf. The rest of them use guns, and I can only hope they’re still armed with sleeping darts rather than actual bullets.
One of the men fires.
I turn to look at where the shot went, and Thiago rams into me, sending me careening. I crash through a wall and shake myself against the dazed feeling it leaves behind. Aches and pains scream for attention, but I force myself up again.
I cannot let him beat me.
Behind him and his wall of brutes, Kari watches us.
She doesn’t look invested in the least. More curious than anything. Maybe even bored. That ignites my fury all over again, and I crouch at Thiago, ready to spring past him toward her.
Before I can move, a roar fills the air. Something moves beside me.
Levi.
He leaps from his bed and shifts. Thiago doesn’t even wait for him to complete the change before he strikes. I’m forced to intervene, knocking Thiago away from Levi before any damage is done.
Then, Levi and I are both dodging darts along with Thiago’s teeth.
“Don’t shoot Thiago, you idiots,” Kari snaps at them.
The men stop firing.
We escape into the hall, and Kari backs away, clearly unwilling to join the fight.
Fine.
I’ll give her no choice.
With a snap of my teeth, I slip past the closest guard and charge at Kari. My own blood pulses in my ears as I accept what I’m about to do: kill my friend. But Kari slips out of reach, dancing away and then running for a door at the end of the hall.
I chase, listening to the sounds of Thiago and Levi fighting behind me. Thiago snarls, and then their claws click on the hard floor as they follow my lead.
Kari slams through the door, and I tumble out behind her, narrowly missing her calf as we both pass into bright sunlight.
I glance around wildly, trying to get my bearings.
