Page 40 of Curvy Hostage Mate
He glared at me, his hand curling into a tight fist. I waited, preparing, bracing myself to lunge forward at a moment’s notice. After a moment, he snorted, lounging back in his chair as he studied me with wry amusement, the faintest ghost of a grin twitching the edges of his mouth.
“You have some guts, I’ll give you that,” he said. The smirk vanished, replaced by a scowl. “But if you think you’re going to take me on, then you’re a fool.”
“Just shut up and fight so I can go home,” I said.
Cain’s eyes narrowed. He gave a flick of his wrist. The second he made the motion, all hell broke loose. The guards on either side of him charged forward, shifting as they approached.
The Gold Wolves met them, each taking on a guard, except for me. I was watching Cain.
He handed the only guard who hadn’t jumped into the fray Morgan’s chain and came down from his throne to approach me.
“This is a horrible idea,” he said. “I’ll give you one last chance to back out before I kill you.”
“I’ll give you the same offer,” I retorted.
Cain lunged forward, hands mutating to claws as he did. I sidestepped, my own claws outstretched as they sliced across his stomach.
He let out a surprised yelp of pain and came to a halt. I could tell the exact instant he realized that the ring on his finger was a fake. His expression, confused a moment earlier, turned to a mix of fury and horror. His face contorted into a scowl.
“That bitch,” he snarled. If I hadn’t been right in front of him, I think he would have turned and charged Morgan.
I lashed out again, my claws scratching his other cheek, the wound shallower this time as he dodged out of the way.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” I snarled.
With narrowed eyes, Cain shifted, turning into a massive brown wolf. I schooled my expression, trying not to show just how surprised I was. I had only seen a wolf this large a handful of times.
I didn’t give myself time to think about it, because he jumped toward me. I shifted, dodging out of the way just before his front paws would have slammed onto my shoulders. He spun. Fast—too fast for his size.
A moment later, burning pain blossomed down my front leg. My fur matted as blood welled from the wound.
His paw swiped toward me before I could react. How the hell was he this fast? I tried to dodge, but didn’t move in time. His claws raked across my snout. Yelping, I staggered back.
I managed to get a quick blow across his snout, but barely a scratch as he dodged out of the way. He lashed out, this time managing to slice into my flank.
This was bad. I had known he was powerful, but I couldn’t have imagined how fast he was. I was on the back foot, and I was losing. Badly. I had barely gotten a scratch.
Another swipe. This one nearly took my eye. I howled as I staggered back, blood trickling into my vision. All around me were the sounds of struggle, but I could barely pay attention to them as Cain’s massive paw slammed into my side, shoving me to the ground.
I collapsed back, shifting back to human without fully realizing I was doing it. I watched with dread as Cain shifted back to human. He laughed as he stalked forward, unsheathing his claws as he strutted toward me, amusement dancing on his features.
“Do you think she’s going to enjoy watching you die?” he asked. “Do you want one last look at her before you die? Or would you rather I end you quick?”
I glanced around, looking anywhere but Morgan, not wanting to see her fear or panic or dread etched across her face. All the other Gold Wolves were preoccupied with their own fight, each fighting tooth and claw to fend back their opponents. We were stronger by far, but they were still going one-on-two at best. None of them seemed to have noticed me sprawled on the floor, blood dripping down my side and my face, or the fact that Cain was strutting toward me, preparing to take his time finishing the job.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll make sure she’s well taken care of.”
To my disbelief, I felt the agonizing wound close up, knitting itself together along with the one on my face. The only evidence I’d ever been hurt at all was the still-damp blood clumping my fur.
Across from me, I saw Cain’s own surprise mirroring my own. The fight temporarily forgotten, we both turned to where Morgan still sat at the foot of the throne. She was muttering under her breath, eyes locked on me.
I stood, rolling my shoulders, feeling good as new. Stronger, even, as if by magic.
“Guess those collars don’t stop her from healing whoever she pleases,” I said with a smirk.
Cain had gone deathly pale. Whether from rage or fear, I didn’t know, and didn’t particularly care. The only thing that mattered was that I was still alive. I wasn’t out of the game just yet. And Morgan was helping me. That final thought alone would have been enough to keep me going. All of that combined spurred me to end this once and for all.
I darted toward him. Cain stumbled backward even as he shifted. I followed suit, but this time, I was ready for him, for his speed. I dodged out of the way, no longer hindered by the injuries.
