Page 3 of Shifting Fate
I crashed into her and sank my fangs into her thigh, tearing into her flesh. She screamed and stumbled forwards, but managed to catch herself with the end of her weapon. I glanced up in time to meet the quicksilver eyes of Colby Renard. He nodded, then darted away before she could retaliate.
For being wounded, the bitch was fast. She spun around, the scythe whistling through the air right above my head. I ducked, narrowly avoiding being scalped, then sprang out of her reach. The three of us went rounds, a matter of striking and dodging her deadly weapon.
My fangs closed around the hilt of the scythe, keeping her from swinging it as Colby lunged for her. She staggered back with a cry of pain. Then, before I could think to release my grip on the weapon, she jammed it deeper into my hold and twisted.
I yelped as the blade cranked my head to the side and sliced open my flank in the process. There was cold fury in her eyes when our gazes met. I froze. Never before had I felt such immeasurable hatred. It oozed out of her like pus from a wound, teeming with infection.
“Dallon!”Colby barked, and the crow raised her weapon to cut me down. My heart thudding like a drum in my chest, I took a chance and sprang up at her before she had the chance to swing. My jaws clamped around her neck, I dragged her to the ground.
Colby was at my side in an instant, and together, we ended her life before she could steal anyone else’s. Blood turned the mud around us murky. She continued to twitch, even after her neck had been crushed. Shuddering, I turned my face away and sank to my belly on the mucky ground.
“Thanks,”I uttered.
Colby nudged my cheek.“Christ, that was close. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”Not exactly a lie. My side hurt like a bitch, sure, but it wasn’t like I was going to die from it. Thankfully it wasn’t too deep. It probably looked worse than it was, staining my gray pelt crimson.
Colby whined softly.“I should be the one thankingyou.You saved my bacon.”
I laughed despite the severity of the situation, then winked at him.“Seeing as your bacon is fine as hell? It was my pleasure.”Rising to my feet once more, we rejoined the rest of the pack. Everyone gathered around as the final Dreadwolf bellowed weakly. As it took its dying breath, a still came over the Northpoint woods.
“Is that all of them?”Merrick panted hard, his pelt littered with bite marks and gashes. I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful to see the old man still in one piece.
“For now,”murmured Tristram.
As the Alphas did their Alpha-thing and talked about what I assumed would be their next course of action, Arias came loping up. He took one look at me and jerked to a halt.“Dallon?”
“Before you ask, I’m fine,”I announced.“Colby and I kicked Dreadhunter ass.”
When Arias turned his sights on my on-again off-again fuck buddy, Colby surprised me by shying away from the Omnus. His ears laid flat, he gave his head a small shake. I wanted to beg him to stay, so I wouldn’t have to listen to the lecture I was probably going to get, but he’d already slinked off.
Great.
I turned back to Arias, too tired to argue with him, but instead of chastising me about being reckless, he whined. His blue eyes were suddenly soft and worried as he gingerly sniffed at my wound.“Damn it. You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine,”I insisted, a little firmer now. Puffing out my chest, I tried to lighten the bleak mood that had settled over us.“Tis but a flesh wound.”I laughed, but he seemed conflicted.
“It looks deep,”he murmured, meeting my gaze.“C’mon, let’s head back to Foxgrove, so I can patch you up.”
What?I was stunned by his sudden change of heart. Was this the same man who’d all butorderedme to go home less than an hour ago? I’d be damned if I looked a gift horse in the mouth, though—especially this gift horse. I’d take what I could get when it came to Arias LaRue.
“Alright, doc,”I drawled dramatically.“My life is in your hands.”
