Page 46 of Shifting Fate
Arias
A terrified shriek hit my ears as the hulking black beast abandoned Dallon’s car for the next best thing—a frightened young woman in a red party dress. Obviously intoxicated, she flailed backwards and hit the pavement with a cry, kicking herself away from the monster as it descended on her.
“Help! Somebody! Oh, god…”
There was no time to second guess. I tore after the Dreadwolf with a snarl, launching myself at the massive brute’s side. I snapped at its spiky fur, yanking out tufts with each jerk of my head, but it was enough to draw the mutant’s attention away from the human.
I sprung away with a bark. It thundered after me, roaring in outrage. Great, I had its undivided attention. Now what?Think, Arias. Think!
A gaggle of drunk humans scrambled away from the road with panicked screams and shouts. The beast whipped its head around. Shit. I needed to get it away from these people, needed to draw it out of town.
“Arias, Jesus fucking Christ!”Dallon galloped after us, his ears pinned and his eyes wild. He let out a shrill when the Dreadwolf spun around to snap powerful jaws in his direction. I growled and bit down hard on its tail until I felt thecrunch-popof bone. The beast bellowed. I bellowed right back.
“We need to get it out of here, or else more humans are going to die.”
“Screw the humans! What about us?”he yelped, frantic. I could feel his panic, his desperation, the chill of his fear in my chest. I knew it was dangerous, but I couldn’t just stand back and watch the Dreadwolf tear innocent people apart, not when they couldn’t fight back. Humans didn’t stand a chance against a monster like this.
Dallon and I did.
“Help me,”I pleaded.“Help me draw it towards the woods, at the very least.”
“I’m not letting you get shredded by an oversized mongrel,”Dallon snapped back. Without waiting for an answer, he bared his teeth with a growl and flung his lithe gray body at the Dreadwolf’s flank.
When it swung its head back to bite at Dallon, I clamped my jaws around its throat. I buried my fangs in deep, yanking my head from side to side. The tang of blood flowed over my tongue, bitter, but I didn’t let go. The beast howled in pain and bucked its massive body in an attempt to dislodge us.
Amongst the roar of the blood rushing through my head, I heard sheer chaos in the streets. In the distance, sirens wailed. The Dreadwolf reared up on its hind legs and pulled me up off the ground. I bit down, dangling in mid-air, my paws flailing for purchase.
I heard Dallon cry out, but I couldn’t risk letting go. The tighter my hold on the beast’s throat, the weaker it seemed to get. Staggering, it gasped for breath, its great sides heaving. I swallowed mouthfuls of blood and held on for dear life.
Finally, with one last guttural groan, the Dreadwolf collapsed. It pitched forwards, then flopped to its side. The minute my paws touched the cold pavement, I fastened my teeth tighter, then ripped out its throat. Hot blood spurted out of the wound, soaking my fur. I released my hold and panted for breath.
Where was Dallon?
Something whistled past my ear, singing through the air. I snapped my head around in time to see a tall, cloaked figure in a crow mask draw back her bowstring. I dove out of the way just as she let the arrow fly. Shit! Of course the Dreadwolf wouldn’t be on its own. Its handlers probably hoped it’d slaughter us. Now that the beast was dead, they were stepping in to finish the job.
“Dallon!”I shouted, wheeling around. Panic took root. Where was my mate?
“Over here,” came a choked out voice to my right. Dallon was on the ground, human and helpless, clutching at his leg. Ice slithered through my veins. He was hurt. I could smell his blood, and something else, something that stunk like sulfur. Suddenly, his face contorted in fear. “Watch out!”
I knew the pain was coming. I threw myself in front of Dallon with a snarl. The heavythunkof an arrow pierced my side, sending me stumbling. I gritted my teeth as a fiery lash of pain followed the pressure moments later. The flames burned bright enough to scorch my flesh.
I needed to get rid of that Dreadhunter.
Dallon sobbed out my name, but I was already running across the pavement towards the crow. She laughed sharply and tossed her weapon to the side. It vanished in a puff of smoke, and in her hand materialized a dagger.
She slashed at me, but only managed to slice off some fur. I backpedaled, snarling. Beneath the curved metal edge of her mask, I saw her demonic smile. Cruel. Cold. I had no doubts that the glint to her eye would be just as mercurial.
I lunged, but I wasn’t fast enough. She spun away and struck again, and this time, her blade sank home. Pain shot through my neck. I couldn’t bite back my yelp.
She sneered. “Give it up, cur. You’re dead. If I don’t kill you, the poison will.”
My head swam. Poisoned arrows?
“Get out of here!” someone shouted. His voice was deep and powerful, thrumming with a current of energy. It wasn’t a voice you should defy, and my inner-beast seemed to know that, because he yanked us to the side. I tripped over the curb at the same time four blindingly-white bolts of lightning struck the ground.
The Dreadhunter’s scream cut off, abrupt, as one of the beams speared her through the center. The stench of burnt hair and skin filled my lungs. I gagged and staggered away, but my body was so heavy. Each step took so much effort, but I needed to get to Dallon.
Dallon needed me. He was hurt. Had he been poisoned too?
