Page 82 of Protected Promise
Her eyes begged me to do something, but I could feel River’s wolf honing in on me. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down even for a second or I would end up just like Jasmin.
Maria came up behind the wolf and attempted to tackle her while still in human form. The wolf easily smacked her out of the way. Maria lay unconscious nearby, but I could hear the faint sound of her heartbeat.
River squared up with me. My plan had been to stay in human form for as long as possible. I knew help was on the way, but I didn’t know how long it would take them to get here. Before River attacked Maria, I thought my odds would be better with this plan, but now I wasn’t entirely sure.
My threat of multiple attacks had waned. Odds were in my favor that Mallory wasn’t going to join the attack. With the screeching from Maria, the other girls had returned so there were witnesses once again. That didn’t seem to matter to River though.
I refused to turn my back on her as she circled me, looking for weaknesses.
After three or four rounds, she lunged at me and bit into my thigh just missing my femoral artery. I grit my teeth and refused to cry out from the pain.
“River, are you insane?” Cadence screamed.
“Stop it!” Abby begged.
I could see it in the wolf’s eyes, she only saw red.
I had no choice but to fight back.
I let the shift happen as my clothes shred to pieces all around me. I roared. Attacking a human was against wolf code no matter the circumstance. It was clear River didn’t care and it was time to put her down. I didn’t relish killing anyone, but the need to protect my territory was nearly overpowering.
I didn’t know when Landon’s territory had become mine too, maybe it was part of the bond we created, but I knew there was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect our pack and that started right now.
I stayed low and kept my eyes on her as she continued to circle and dive in for quick jabs. I watched her pattern of movements, memorizing her weaknesses.
When she lunged, she leaned to the left leaving her neck slightly vulnerable on the right side.
Her motions changed as I knew they would. She was trying to throw me off her game, but I was ready for it.
When she shifted to the right, I leapt to the left and nipped at her hindquarters as she flew past me.
She yelped, having been caught off-guard.
I couldn’t risk getting cocky.
She dove in for a full body attack. I felt her claws scratch down my back as mine connected with her face blinding her in one eye.
She howled in pain and anger and stumbled backwards.
I could have gone right in for the kill, but I could hear the pounding of feet against the ground. Help was coming.
I had a slight moment of relief realizing I didn’t need to kill her after all. I was wrong.
River must have sensed them incoming as well because her fighting techniques were long gone. She moved like a wild beast and not an intelligent shifter. She seemed fueled by the scent of my blood from one of the scratches she’d landed.
Her one eye was wild and unfocused. She especially favored her left side because of it, even more so than she had originally.
When she growled and sprang into the air coming down on top of me, I knew I had to act quickly.
The second her neck was exposed to me, I went in for the kill and latched on hard. Still, she fought with every last bit of strength until the life fled from her.
My wolf stood back and howled.
The new arrivals had come to a skidding halt just as my wolf claimed her victory and several howled back, showing me the ultimate respect.
Landon
Chapter 22
