Page 53 of Stripe Poker

Troy charged him, making him snap his eyes back to him. They slammed into each other with claws and teeth. Snapping of jaws and the sound of tearing flesh filled his ear. Troy howled in pain as he slammed him into the ground.

Just then, Troy's back claws sank into his back leg. His claws ripped deep into his skin.

He released Troy and fell backward.

They both did, panting and limping in pain. His tiger eyes surveyed the enemy, examining the alpha’s stance and movements. Thunder shook the ground, and raindrops started to come down.

Troy glared at him. "You don't get it. These people. They aren't worth your time. Do you really think they are going to care about the outcome? Do you really think they will look up to you?"

He froze.

Troy cackled. "They have done nothing but deserve everything they have been given. They did this to themselves."

He blinked.

He thought of his mother. He thought about how hard it was for them to find something and how he never understood why.

Had they deserved everything coming to them? Did Troy have a point?

"Benton! Look out!" Opal yelled into his head, and he turned, seeing Troy had taken the moment he was thinking to advance on him. He'd rushed at him and slammed into him, pinning him to the ground. Lightning struck the ground, shaking everything.

His head ricocheted off the ground, and his mind boggled. Opal screamed, and he tasted blood on his tongue.

"Say goodbye to your little bitch." He could hear Troy's voice in his head, and he tilted his head slightly.

Reba had Opal pinned, and her claws were sinking into Opal's neck, cutting off her airway. Opal looked afraid and defeated. She was gasping for air, panicking. Rain was pouring down, soaking everyone and everything around them.

That wasn't how this was supposed to go. This isn't how it ends. The bad guys couldn't win. They didn't deserve to win.

"We warned you," Troy growled low, leaning his muzzle down toward his face. "And now you will pay with your life." He watched Troy open his jaws, ready to bite him.

He couldn't give up. He quickly moved, swinging his paws up and giving himself just an inch to move. It was all he needed.

He jerked up and out from underneath Troy's grasp. He threw himself against Troy's body, knocking them both to the ground.

And he pinned him. He bit hard around his neck, and he felt a crunch.

He allowed his anger to fuel him.

He bit harder.

This was for all the people that Troy had wronged. All the people before him and the people that suffered. This was for Opal and the pain she carried.

Troy howled in pain, and Benton twisted his neck until he felt the snap.

Troy went still, and Benton dropped him, looking over toward where Reba stood with Opal. Reba's eyes were wide as she saw what had happened.

And Opal moved from underneath her. She yanked herself free and quickly pinned Reba. Reba clawed at her, but Opal was faster. She grabbed her neck with her jaws and twisted. It wasn't clean, and Reba roared in pain.

He watched as Opal twisted and clawed harder at her, finally snapping Reba's neck. She fell still onto the ground.

The thunder rumbled above, and lightning filled the air once more. He watched as Opal shifted, and she dropped to her knees. She started to sob.

He hurried to her, shifting himself. He pulled her into his arms as she cried. He knew she cried for whatever was said while she was fighting.

He could feel her pain and kissed her forehead.

"She hurt them," Opal whispered into his ear, holding onto him tightly. "She loved to hurt them. She said it was like a fun afternoon game.

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