Page 35 of Ruthless Alpha Beast

I hear the shadow monster scream as it flies higher into the air. The other two are lower, circling both Dylan and me.

I turn to him and growl, baring my teeth wide. I can see from the look in his wolf eyes that he knows what I’m telling him to do.

He doesn’t hesitate anymore.

Suddenly, he lunges, disappearing into the woods to join the others.

I’m alone. Three shadow monsters are circling me, and from the distance I can see more coming. I have to hold them here long enough for the rest of my pack to get home.

Teasing them, I lurch to the side before jumping up behind the two monsters and sinking my jaws into their shadowy necks.

One screams, the other lunges at me mid-air, but I dodge him, ducking away inches from his jaws before landing back down onto the floor.

I grin. I’m playing with them now.

I’m about to make for the monster higher up when suddenly, I feel sharp claws sinking into my back.

A thrashing pain digs in through my skin.

I use my hind legs to kick behind, then turn mid-air, crouching before them as I snarl. More are coming. I’m outnumbered.

But I need to hold out a little longer.

One whacks into my side; another clasps its claws around my neck.

All I need to do is make it out of this alive.

I manage to slip out of their grasps just moments before one was headed straight for my jugular.

Once free, I run in the opposite direction first, then make a loop behind the trees and zigzag back home.

It was close. Worryingly close.

ButI’m alive.

Now steps away from my pack’s border, I shift back into my human form. It’s always worse in my human form.

A shooting pain fires down my back. I try stepping on my right foot, but any weight feels like bone-crunching pain. So, I hobble.

Slowly, I limp my way toward the border.

Two guards are there to greet me, and one, a younger guy, comes racing in my direction.

“Alpha, thank God, what do you need? You look…”

I raise my hand. “I’m fine.”

The other guard, older, having been in this position for a while, calls the young guy’s name.

“Did everyone get back okay?”

“Yes,” he says, stoically, his face as unmovable as rock.

“Dylan’s not injured?”

“Dylan is fine.”

I nod. The younger guard understands, and he walks back into his place.