Page 53 of The Fated Hunter Wolf

She laughed, pressing the blade deeper. A thin line of blood appeared. “Such spirit. I do hope you maintain it.”

Her eyes were widening and her pupils dilating, as if the pull of wolf blood was too much to overcome.

That was when I moved.

The first vampire never knew what hit him. I silently climbed a tree and dropped from the canopy above, silver magic wrapped around my fists as I drove them into his spine. Bone cracked. He crumpled without a sound.

The other two spun toward me, fangs extending, but I was already rolling behind the cover of brambles.

“Another wolf,” the male said, circling my position. “Lost, are we, little pup?”

I stayed low, calculating angles. They would be fast, but they were arrogant. Confident in their remote location and having me outnumbered.

“She moves strangely,” the female observed, blade still poised at Rhys’s throat. “Too controlled for wolf panic.”

I stepped into the moonlight, letting them see me clearly. Silver magic danced around my fingers, but I kept it contained.

“Let him go,” I said quietly. “Walk away. Live another century.”

The female vampire studied me with sudden interest. Her nostrils flared as she caught my scent, and recognition dawned across her features.

“Fascinating,” she breathed. “You smell familiar, little wolf.” She took a step closer, leaving Rhys for the moment. “Those eyes. That bone structure.” Her smile turned predatory. “You have his look about you. A look we know well.”

Ice spread through my veins.No. Not here.

The male vampire was staring at me too, head cocked in consideration. “She does, doesn’t she? Something about the way she carries herself…” His eyes narrowed. “Another one of his bastards, perhaps?”

These bottom-feeders recognizing the bloodline I’d spent decades hiding meant others would too. Others who mattered far more than they did.

“Who gives a fuck about my lineage?” I said, voice steady despite the panic clawing at my chest. “What matters is that you’re about to expire.”

The female vampire laughed. “Oh, little half-breed. You think?—”

I exploded into motion.

Silver magic erupted from my hands as I launched myself at her, moving faster than any pure wolf could dream of. She tried to dodge, but I was already close, fingers closing around her throat.

The silver burned her where I touched her, flesh sizzling against undead skin. She screamed and raked her claws across my arms. I held on and squeezed harder.

The male vampire hit me from behind, sending us both crashing through undergrowth. I rolled with the impact, came up swinging. We traded blows in a deadly dance, each strike calculated to maim or kill.

His fist connected with my ribs. My elbow found his solar plexus. He grabbed for my throat; I broke his wrist.

I glanced behind us to find the female was getting to her feet, silver burns healing slowly on her neck. She approached more carefully, wary of the power I’d shown.

“The Headmaster always did breed strong children,” she called out. “Pity most of them turned out so disappointing.”

Rage flared white-hot in my chest. I spun and drove my fist through the male vampire’s chest before he could react. His eyes went wide as my fingers closed around his heart. Black blood poured from his mouth as I ripped the organ free, silver magic ensuring it would never regenerate.

He crumbled to ash.

The female vampire stared at the dust pile, then back at me with something approaching respect.

"Perhaps we should discuss?—"

"No discussion." I was already moving, silver magic wrapping around her before she could turn to run. This time, when I grabbed her throat, I didn't hesitate.

She clawed at my arm, eyes wild with panic, but my magic held her immobile. I drove my other hand through her ribcage—felt bone crack and splinter beneath my fingers—and closed my fist around her heart. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. Just a wet, choking gasp.