Page 9 of Wolves in Love

Misti had killed one of the Wild Shades by now,and luck was for once on their side since no others had joined the battle. Anders rushed over to her side as swiftly as his injured leg would allow, which, admittedly, wasn’t all that swift at all. Together, they killed the wolf and were showered with blood from the torn throat.

You’re hurt, Misti howled softly.

No worse than you are. It pained him to see just how badly wounded she was. Neither of them would be able to hang on for much longer.

But she was talking to him. Progress. Maybe if he could just explain everything that had happened…

A sharp blow to the back of his head had his vision turning black. It lasted only a second, at least he thought it was only for a short amount of time since Misti had hardly moved when his vision returned. His head ached, and his stomach was churning. Possible concussion.

He twisted around to see his father. A monster of a wolf, he almost didn’t look real.

Are you prepared to die?

Even his father’s howl sounded unnatural.

Not today. He twisted around to stare at Misti. You stay out of this. The last thing he ever wanted to happen was for his father to slay Misti. That alone would kill him.

Anders bared his fangs and prepared for the fight of his very existence.

7

Misti had never seen such a large werewolf before. There was no doubt he was alpha. Anders’s father. No wonder he wanted her to stay out of the battle.

But how could she possibly allow that to happen? Anders had been fighting battles for hours now, days now, while his father appeared to be in prime condition. He’d slaughter Anders like nothing in no time.

But more werewolves were coming around, and she twisted around to face them. Her back was bleeding yet, and all she wanted to do was sleep. I’d never wake up.

Fortunately, the nearest wolves were just encircling her, Anders, and his father. She was not close enough to affect the two warriors as they circled each other, watching, waiting.

When the alpha had his back to her, she started toward him. If she could jump high enough onto his back, or even just onto his hind to provide a distraction for Anders…

One step was all she took before her tail was pounded on. She looked behind her to see four wolves advancing toward her. All Shadowed Stars. All of the surrounding wolves were probably Shadowed Stars, wanting to witness the battle between their alpha and their former heir.

If her father wished to do the same with her…

She should be the one to fight him. If Anders, by some miracle, was able to best his father, and if she could do likewise with her father, the battle at least would be over.

But the chances of either of them surviving or winning that fight was next to impossible. Maybe if Anders wasn’t already nursing wounds, but even at her fighting best, she would be bested by her father seven times out of ten. Her only chance would be to use her speed, to have him wear himself out before even attempting to go in for the kill.

I won’t interfere, she howled to the werewolves.

They still surrounded her and brought her back to the circle around the two fighters. One stood in front of her. At least that wolf was shorter than her so she could see everything.

The alpha snapped at Anders, moving far faster than a wolf of his size should be able to. Anders jumped out of the way and backpedaled.

He’s going to have to be patient.

The wolves around her began to howl, cheering on their alpha, calling out derogatory names toward Anders. As much as she was still furious with him for killing Talon—even if her husband had done something that deserved death, which she wasn’t sure if she believed, Anders shouldn’t have taken it upon himself to kill him without talking to her and Kastner first—she didn’t want to witness his slaughter.

His father was pressing the assault, nipping and slashing, forcing Anders to retreat all the more. Anders was trying to circle as he backpedaled, but he soon backed right into the surrounding wolves. They swatted at him, giving him new cuts before he could free himself.

Dirty, vicious, fiends. How she hated all Shadowed Stars.

The fight continued, much the same, with the alpha having the lead, the only one to land blows, and if Anders should go too near the outer wolves, they would take their shots at him.

When that happened here, with Anders backing into the wolf in front of her, Misti couldn’t abide that the scent of Anders’s blood was assaulting her nose. She snapped at the wolf to her right and jumped on top of the wolf in front of her as that wolf’s fangs connected with Anders’s tail.

The howls became deafening. Wolves from every direction descended on her and Anders. So many fangs and claws. She attacked blindly, slashing and biting. Blood and fur filled her mouth. Still, she fought on, struggling to breathe, struggling to slash one more time, to bite one more time, to fight for another second. Every swipe of her arm at a foe was met with resistance as others swiped back.

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