Page 76 of Wolf Crowned

I screamed, jabbing at him with my free hand and catching him right in the face.

He blinked surprised. Hatred quickly replaced the surprise. Red tinged his cheeks. He bared his teeth.

His hand whipped up so fast, striking me across the face I didn’t even have time to react until heat was blossoming over my face.

Alpha Dane’s other hand went to my throat. He curled his fingers around it and shoved me backward, ramming me into the side of the compound. “You stupid little bitch.”

I squeaked as I scrambled for my footing. I chopped at his arms with my hands. He was unphased. His grip grew tighter.

Think! You’ve been training. Lincoln taught you this.

Alpha Dane shoved his face in mine. “Remember when I kill the pack in front of you, I gave you the chance for peace. There blood will be on your hands.”

His fingers dug in to my flesh harder. I gasped unable to fill my lungs. My chest screamed in protest.

Fight back, Sloane!

He lifted me up, my toes dragging across the ground. My vision darkened.

I scratched at his arms. They didn’t budge.

It doesn’t end like this. It can’t. Fight!

The face. I’d never break his grip, but his face was so close.

I hissed, wiggling one hand free from between his arms. I shifted it and pawed him across the face with my nails outstretched.

He howled in pain, dropping me to the ground. I curled my fingers and hit him with the heel of my palm in the nose.

He stumbled back. I wound up to kick, sending my foot flying with everything I had. His reflexes were lightening fast. He caught my ankle and tugged.

I flailed but couldn’t catch myself. My back hit the siding of the compound. I scrambled for purchase but lost and went tumbling to the ground.

Alpha Dane loomed over me. “You have fire. It’s a shame. We could have built something great.”

He kicked me in the gut, sending the air whooshing out of my lungs. Darkness clouded my vision.

He stooped down next to me, his hand on my throat again, squeezing. His other hand lifted, ready to deliver a deafening blow.

Twenty-Seven

Sloane

Alpha Dane’s fist flew at my face. I lifted my arm, deflecting it. His knuckles dug into my forearm, driving it into my face and squishing my nose. Still not as bad as if he’d punched me.

Panic gripped hold of me like a vise. I writhed, doing everything I could to break free.

Don’t stop fighting. Keep moving. Do something.

I grunted. This wasn’t like being challenged for the alpha position. There were no rules. I flexed my paw, extending my nails.

His grip on my neck grew tighter, squeezing like he might snap my head off. That might be his intent.

Well, I had news for him; I wasn’t going down without one hell of a fight.

I let out a strangled scream as I raked my nails down his chest.

I lifted my left leg, opening my hip so I could put the bottom of my foot on his hip and shoved him away.

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