Page 14 of Spike

Clive followed suit, their large wolf forms snarling and aggressive. Coming at your enemies when their backs were turned didn't seem honorable, but these wolves were proving to be sneaky bastards.

It sort of justified why I had every reason to think Jack was shady and suspect.

In the midst of the chaos, Nitro's instincts kicked in, and he shoved Spike aside just in the nick of time to intercept Jack's charging form.

The impact was brutal, claws and fur colliding in a frenzy of violence. Nitro got shredded in the process, the metallic scent of blood filling the air.

"Spike!" I yelled, my heart pounding as anger surged through me.

Spike, fueled by fury, shifted into his massive grizzly form, roaring with a power that shook the remaining patrons.

The bar quickly cleared out, leaving only the combatants behind. Growling, Spike lunged at Jack, the two shifters colliding in a clash of strength.

Meanwhile, Nitro struggled to hold his ground against Clive, both of them locked in a fierce and brutal struggle.

My instincts urged me to join the fight, but I hesitated, because I knew I’d only get in the way.

It soon became clear the grizzly shifters didn’t need my assistance. Nitro, still in his human form, displayed surprising agility.

He swiftly incapacitated Clive with a powerful blow that left him unconscious on the floor.

Spike was also a force to be reckoned with. He had tackled Jack to the ground, his massive grizzly form dominating the wolf.

With teeth bared, Spike pressed them against Jack's throat, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

As the intensity of the brawl reached its peak, the distant sound of approaching cars caught my attention.

Were reinforcements arriving and whose side were they on? I couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and anxiety. What was going to happen next?

Nitro, catching his breath, said, "Spike, if you kill him, Venom would have our heads."

Spike, still poised over Jack, hesitated at the mention of Venom. Spike wavered, but the murderous expression in his eyes hadn’t disappeared completely.

Outside, footsteps signaled the arrival of more visitors. Bear shifters! My hope that they were allies quickly dwindled as the unmistakable aggression radiated from their auras.

"Who the hell are you folks?" Nitro demanded, a hint of defiance in his voice.

The newcomers didn't seem to be on friendly terms with Spike or Nitro. The fear I had been trying to suppress gripped me tighter.

A man in his fifties, with hawk-like features and a shotgun in hand, stepped forward.

His expression was stern, and the armed bears surrounding him didn't offer any reassurance. The sight of the guns heightened my anxiety.

As the newcomers with their loaded weapons drew closer, a chilling thought crept into my mind — were those weapons loaded with deadly silver bullets?

Dread clawed at my belly. I couldn't shake off the oppressive feeling that everything had spiraled out of control too quickly.

My heart pounded, matching the rhythm of fear coursing through my veins.

If my rash actions led to the deaths of my newfound allies, I would never forgive myself.

A morose realization struck me — if I were dead, at least I wouldn't have to bear the guilt of my actions. But that was a useless thought.

I wanted everyone to live, to come out of this alive—well, everyone save Jack and Clive. I still didn’t understand Jack’s reason for chasing me down.

"Hold on a damn second. Don't shoot; I don't even know what's going on," Nitro interrupted.

At that moment, I was glad at least someone here was cool under pressure.

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