Page 58 of Queen of Wrath

When the hell did he get so big?!

Diesel stood at least eight feet tall, and had more muscles rippling through his clothes than ever before. “It's time this city remembers who really owns them.”

He must have taken something, I deduced. But what potion does that to a shifter's body?

The only thing I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears as I watched him reach into his bag and pull a potion bottle from it.

Instead of drinking it, he chucked it away from him. I watched on, unable to stop any of it, as the vial hit a building, exploding like a bomb.

The building began to creak, right before it crumbled over completely, demolishing another home along with it.

That’s it. I won’t let him destroy anything else ever again!

My skin tore open and my wolf pelt enveloped my entire body.

My teeth grew so sharp they could easily have sliced clean through my tongue if I wasn't careful.

My bones broke and elongated, creating my true form.

My hefty paws landed on the cold stone as I moved into my fighting stance.

“You want to fight me? Don't make me laugh.” Diesel shifted faster than I could register it. He got down on all fours and disappeared.

He’s fast. Another thing that unknown potion likely does for him…

But I wasn’t afraid of him anymore. Diesel had taken enough from me. I was ending things. Right here and now!

I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds around me.

The crackling fire and distant screams filled my ears, but just beyond that, was a ferocious heartbeat.

It was pounding uncontrollably… And it was coming at me from my left.

I opened my eyes and jumped back just in time to avoid Diesel’s strike.

Woah! That was too close!

He snarled, shaking his head and running his claws along the cobblestones, as if to say, “That was pure luck, little mouse.” Then he disappeared again.

I calmed myself and listened for his next move. I knew I couldn’t continue surviving off defensive strategies for much longer, though. I needed to be able to land a blow as well.

There! He's behind me!

I used my hind legs to jump into the air as he reappeared right under me. I extended my claws out and scratched a gash clean across the center of his face.

He growled like a rabid dog, his own blood cascading down his face. Some even got into his eyes, tinting them a sinister red. He disappeared again, but this time I didn't hear anything.

I looked around in a panic before feeling a sharp pain against my side.

Before I could register what had happened, my body was rolling over the rough and debris-covered street, only coming to a stop when I slammed into the side of a burning building.

The pain in my body begged me to give up, to just stay down and admit defeat. It was agonizingly persuasive, but I managed to bring myself to my feet. As hunched over and off balance as I was, I was able to make myself look up to see Diesel approaching me slowly.

He knew I wasn't capable of dodging another one of his attacks in the state I was in.

He smiled as he bared his teeth at me.

My vision became blurry, and I glanced down at my aching side to see that there was a huge hole right under my ribs.

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