Page 44 of A Blackened Bond

He stretches his arms out to each side, his eyes closing for a brief second as his lips part. “I heard the effects were great, and that’s why everyone wanted them, but this…” A dark grin laces Dean’s lips as he takes off his academy blazer, throwing it to the forest floor as his body begins to tremble and shake. “Feels even better than I thought it would.”

His eyes glow a dim gold as his fangs descend, fur sprouting down his arms as his bones crack and reshape.

The bastard was shifting.

Leon’s eyes flash a paler silver, thicker fangs descending from his lips as he watches me and Dean. His hand raises to show off five larger and thicker blade-like claws growing from his fingertips.

“I’ll not waste a shift on dirt like you. Dean will be more than enough.” He flicks his gaze toward the now fully-formed brown wolf standing just feet from me.

It’s double the size of a normal wolf, its eyes glinting as a tremor or shake continues to work its way through him. Saliva drips from its bared teeth as a low growl falls from its lips. It takes a step toward me, prowling closer as a shrill cackle leaves Leon’s lips.

“He looks hungry.”

Dean’s wolf’s gold eyes meet mine, his lips parting on a feral growl as he takes one step forward before lunging toward me.

My eyes catch on Gadriel’s gift to my side, my body diving toward the forest floor to retrieve it.

Dean’s wolf snaps toward me, its teeth snarling as it tries to rip into me. Pulling the blade from the ground, I twist around and slash it out toward the still-snapping teeth of Dean’s wolf.

A pained howl rips from the wolf’s mouth as it shuffles backward, blood gushing from its hairy brown fur, and the wound now slashed across its face.

“Bitch!” Barks Leon, coming from behind me with his claws ready to attack. But I won’t fall for the same trick twice.

I twist the blade around just as his claws reach me and slice them clean off.

He screams, an unholy sound pouring from his lips as he clutches his hand, blood squirting from the sliced limb.

I place a hand over my ears, the sound becoming unbearable.

I dart toward him, twirling the blade to its hilt as I smash it into the back of his neck. His eyes lull to the back of his head as he falls to the ground unconscious.I couldn’t bear that noise for another moment.

I whip back around toward Dean’s wolf, who’s still stumbling back and forth in the area, his face gushing blood and eyes slashed open as whimpers continue to fall from his hairy maw.

“I told Cole last time that you shouldn’t fuck with me again…I guess he didn’t relay the message properly.” I flip the blade between my fingers. “You’ll be so broken and bruised, you’ll have to crawl back…those were your words last time.” I take a step closer as the wolf continues to whine.

“And I promised to return all the pleasantries I’ve received…” I grip the blade as I narrow my gaze. “And I’m a woman of my word.

I take another step forward as Dean’s whimpering wolf collapses to the ground.

I halt my steps, a brow raising as I wait and watch the unconscious wolf on the forest floor.

Was this a feint or some fake fall to get me to drop my guard so he could attack?

Or had he fainted from the blood I now see pooling around him?

I tighten the grip on my blade as I make my way closer, prodding the wolf’s body with my foot before checking it properly.

He was out. Completely unconscious.

Probably from the gaping wound I’d inflicted on his face and the lack of blood in his system that was still flowing from it.

I bend down, glancing between the two unconscious bodies.

What do I do now? Should I finish them off or leave them here so the animals or beasts in the forest could do that job for me?

Before I can make a decision, the sound of rustling leaves and footsteps heading this way has me pulling myself straight and putting my blade away.

It could be one of the faculty members making their patrols, and I didn’t need to be caught with a bloody blade at the scene of the crime.

---