Page 73 of Never Submit

My wolf will do whatever it takes to make sure she’s okay.

She’s screaming as they reach for her, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her down to the sidewalk. The second she hits, the moment I hear the thud of her hip against the asphalt, I burst into motion.

Half changed, I head for the man towering over Carrigan and swipe at him, slicing my claws across his bicep.

“Leave her alone!”

It’s tough to speak with a mouthful of teeth.

My claws slice through his jacket and reach skin but not deep enough to draw blood. Before I can attack again, the second man grabs me by the neck and hauls me off my feet.

His breath is hot against my ear. “Andras has been looking for you. After the little stunt you pulled in the woods, he’s eager to?—”

I drive my knee into his groin.

No matter what, protecting my friend takes precedence. And whatever happened to Flora…well, it’s up to me to make sure these assholes don’t get any farther than this alley.

We’re blocked off from the street by the angle of the buildings. There is nothing but the stinking garbage container to the left and a sewer grate belching hot stale steam to the right. Rudy’s car must be parked somewhere beyond, but he’s nowhere around.

There’s only me.

My attacker doubled over with my knee to his groin, so before he can right himself, I bring my knee up again into his chin. Hard. The man lets out a yelp of pained surprise. I leap away, landing surprisingly light on my feet.

The second man abandons Carrigan and reaches for me, slipping his fingers up into my hair and wrenching my head backwards.

I stomp down on his foot.

It’s a human move. Rather than fighting like a wolf, I’m going classic self-defense, which he clearly doesn’t expect, especially not when I’m half shifted.

His grip loosens and gives me enough room to swivel around and drive the butt of my palm up toward his nose. I make contact and blood spurts. But the second man is still on his feet. He grabs my arms and whips me toward him.

“You little bitch,” he snarls.

Then he bites my forearm, his teeth sinking through fur and skin and muscle.

I let out a shriek.Motherfucker!That hurts. I drop to my knees and roll myself out of the way before either of them can grab me again. I jerk upright then crouch in front of them.

The first man swipes his hand underneath the nose dripping blood. Rather than being pissed at the sight of the blood, it seems to bolster him, his chest swelling.

He sneers. “Your beta protector isn’t here to save you now. It’s just us. And you’re not going to be able to fight much longer.”

Somehow I know exactly which beta he means. “It doesn’t matter whether Dax is here or not.” My mouth is too crowded with teeth, my lips stretched tightly over my canines. My jaw hasn’t shifted yet and every word is agonizing. “I’ll take you down myself.”

“Big words from a second-rate bitch like you.”

“Don’t forget,” the second wolf warns. “Andras wants her alive.”

The one staring me down is oddly familiar but I can’t place him. All I know is that his blond hair is pissing me off and I’m ready to gut him.

“We can rough her up a bit,” the first says. “Show her what it means to be arealwolf.”

“Ren, watch out!” Carrigan calls out just as the two men move at the same time. They attack with their claws,swiping low to cut me off at the knees. Or sever my Achilles tendons, whatever they can reach first.

But I’m not fresh out of a cage in a mountain hideaway. I’ve had sleep, I’ve had food. I’ve had sex.

Which means I’m in a much better place to hold my own.

The dark-haired one lands a hit against my hip and I hiss, the ache deep in my muscles. They come for me again and again, both of them much larger and stronger than I am. They’re working for a monster. I’m fighting for the people I love and I’m out of options.

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