Page 22 of Under Dark Skies

“Oh I think I’m in the exact right place.” The wolf finally got off of the wall, then placed his hands in his pockets. “Risking your hide for a human, now that’s a new level of fucked up.”

The wolf spoke to him, eyes bright and hungry.

“Let’s get this shit over with.”

The wolf threw his head back and laughed. It was a cackle that made the few humans who walked by look back in confusion.

“You have no idea what you’re really getting into. Say goodbye to your woman, dog.”

Before Rafe could compute what was being said he was attacked from behind by two more wolves of unknown origin. One grabbed him by the collar and threw him backward. He felt his fingers scrap across the ground.

The humans around started screaming. The other two wolves were taller and exposed their fur with zero hesitation. He was going to have to face three powerful wolves, and now he had Layla to worry about. He raised himself up in a swift jump, curled his fingers, and allowed his jaw to twist open in a semi-wolf form.

There was no point in keeping the animal hidden now.

He leapt forward at the two new-comers. He was able to land a good plunge on the one that threw him backward, sinking his teeth deep into his throat. He used his fingernails to rip at his skin, making sure the job was done quickly and violently. The wolf screamed through the blood and was abruptly silent as Rafe shred his vocal cords. Rafe stood up, feeling wet from the blood.

He was exhausted, but his goal was to frighten the other two wolves to mask his own fear. He was older, but could still fight like his depended on it.

And in that moment, his life did depend on it.

“Quick son of the bitch!” The original wolf leapt over his friends dead body and grabbed hold of Rafe’s skull. He could easily crush it into dust if he wanted to. Rafe gripped the strong wolf’s forearms, trying to dig his nails in as deep as he could. The wolf barred his teeth, glistening and dangerous.

Rafe lifted his free legs and managed to drop-kick the wolf in the gut. He bent over clutching himself, which allowed Rafe the chance at a deep uppercut. He landed it fast, sending the wolf backward in a flourish of red.

The other remaining wolf seemed younger, more emotional. Rafe took advantage of that as he felt him coming up behind him to grab him by the throat. He stopped his hands with his own, then backflipped over the wolf while still holding his wrists. They cracked like ice in deep winter.

“FUCK!” The wolf screamed. Rafe had planted himself in a crouching stance, waiting for the next stroke. He hadn’t realized that the street he was on had erupted in chaos around them. Cars drove wildly, humans ran frantically through the road.

But Rafe still had to deal at least with this strong wolf. His will was intense, and Rafe knew he wasn’t going to stop until he finished the job. He was entirely malevolent, and void of any empathy for both shifters and humans alike.

The wolf wiped blood from his lips. He grinned widely with red drips blotting his teeth.

“You’re really going to get yourself killed for a woman? A human woman?”

Rafe ran at the wolf, but the wolf managed to dodge him. He took Rafe in a headlock, once again threatening to squeeze the life out of him.

Rafe could feel the air leaving his lungs. His instinct was to breathe harder, when he know that he should really be trying to slow it down. But he was scared, and thinking about Layla made him even more unable to slow his breathing.

“This is where it ends dog. I don’t think anyone is going to miss you.”

In a last ditch effort, Rafe grabbed both the legs of the wolf and lifted him up, then allowed him to fall backwards onto the concrete. As they both lay there for a second, Rafe took the opportunity to jump on top of him with his knee at his throat.

The other wolf had run off, coping with his newly broken wrists.

“Who are you? Who do you work for?”

The wolf was laughing maniacally, blood pouring out of his mouth and over the sides of his face.

“You…you have no idea…”

“TELL ME NOW!” Rafe pressed his knee hard into the wolf’s throat. He coughed blood that almost sprayed over Rafe’s face.

“You’re too late. You’re never going to find your woman now.”

Rafe’s heart sank. He looked up and realized that the cab had driven far beyond his senses at that point. Fury ran through him. He pushed his knee down harder on the wolf.

“Where did thy take her? You tell me now so you can die with a single shred of decency!”

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