16
NESS
The ground rushed up to meet me. It greeted me with stinging pain as I slid across the concrete. Hot breath hit my face before I could move. The wolf growled, low and menacingly. I froze and waited for the blow.
It never came. Ryder grabbed the wolf by the back of its neck before it could bite me. I blinked as the familiar wolf form went flying across the street. Ryder snarled at the first wolf until a second one leapt onto his back.
Marcus and Jackson had returned. The hunt was only a day away. I didn’t know why they wanted to attack me now. I’d thought that everyone would save their torture for the night of the hunt.
Ryder went down to one knee when Jackson bit into the dragon shifter’s shoulder. Ryder reached back and grabbed Jackson by the scruff of his neck. I looked up with the hope that someone in Lakesedge would see what was going down. Someone had to come help us, right?
Right?
The houses were surprisingly dark, even though supernaturals stayed up late. It seemed as though everyone else was turning a blind eye.
Well, fuck them, I thought.
I lurched to my feet and let my hound come forward for the second time tonight. Shifting again would drain me of the last of my energy, but I wasn’t going to let these two hurt Ryder. I watched the fight as my form changed. As soon as Ryder threw off one wolf, another leapt for him. They took turns biting and tearing at the man.
I hit the ground running and rammed into Marcus’s side. He tumbled across the ground. Jackson snapped at me, but Ryder grabbed ahold of him before the wolf’s teeth made contact. Ryder tossed Jackson into his brother. The two struggled to get back to their feet.
As Ryder stood, I spared a quick glance at him. Blood ran down the front of his ragged shirt. His lip curled as he stared the two wolves down. The brothers recovered and prowled in opposite directions. I kept an eye on Jackson while Ryder watched Marcus.
Though I wasn’t as strong as the wolves in my pack, Ryder more than made up for it as a dragon shifter. Here, Ryder didn’t have to hide his strength. No one outside of Lakesedge would notice if he shifted. And, if he happened to wake up the entire neighborhood, then I wouldn’t feel bad.
But his breathing became labored. I tore my attention from Jackson to check on Ryder. His skin had paled. Even in the dark, I could see the layer of sweat beading on his forehead. Something wasn’t right. Ryder should have been stronger.
Two wolves couldn’t take down a dragon.
Not without help.
In that moment, I watched Jackson spit something out. He rubbed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and heaved, gagging. A small bag steamed on the ground. Revulsed, I stared in disgust. The side of the bag had been ripped open.
My stomach plummeted. I threw my head back and released a howl for help. I hated involving my friends, but I prayed that they heard me. Cerri would be able to identify the poison. She had to. I didn’t know what I would do if she couldn’t help Ryder.
Already, he leaned against me. His back heaved. I prowled around him like a shark. Any moment now, the brothers would strike. I didn’t know if Ryder’s reflexes would help him. I could take one, but the other brother would get past me.
The sky rumbled with the familiar storm that followed me everywhere. If my friends hadn’t heard my howl, they would hear the storm. We weren’t far from Cerri’s apartment. Until then, I tried to pull lightning from the brewing clouds.
Electricity rippled down my back. It made my fur stand on end. The brothers paused and shared a look. When nothing happened, they attacked. I leapt for Jackson’s throat. He dodged my bite. His claws scratched across the concrete as he slid and changed direction. I faltered and struggled to get my feet under me again.
The air grew thick. The smell of ozone crept in. I could feel the electricity bouncing between every hair follicle along my back. Before I could focus it, Ryder cried out. He grunted and collapsed under Marcus’s attack.
Blood spilled across the ground. My heart jumped into my throat. I rushed forward, but Jackson pinned me down. My muzzle hit the ground and made my teeth clatter.
“We’re not playing this game tonight, boys.” Vi’s voice drifted down the street.
My breath rushed out of me as relief overcame me. Light flickered in Vi’s direction. My eyes widened. Jackson yelped and leapt off me. The smell of burnt fur assaulted my senses and made me sneeze.
Leave it to Vi to set people on fire.
I stood as Vi launched another bolt of fire at the wolf brothers. She could ward them off with her flames. Meanwhile, I had to return to my human form. I pushed, trying to break through hound. She wasn’t ready to let go. There were too many packmates in trouble. They needed her help.
These people weren’t all pack, though. I didn’t understand what the hound was trying to say. Vi was my friend, and Ryder certainly wasn’t pack. Still, the hound saw them that way all the same.
She wasn’t going to leave them unprotected. She needed claws and teeth to fight off the wolves hurting her family. I gave in because there was no fighting her now. Thankfully, Cerri and Addie rushed past me.
Together, they helped Ryder up from the ground while Vi pushed back the wolf brothers. I prowled around Vi’s legs while she laughed. When that laughter started to echo strangely, I nipped her in the calf. She startled and turned a snarl to me.