78

The first wolf that I had taken down, the one I thought I’d killed, barreled into me, still dripping blood from its wounded neck. It slammed me into the wall, breaking ribs. I wheezed out in pain, landing hard on the ground.

The bleeding feral turned toward Bryn, growling. She again threw her body over Vince’s. Why don’t you run? I thought desperately. Get out of here, Bryn!

The wolf neared her, eager to taste her blood, Vince’s wolf tried to snarl, but he was too weak to effectively protect her. She screamed, kicking the wolf’s snout as it got too close. It bared its teeth at her, and I knew it was about to strike.

With a surge of wrathful energy, I hauled myself to my feet. Pushing through the pain in my ribs, I shot across the distance that separated me from Bryn. I tackled the wolf to the ground, ignoring its snapping fangs. I bit into the wolf’s neck again, and this time, I ripped its throat out. Blood sprayed across the cave wall in an arch. His carotid artery spurt, spurt, spur