game
time.
Harper
relinquished control and Wolf immediately began shifting. The pack magic
gathered around to guide her through the change. She landed on all fours within
seconds, but Miranda was still changing. Her face had elongated into a snout,
and her bones were slowly reforming. The human side of Harper would have waited
until she was completely done with the change, but her wolf side wasn’t a fair
fighter.
She
leapt on Miranda, dragging her to the floor. Wolf’s russet-colored paws pinned
her down as she dove for Miranda’s throat. She rolled out from under Harper,
finally fully changed. Her fur was as silky black as her hair. Wolf brought her
head down and growled warningly. Miranda answered with a snarl.
Wolf’s
thoughts were at the forefront of her mind, leaving Harper’s human side dazed. Her
wolf was the perfect predator with her cunning and calculating mind. Each move
of Miranda’s was recorded with unemotional preciseness. Left. Right. Vulnerable
left hind leg. The wolves circled each other while waiting for a weakness. On
the third lap, Wolf lunged.
Before
Miranda could react, she had her right leg in a death clamp. Wolf knew that she
wasn’t the alpha’s mate for no good reason. Fate had created her to be one of
the best female fighters in order to survive the top position.
Miranda
snapped at Wolf’s side, catching the edge of her belly in her jaws. She ignored
the pain and shook her head violently, breaking Miranda’s leg.
Wolf
dropped it and leapt away to circle for the kill. Miranda stood, but her broken
leg could hold no weight. She was severely handicapped, leaving her a victim to
Wolf’s wishes.
Harper’s
human side could feel the exact moment when her wolf lost control. Wolf’s
thoughts had stopped being distantly calculated and had started being tinted
red with rage. Wolf lunged for Miranda’s throat, intent on ending her life, but
she was yanked backwards.
Immediately,
Wolf twirled on the intervening body and snapped in warning. Axel’s voice
sounded in her head. Enough, Harper.
But
she hadn’t had enough. She wanted more fighting, more blood. Wolf fought
against Axel’s restraining hands before finally breaking free.
Before
she could take a step, Axel said, “ Stop.”
Wolf
whined sharply as the pack magic made her freeze. Miranda was still waiting on
the floor while her leg oozed dark blood. Wolf snarled at her, and Miranda
growled back.
From
far away, she heard Gabby say, “Oh, you’ve gotta love pack drama.”
Axel’s
voice sounded in Wolf’s ear, “I’m taking you into the office.”
He gently
picked her up and carried her to the back door. Pack members parted to let him
through, and Wolf snapped at the few who were brave enough to venture close.
After
they reached the office, Axel sat her gently down on the floor. It was sparsely
furnished with only a desk, metal chair, and broken computer. She noted the
back door that let outside as Axel rummaged through the desk and emerged with a
change of clothing. Wolf shifted back and took the clothes. Wolf didn’t care
about being naked as a human, but Harper was internally cringing. Just as she
had tugged the hoodie over her head, the door opened.
Wolf
was still in control, and she growled threateningly at Conner’s presence. The
only person Wolf felt comfortable being around when injured was her mate.
“My
wife,” Conner said, looking distraught. “It was her. This whole time. I had no
idea.”
“What
did your wife do, Conner?” Axel asked quietly.
“She
was the murder. Oh God. She was the one,” he whispered.
Axel
sprang to his feet. “How did you find out?”
“During
the fight, I got a glimpse into her memories. She was killing. How did this
happen?” he moaned.
“Where
is she now? Is she aware you know?” Axel kneeled down so he could wrap Harper’s
wound while asking questions.
“Yes.
She’s running right now. I couldn’t catch her. I couldn’t be the one to do it.”
“I’ll
get
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