Under The Alpha's Claws

Chapter 8

For a moment, I wonder if I missed his reply over my deafening heartbeat. I soon realise he hasn't replied yet. It's the first time I've rendered him speechless. It gives me a boost of confidence, which I won't let go to waste.

Finally, he says, "I won't fight you."

"Then you won't hurt him anymore and you'll leave."

"You'll come with me," he orders.

"No, I won't," I say, using the dwindling confidence.

"You will."

"You'll leave or fight." I put all the confidence I have left into my words, determined to make him realise there's no other choice, and hoping he chooses to leave.

"Fine," he says. "Shift."

His orders take time to process in my head. Trembles begin to rack my body. I can't back down now. There's no turning back.

"I'll wait for you to shift," he tells me. "Do it now."

He keeps his promise. While I shift, he waits off to the side. However, as soon as I'm done, before I get get balanced on my feet, he jumps at me.

With no time to react, his teeth sink into my throat and we roll backwards. I'm unable to bite him, so all I can do is kick. I kick with all four legs. I kick until I make contact, and I lift him up and throw him over my head to land on the ground.

We jump to our feet at the same time, and pounce on each other without any hesitation. Both of us go up on our back legs; attacking with our front legs, and snapping and biting at the same time.

My claw strikes him across the face, but that creates an opening for him to get at my throat. I writhe beneath him until I'm free. After he's off, I realise I'm on my back with him on top of me, but I get up and we don't wait to go again. Snapping. Biting. Scratching. Ripping. Pushing and jumping. Everything is teeth, claws, and blood. Clumps of fur fill my mouth. Sharp tugs let me know of the tufts he rips out.

I pin him down. He kicks me off. I bite his leg. He sinks his teeth into my shoulder. Blood trails through the fur on my neck. I spill blood from his chest. We roll around in the dirt and grass. He lands on top of me, and snaps at my face. Snapping back, keeps him back but doesn't protect me from his razor sharp fangs. I push him off.

We get up, separating, allowing me to catch my breath. He rushes towards me. My attempt to evade him fails, and his powerful jaws clamp down on my side. I drown out his snarls with a yelp. I manage to shake him off, leaving behind a piece of my flesh in his mouth.

He follows me as I roll across the ground until I get to my feet. I'm no match for him with his speed. Our bodies collide. I'm knocked back. Dirt clings to the blood covering my fur.

Pain erupts in my throat. I can't breath. My vision goes black. A white hot burn radiates through my throat, from the front to the back. He bites down hard, feeling as though he's about to bite through the bone and everything.

My legs gives out and I crumble to the floor. His fangs dig in. I'm yanked up, my entire body leaving the ground. He swings me up and over, throwing me down on his other side. As soon as I hit the ground, I leave it again. Flying through the air, blood spilling into Cassian's mouth. Thump. I hit again. Up. Down. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Each swing up brings my vision back. A swirling pattern of colours and light. Nothing makes sense. But with each blow, everything falls into the nothingness.

Only when I give up and let my body go limp does he let go, flinging me through the air to hit the side of the house. Blinking open my eyes, I see him staring at me; panting, baring his teeth, blood dripping from his jaw, unmoving.

I stay still; breathing ragged, harsh breaths. "Kill me," I plead with him. "End it fast."

"No," Luca struggles to say.

Cassian snaps and jumps at Luca. "Shut up!" he snarls.

"Please," I beg.

"Not yet," Cassian says, taking one last look at me. "I want you to watch this first." He stalks towards Luca.

"No," I cry. "Kill me. Leave him."

Cassian doesn't stop.

"I'm the one that left. Luca stayed loyal until I changed his mind. It's my fault. Kill me."

Cassian ignores me.

Luca—with his back towards us—doesn't move. He's barely breathing. He can't fight. Cassian knows it. That's why he's taking his time.

Immense pain holds me down. But I have to do something, I think to myself. I won't let him kill Luca.