Under The Alpha's Claws

Chapter 9

With great difficulty, I pull myself up, using the side of the house to assist me. One deep breath later, and I push away from the house. I ignore the searing pain that courses through me, as fierce and cruel as it is. Before I can back down or collapse, I move forward, gaining speed.

He's not too far away, so he doesn't realise I'm behind him until I'm on top of him. Leaping into the air, I grab a hold of the fur and skin on the back of his neck with my mouth and drag him with me as I fly over him to land on the other side.

He lands on top of me, crushing my ribs, before rolling off. My injuries hold me down, allowing Cassian to jump up before I can.

His jaws chomp down on my stomach, forcing a yelp from me. When the shock wears off, I reach up with my mouth and bite the top of his front leg. I bite down as hard as I can. Putting all the power and strength I have into the bite. When it's still not enough to get him off me, I pull. Tugging down. Ripping. Seconds—or minutes—pass and just as I'm about to give up, it must become too much for him and lets go to let out a howling cry.

I keep my grip tight even when he jumps back to get away from me. I'm dragged along the ground until I can't hold anymore and I drop.

"Wait your turn," he growls, sauntering back towards Luca.

I drag myself up. With all my strength, I pounce, stretching out my claws to bury them into his back. My fangs plunge into the top of his back leg.

We both drop. This time, I land on top of him. He rolls. I hold on. He kicks me off. I jump back on top, lunging for his throat. With a swipe of his paw, I'm knocked to the side, falling off him.

While I sit up, he jumps to his feet. Without hesitation, he snaps his teeth around my throat. I swipe him away with my claws, and get up fast. He stands. With a gap between us, we begin to move in a slow circle, growling and snarling at each other. From the corner of my eye, I see Luca struggling and failing to get to his feet.

Cassian and I rush at each other. We both go up on our back legs. Our mouths snap back and forth, both of us trying to grab a hold of the other's neck. The crack of our jaws echo through my ears and bounce around in my skull. Saliva and blood flick around us.

He latches onto my neck. I throw my head down, and he loses his grip. We're up, charging to connect our teeth to our necks again. I'm on his back. He falls. His back leg pushes me off him. He's back up. We collide. All I know is fur, teeth, blood, and earth. Snaps. Bites. Pain. Loud snarls.

A bite on my shoulder. I taste his blood from his chest. Teeth rip at my ear. We tumble. He's on top. I'm on top. Shove. Bite. Strike. Jump. Crashing down, we separate. He knocks me back. I scratch my claws across his face. He yelps. Blood spills from his eye. His long fangs lunge for my face and bite down on my cheek. I pull back, allowing him to bite my neck. My front paw shoves him back.

He jumps at me, aiming for my throat. Rolling my head detaches his grip. We push our heads together; snarling, growling, and snapping. When we jump apart, I see an opening to his throat and I lunge for it. My jaw clamps down.

I feel his racing heartbeat thumping against my fangs buried deep in his neck.

He whips his body and his head back and forth, trying to get out of my hold, but I've locked my jaw and I'm holding tight.

Thump, thump...Thump, thump...Thump, thump.

I chomp down harder. Warm blood fills my mouth. His yelp turns into a whimper, and I have to tell myself to not give in. The beat of his heart and his body's movements slow. I feel him begin to fall. One tug and blood splatters all over my face. His legs give out and his body crumbles to the ground.

I release him, letting his head lay on the ground. Stepping back from him, I watch his shallow breaths stretch on longer and deeper until I'm waiting for his next breath and it takes me a moment to realise it's never coming.

His lifeless body shifts back into his human form. I stare at the dirt and and blood covering his naked body. Blood still seeps from the wounds.

My heart sinks, falling into my empty stomach. What did I do? How could I kill him? Yeah, he hurt me, but he didn't deserve this.

I don't deserve this. I can't—I can't live with this. I've never killed anyone before. I haven't—I had never planned of ever killing anyone ever. How could I be so heartless? Why didn't I stop? Why—He couldn't fight with the injury I would have left him with, but with time it could have healed. It would have healed and he would've survived, and I wouldn't be a murderer. Instead, I—

"Emery?" Luca speaks to me, breaking me from my thoughts. I drag my gaze away from Cassian to look at Luca.

He lies on his side, his head stretched back so he can see me. The look in his eyes gives me the strength to push the guilt down and walk away from Cassian, walking towards Luca, hoping I won't lose him after this.