Hidden Wolf

49 Good Bye Shadow

I growled seeing the collar at my feet. He'll get that on my dead body, if he's lucky. He's delusional if he thought I would willingly put it on.

'I think it belongs on his neck.' 'Agreed.'

"Fuck you," I snarled.

"Put the collar on and we can discuss that," he says with a sinister grin.

I didn't have a chance to react, Jude launched himself at the closest wolf setting everything off. Without a bow they viewed me as no threat and focused their attacks on Jude. 

He caught the first wolf before it made contact and managed to deflect the seconds' attack but number three ended up squarely latched onto his arm while number four bit deeply into his thigh.

Rage consumed me as I launched myself at them landing on number two before it could launch a new attack. My blade sunk deep into its side as it twisted and snapped at me, wrenching it from my hand.

Jude growled as he struggled with them, the wolf biting his arm was making it impossible to dispatch the wolf he was holding. The one on his thigh was shaking and pulling for all his worth to bring him down. If he fell, they'd kill him.

My opponent managed to twist its jaws around and was going for my face when I brought my arm up. His teeth sunk in deeply as he clamped down. My blade was stuck and out of reach. My heart raced as panic hit hard when I realised how defenseless I was.

'You are never defenseless, fight tooth and nail if you have to! They can't fight if they can't breath.'

I may not have wolf strength to pull out throats, but even a child can cut off the air supply. My free hand tangled in his fur wrapping around his windpipe. I saw the panic flash in his eyes momentarily giving me hope.

He wasn't going down without a fight. He bit down harder drawing a strangled hiss from me. My anger mounted giving me added strength, all I could hear was my heart beat hammering in my ears as my grip tightened. 

He thrashed harder sending searing pain up my arm. A strangled groan made it past my lips as it turned into a snarl. We wrestled, neither breaking grip, but the lack of air was taking its toll and I had him under me pinned. Desperation finally won out and he released, though I didn't as he thrashed wildly.

My newly freed hand landed on the dagger handle. It still wouldn't come free as I desperately pulled and twisted it. The wolf's death throes changed the angle just enough that the blade finally came free.

I brought it to his neck making sure he was down before launching myself at the next closest one. My attack fell short as the dead wolf had my foot pinned. I grabbed number threes back foot, pulling hard and throwing him off center. 

He snarled and twisted to attack me, letting go of Jude's thigh. The damage was gruesome; shredded muscle, hanging skin and pants soaked in blood. I had to swallow my bile and refocus before the same bloodied jaws could sink into me.

While he was distracted with his attack on me, Jude landed a powerful kick that sent him flying off course. My hold on his foot was enough to rip me out from under the dead wolf.

Jude brought the same powerful kick to the wolf latched onto his arm, by the third strike it lost its hold freeing Judes arm to dispatch the first wolf. The wolf backed up, not as confident in its odds, one on one.

The wolf in front of me snapped my attention back to him as he gnashed his teeth far too close to my face for comfort. I slashed my blade, buying space but not doing any real damage. 

This wolf was the strongest of the lot, he didn't make stupid mistakes. He'd lunge and snap and always pull back before I could land a blow.

I was the one making mistakes. Exhaustion and agony were taking over, distracting me from the task at hand. My skin was on fire and my bones ached painfully, every movement was torture.