Colin and Josh both launched at the same time. I swung the branch and it connected in the injured side of Josh's head. He tumbled into an already broken tree. Before I got a chance at Colin, his teeth sank in the same wound Josh had left behind. My arm went numb. Pain shot through my flesh. I gritted my teeth to stop from crying out. My fingers gripped his black fur and pulled, dragging him off me.
His canines left behind a deeper trench in my arm. My fingers trembled. Enraged and in pain, I threw Colin into a running Josh. Both animals tumbled over, damaging several more trees in their wake.
I never got a breather before Eric and Drew were on me. They came out of nowhere and caught me off guard. Eric punched me in the gut and I bent to ease the pain. Drew used the opportunity to knee me across the temple. My vision blurred. Breakfast wanted to come back up. I rolled on my side on the broken twigs and leaves.
I guess, no one taught Eric never to kick a man when he was down.
He kicked me across the head. I grunted, laying on my back. Not satisfied, Drew drilled a broken branch into my chest. I grasped at the impact. Breathing became difficult.
Brian's wounded voice sounded from a distance. Both men stopped their brutality and rushed to their leader. Grateful for the distraction, I laid still on the ground.
'Well, I expected better. Almost old as a millennium and you let a bunch of kids beat you down.' The mental voice sighed. "Such a shame. No wonder she manipulated you so eas—"
"Shut up," I whispered. "Just shut up."
The nearest broken tree trunk aided to get me to my feet. I staggered; the world spun. I managed to make it to a tree that was still standing. Bracing against it with gritted teeth, I palmed the branch in my chest and pulled. My fingers trembled and my lungs ceased to work.
My flesh released the wood; each exposed layer decorated with blood. When it was out a black curtain fell over my eyes before the world reappeared. Two more huffs were taken before I dashed to the small group circling Brian.
I grabbed Drew from behind: one hand on his forehead and the other on his cheek. The sound of his broken neck alerted the other men. As Drew's body fell, Eric came for me, but I was more prepared. My lengthened leg caught him in the stomach. He crouched, an arm wrapped around his half. Using the opportunity, my knee met his temple. A loud grunt blasted in our eardrums as he rolled on the ground. I grabbed a handful of black hair, lifting him. Long claw-like fingernails scraped at my hand. His feet dangled above the ground.
He should have known his place.
Another fist connected with his throat. Eric gasped for air. His hands forgot the pain in his scalp to attend to his neck.
That was what he got for not minding his own business.
My hand released his hair, but before he recovered, another fist met the middle of his back. His spine couldn't handle the pressure and gave way. The sound was music to my ears.
Josh and Colin came up next. The team circled me again; sharp teeth were bare and growls louder than before.
They were getting on my fucking nerves!
They pranced. I grabbed the branch next to my feet and whacked Josh. Colin's throat got caught in my free hand.
So, fucking annoying.
My fingernails dug into his flesh. Blue eyes widened as blood tainted black fur.
If only he had listened.
Paws paddled. Whimpers grew as my fingers sank deeper, circling his trachea. The beast was no more. A man dangled in my hand with blood running from his throat.
I should stop. Colin could die. But, he should be taught a lesson.
I yanked his trachea forward. Blood squirted in the air. Gasps cocooned us. The other beast watched as his companion fell to the ground. Brown eyes grew angrier at the scene.
A smirk tilted my lips.
Yes, Josh. Let go of that composure and let your beast go.
Now it was your turn.
Josh jumped. I lengthened my foot in time to hit his head. He flicked several times before laying on his side. Not awaiting his recovery, I was by his side within a second. With my elbow out, I dropped in his stomach. An audible groan rocked the trees, but he remained paralyzed. My fingers found his shoulder and sank under brown furs.
His mewls were more than enough to soften my heart, but I couldn't stop. Josh was persistent. If I left him, he would come after me again. I needed this to end to get to Brian.
I found Josh's shoulder bone and grabbed it. Then ripped it from the socket. He immediately transformed from the agony. His chance to cry out was taken away with a punch to the head.
Before I stood, a flowery fragrance traveled up my nostrils. My head snapped in the direction to which it came. There she was. Brianna. Our eyes made four. I couldn't move. I couldn't feel anything. Those big purple eyes searched mine.
Why? Was the word screaming in my head. Why him? Why Brian?
Purple eyes strayed over my shoulder. Two lines pinched between perfect brows and her heartbeat sped up. My eyes trailed after hers.
Him! Of course, it had to Brian. Her concern was never for me, but for him. Him. Brian fucking White! A child. Mother fucker! I was going to kill him.
Darting behind Brian, I grabbed him before he got a chance to move. Brianna's eyes widened.
How could he have stolen her heart?
My fangs grew.
How could she have let him? She was mine!
My teeth sank in his neck, biting a chunk of flesh from the spot. His artery squirted blood. In the same breath, stings punctured my back. Brian fell from my grasp. I swiveled around to face Amy and the other females from the Young Council. They came prepared: equipped with tranquilizer guns.
Fuck! Amy should know better. They all were going to pay.
I attempted to walk, but the world spun. Instead of another step, I collapsed.
"Fuck!" slipped from my lips before the world vanished.