Page 166 of Hunt Me

“Congratulations, David,” Lykaon said, voice bellowing through the arena. The spectators immediately silenced, not wanting to miss a single word.

David stood in the center of the ring, chest heaving, battered and bloodied, as his final challenger addressed him.

David spat blood onto the dirt. “You should’ve made sure I was dead.”

Lykaon smiled devilishly. “I intend to correct that mistake.”

“I won’t give you the chance,” David responded confidently.

Lykaon threw back his head and laughed. “You are not in the condition to make such claims.”

“We shall see,” David answered.

“I’m curious, David. If you were to best me—you won’t—but if you did, what are your plans for Moonshire? Become allies with the vampires?”

“Do not mind my plans when you nearly brought about war to your people’s doorstep over a land dispute and pride.”

Lykaon clicked his tongue. “That’s funny. You were right there beside me…. until you weren’t. Your ten minutes are almost up. Any last words?”

“None that I wish to waste on you.”

The official stepped between them, and the chanting increased; the volume loud enough to reach the heavens.

“Final challenge. Prince Lykaon against former Beta David. The victor grants rule over Moonshire.”

The audience quieted. Now sitting on the edge of their seats and holding their breaths.

“Begin!”

Lykaon shifted instantly. The enormous white wolf barreled toward David. David caught him around the neck; however, the impact drove him backward and claws tore into his side. He screamed as Lykaon threw him aside.

Matilda stopped breathing when David hit the ground.

Something was wrong.

He doubled over, fingers digging into the earth just before his spine cracked.

A murmur swept through the crowd as David’s shoulders broadened, his arms lengthened, and dark fur erupted across his body. But he didn’t fall onto four legs. Matilda slowly rose from her seat as David kept growing—seven feet, perhaps more—his legs bending strangely beneath him while enormous clawed feet dug into the ground. His hands remained almost human with black claws, and his face pushed outward into something caught between man and wolf. His fangs descended—long and too sharp.

The arena fell silent when David stood above his former alpha.

Lykaon’s wolf backpedaled, and for the first time since David had known him, the alpha seemed afraid.

David didn’t give Lykaon a chance to recover before he attacked.

The two beasts collided in the center of the ring with enough force to send dirt spraying beneath them. Lykaon twisted beneath David’s grasp and sank his teeth into his shoulder. David roared and drove his claws into Lykaon’s ribs. Blood sprayed across his chest. Lykaon released him with a howl and swiped across David’s face, splitting his flesh from his temple to his jaw. Matilda lurched forward when David’s head snapped sideways. He staggered clumsily, and her stomach dropped.

“It is not over yet,” Luka said softly.

“I-I have never seen this wolf,” she stammered.

“He is monstrous,” Ezra commented.

“He’s fatigued. I fear he won’t be able to maintain this form for long,” Matilda confessed.

“Have faith,” her husband reminded her, threading his fingers through hers and delivering a gentle squeeze.

Lykaon attacked again, and his massive body struck David squarely in the chest, sending them both crashing into the dirt. His jaws snapped inches from David’s throat. David caught Lykaon beneath the muzzle with one hand while the other buried itself in the thick fur at his neck.