Christine stalked into the room. “I challenge—” Her eyes widened when she turned in my direction. She didn’t have time to finish her sentence. I pounced.
Weres took longer to shift. She didn’t have time to make the vulnerable transition. I had her pinned on the ground with my jaws clamped around her throat, squeezing hard enough to draw blood. My growl vibrated off the skin on her neck and tickled my mouth, my intentions clear.
“I will not concede.” Her voice strangled against my teeth.
I growled again.
“I will not submit! Either kill me or give me a fair fight, you bitch.” Her voice sounded less sure than her words. She stank of fear, but her pride held strong.
Killing her outright would be the smart thing to do, but Wick’s pack didn’t seem like the kind that fought challenges dirty or to the death. And the ‘fair fight’ dig got to me. I released her throat and backed off. My tail twitched as I waited to see what she would do.
Christine stood up. Her knees wobbled a bit, but she straightened and turned to me. No one helped her. Interesting.
“Fight me as a wolf.”
Dammit. A Werewolf versus Shifter wolf had one clear outcome, and it wasn’t in my favor. But this was pack business. Not the realm of the SRD. I couldn’t fight dirty here and expect any respect. Did I even want it? I wanted Wick, but I also wanted to get the fuck out of this situation. Easier to lose respect than earn it. I’d have to fight this dominance battle the hard way.
I shifted into a wolf and waited, watching her every move and looking for weaknesses. Without the advantage of my mountain lion’s strength and quickness, I’d have to outsmart her.
Christine frowned. I hoped my quick shift intimidated her. Not enough to stop her though. She stripped off her dress and held it out. When no one took it from her, she looked around with pursed lips. After a few awkward seconds, a nameless woman stepped up and snatched it from her hand. Christine nodded and quickly slipped out of her undergarments before handing them over.
I waited, taking delight in knowing my breasts were larger than hers.
Meeeoow. I could shift out of the mountain lion, but I couldn’t take the cattiness out of the woman.
She started the process of transforming. I cleaned the fur on my front legs as I waited. Mel walked over to stand behind me. She reached out and scratched behind my ears. I relaxed under her ministrations, taking the time to enjoy the support. She knew this wasn’t the first challenge I’d faced. If I’d been in my mountain lion it would probably have been the easiest. I wondered if Mel tried to warn Christine. Maybe that’s why Christine insisted I use my wolf form. I glanced up to see Mel smile, a sad twinkle in her eye. She mouthed our mantra to me, “Survive.”
No. Mel wouldn’t have said a thing.
Christine growled and my attention snapped back to her while she completed the final stages of the transition. Thank the beast goddess I’m a Shifter and not a Were. That looked downright painful.
Small for a Werewolf, the force of her mental attitude alone must’ve been her dominating strength. Bonus, for me. Instead of taking time to orient her body after the shift, Christine lunged. I jumped out of her path, but she must’ve anticipated the move, changing direction at the last minute and slamming her body into mine. Oomph.
We rolled over one another claws and fangs flashing, skin and fur ripping—a chick fight hopped up on methamphetamine. But she was stronger, much stronger than me.
“Be better with mud,” someone commented. It sounded like Steve.
Christine aimed low, getting her head and front body under mine. Then she surged up, flinging me a few feet in the air. I smacked into someone’s legs.
“Get in there,” John said. He pushed me back into the cleared circle with his foot. Asshole. I saw red. I tried to turn and snap at his foot, but Christine tackled me, trying to pin me down. With a front leg across my back, she bit into my neck, hard. The scent of my blood filled my nose. Pain lanced down my body, leaving it cold and shaky. My breath came in short huffs. I couldn’t get enough. Not enough! I couldn’t breathe. The room narrowed and my vision shook. With weakened knees, an overpowering urge to just lie down and submit consumed me.
No!
The beast rose up with a surge of adrenalin. My chest fluttered and my lungs relaxed, letting in a large whoosh of air. My muscles tightened in response, ready for action. I pushed with all my strength against the ground and flung myself back. Christine yipped. Her teeth still imbedded in my loose neck fur, I arched over her, bringing her with me. My heart raced, nearly exploding, as I landed hard against her stomach.
Now on her back, Christine released my neck and started thrashing. She kicked me off. We both scrambled to our feet and once again, we stared at each other, face to face, assessing. I knew she’d try to take out my legs again, or throw her body against mine. She’d use her strength. She’d aim low.