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Sure enough, they turned on me, teeth bared and drool coming out of their mouths. They
resembled wolves, only with brown fur and eyes that glowed like orange fire. He'd probably
ordered them not to harm her, but they had no such instructions regarding me.
Wolves. Just like in science class. What had Ms. Meissner said? A lot of confrontations were all
about willpower? Bearing this mind, I tried to project an alpha attitude, but I don't think they
fell for it. Any one of them outweighed me. Oh yeah—they also outnumbered me. No, they
didn't have anything to be scared of.
Trying to pretend this was just a free-for-all match with Dimitri, I picked up a branch from the
ground that had about the same heft and weight as a baseball bat. I'd just positioned it in my
hands when two of the hounds jumped me. Claws and teeth bit into me, but I held my own
surprisingly well as I tried to remember everything I'd learned in the last two months about
fighting bigger and stronger opponents.
I didn't like hurting them. They reminded me too much of dogs. But it was me or them, and
survival instincts won out. One of them I managed to beat to the ground, dead or unconscious I
didn't know. The other was still on me, still coming on fast and furious. His companions looked
ready to join him, but then a new competitor burst on the scene—sort of. Christian.
"Get out of here," I yelled at him, shaking off my hound as its claws ripped into the bare skin of
my leg, nearly toppling me over. I was still wearing the dress, though I'd shed the heels a while
ago.
But Christian, like any lovesick guy, didn't listen. He picked up a branch as well and swung it at
one of the hounds. Flames burst from the wood. The hound backed up, still compelled to follow
Victor's orders, though also clearly afraid of the fire.
Its companion, the fourth hound, circled away from the torch and came up behind Christian.
Smart little bastard. It sprang at Christian, hitting him back first. The branch flew from his
hands, the fire immediately going out. Both hounds then leapt onto his fallen form. I finished
my hound—again feeling sick over what I had to do to subdue it—and moved toward the other
two, wondering if I had the strength to take on these last ones.
But I didn't have to. Rescue appeared in the form of Alberta, emerging through some trees.