“Didn’t think I could kick your ass, did you?” I growled. “You should’ve thought of that the first time. Now it’s time to come and get it.” I didn’t wait for him to respond. I lunged at him quick as lightning, my arms locking around his neck before he could register his surprise. I went for the kill. He struggled hard as I yanked him up, my elbow cocked under his muzzle, his bulky head forced back against my shoulder with no wiggle room.
I wrenched back, dragging him with me as I pivoted on the floor, my new claws digging into the floorboards to stabilize me. I spun hard, gaining momentum. My strength amazed me. There was no way I should be this strong. Manhandling the weight of this werewolf didn’t even register.
In one clean motion, I twisted his neck and flung him straight at the brick wall my apartment shared with the outside. He crashed into it like a wrecking ball. The bricks held as several pops rang out and he fell to the floor.
“Good riddance,” I snarled. More like gurgled. My hand went to my neck, still surprised by how I sounded.
My head turned toward the noise a second before my door exploded inward.
James, my father’s second, barreled into my apartment, his eyes glowing amber. “What in the bloody hell’s going on?” His accent was thick, and it echoed off my walls like a shot, making me quiver. He was a very strong wolf, even in human form.
I stared stupidly at him.
Then I turned and pointed a clawed finger at the mass still lying inert on the floor.
James reached the fallen wolf in three steps, putting a hand into his fur, searching for life. “Neck’s broken. No pulse.”
I spun around to face the door as my brother shot into the room, followed closely by Nick and Danny.
Tyler came to a screeching halt in front of me, his eyebrows at his hairline, his mouth open. “What the—”
Nick pulled up just short of plowing right into him, but steadied himself quickly. He locked eyes on me.
Danny stopped beside Tyler’s left shoulder, covering his mouth in a gesture he usually used when he was trying hard to stop himself from uttering something completely vulgar.
Everyone was motionless for a few seconds.
Then Danny dropped his hand and uttered one single word in a thunderstruck whisper. “Lycan.”
I had no idea what was happening. The adrenaline still pumped through my veins like a raging river, but very slowly my body eased itself back to normal. My teeth and nails receded and my muscles softened. When I found my voice, it sounded normal again. “What’s the matter with you guys?” I asked. “Shut the damn door before my whole floor knows what’s going on! We need to clean this up. Yes, I didn’t finish my shift, so the hell what? You can stare at me all you want later! Let’s get moving before the cops arrive.”
Nobody moved.
I stared at Nick, who still looked confused. “Get out to the hallway! There was enough screaming and banging in here to raise the goddamn dead. You’re going to have to use your gift quickly before there’s a herd of people clamoring on my doorstep.”
He continued to stare at me with a dumb look on his face.
“Now, Nick!” I yelled. “Go!”
He shook himself and turned on his heel, darting back into the hallway. Voices were already gathering. Maybe they weren’t sure which apartment it was coming from. That would be a miracle.
It felt like the fight had gone on for hours, but in actuality it had only been about five minutes at the most. If the police weren’t here in the next five, it really would be a miracle.
I turned to Danny. “Danny, if you haven’t already guessed, there’s a breach in your security. No way this guy should’ve gotten through, unless he was somehow spelled. Now get the hell out there and help Nick while we cover our tracks. If the cops show, we’re screwed. We’re going to need time to get him”—I pointed to the dead wolf—“out of here as soon as possible.”
Danny’s face broke into a wide grin. “Will do. I’ll get to the bottom of it, and whoever’s responsible for letting him in will pay in full, I assure you.” He ducked into the hallway.
James still crouched next to the dead wolf, who was now in the process of changing back into his human form. When wolves died, they reverted back to their humanness. It was an adaptation insurance policy.
Tyler was the only other person left in the room.
He stared at me. “Cut it out,” I accused. “You’re freaking me out.”
He took a step toward me. “It can’t be.” His voice tinged with fear. “Jess, this just can’t be possible.”
“Tyler.” You’re pissing me off, I said inside his head. Out loud I continued, “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. But if you haven’t noticed, we’re kind of in the middle of a crisis here.” I gestured angrily toward the dead body, and then to the hallway. There were twice as many voices out there as before.