Page 165 of Hunt Me

As if fate were listening, Garrick attacked and his jaws closed around David’s forearm.

Matilda tensed, prompting Luka to wrap an arm around her. “He is fine.”

David repeatedly drove his fist into Garrick’s head; however, the wolf would not budge. Blood streamed down David’s arm when he was finally able to free himself. He shook his arm, flinging blood into the dirt. Garrick’s wolf smiled, licking the blood from his chops. He lunged again, and that time David caught him.

One hand seized Garrick’s throat, while the other gripped his hind leg. A roar ripped from David as he lifted the enormous wolf from the ground and hurled him. Garrick struck the dirt several yards away. David was upon him before he could regain his footing. The spectators winced when David proceeded to break Garrick’s hind legs, leaving them lame and crooked.

A pained howl ripped out of Garrick as he shifted into his human form.

“P-please. I beg of you. Please stop,” Garrick pleaded, reaching for his leg that was nearly detached.

David stood over him with a foot hovering in the air. “Yield, or the audience will bear witness to the small brain in your head.”

“I yield!”

The official raised his staff. “Delta Garrick yields!”

Many members of the audience stood and gave David a standing ovation.

“That was quite impressive,” Luka commented.

“And from the looks of it, Prince Lykaon does not look pleased,” Matilda said.

Their party glanced at the prince who frowned from his dais.

Ten minutes later, Beta Loic entered the arena, planting himself before David.

“I always wondered what it would feel like to outrank you,” Loic said.

David smirked.

“Enjoy your final moments of it.”

Loic shifted and attacked before the official had cleared the ring, and David had barely avoided losing his life when Loic’s claws tore across his chest, spraying blood across the dirt. David stumbled and Loic struck again. His massive body collided with David and sent him rolling across the ground.

“Get up,” Matilda said frantically.

David pushed himself onto one knee, rolling aside when Loic charged again. Unfortunately, devastatingly sharp claws tore at his thigh. David shouted in pain.

“He’s losing too much blood,” Matilda commented.

“Have faith, my love,” Luka said. “He’s already healing.”

“Not quickly enough,” Ezra mentioned.

David climbed to his knees. Loic went in for the kill as David reached toward his belt. The wolf leapt and David dropped onto his back as the wolf sailed over him. David drove the dagger upward, and the blade disappeared into Loic’s belly—momentum handled the rest.

A terrible tearing sound cut through the roar of the crowd as the dagger ripped through the wolf’s underside.

Loic crashed into the dirt and his blood pooled beneath him. David remained on his back, chest heaving and limbs shaking from adrenaline.

The official stared at Loic for several seconds before raising his staff.

“Beta Loic is dead!”

Shocked cries erupted from the audience.

David slowly sat upright and held up three fingers before pointing one at Prince Lykaon.