opened deep wounds along his challengers unprotected belly.
With a pained, enraged growl, Blood Claw released him.
Panting and roaring, they circled each other. Distantly, Kayden heard Sidney cry out in shock, but he could not take his eyes from Blood Claw now. This was perhaps the most important and most dangerous moment of his life. He was not afraid for his own life—but he was afraid what would happen to everyone he loved, should he fail here.
I cannot fail. I cannot give up. No matter what it takes...
Again Blood Claw attacked.
Kayden was prepared; he reared back just in time to escape a mighty swipe of a paw that would have ripped open his face. Blood Claw didn’t pause even for a second. Immediately the next attack followed: Blood Claw’s head shot forward, the mighty jaw clicking shut just a hair’s breadth in front of Kayden’s unprotected throat.
Immediately Kayden lashed out in retaliation. The move had left Blood Claw’s own throat unprotected, and so Kayden went in for the kill, using the full force of his weight to hurl himself at his opponent. His own fangs opening for the vulnerable skin and the veins beneath—but it seemed that Blood Claw had foreseen his move.
He’d left himself open to the attack intentionally to draw Kayden in, and as soon as Kayden’s teeth connected with his skin, Blood Claw threw himself to the ground.
It was too late for Kayden to stop. The full force of his attack carried him forward. When Blood Claw went down, Kayden went down with him, his speed carrying him onward. He flew forward—and Blood Claw used his chance.
Kayden roared in pain when Blood Claw’s paw opened deep, burning lines from his chest to his stomach. The wounds were bleeding heavily; he could feel the wetness of his own blood matting his fur.
With every breath he took, pain was throbbing through him. When he skidded across the ground, he had to shake his head to get rid of the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm his senses.
Blood Claw gave him no time to recover.
A second later the black bear was back atop him. Hot breath hit Kayden’s face. Again they rolled across the ground together.
Blood Claw’s paws opened new wounds all across Kayden’s back, but this time, Kayden gave back as good as he got. He buried his fangs deep into his attacker’s flank, biting down as hard as he could while Blood Claw roared in pain.
When they parted this time, Kayden barely felt the pain, although he noticed how his body’s strength was waning. Dimly he registered that he was still losing blood. Was Blood Claw planning to draw out this fight until exhaustion and blood loss forced him to surrender?
Never, his bear roared. Never! I’ll die for my clan if I have to!
His heart was pounding in his chest. Every beat echoed through him like the tolling of a giant bell. He heard Sidney cry out again, and through the bond between them, he could feel her fear and pain.
You cannot die! Don’t you dare, her voice cried out. Surrender if you have to! I don’t care as long as you are alive!
It took a moment until he realized that those words hadn’t been spoken out loud. The mate bond had sent her thoughts to him. Danger and love had strengthened the bond. And with it came not only her fear, but also an overpowering sense of love. Her warmth was wrapping around him, dulling the pain of his wounds, restoring the strength of the blood he had lost.
I love you, he thought back, the fury of his bear receding for a moment as a deep awareness filled him. I love you.
He could not surrender. Not out of pride or his bear’s instincts. But if he surrendered, what would happen to Sidney? Iron Fang was cruel. He might order her killed because she had seen too much. To him, she as a human held little worth.
To me, she is everything.
He took a deep breath. Suddenly, he was calm. He knew now what he had to do.
The instinct was old—older than this forest. Older than their clan. Perhaps it was as old as the times when
With a pained, enraged growl, Blood Claw released him.
Panting and roaring, they circled each other. Distantly, Kayden heard Sidney cry out in shock, but he could not take his eyes from Blood Claw now. This was perhaps the most important and most dangerous moment of his life. He was not afraid for his own life—but he was afraid what would happen to everyone he loved, should he fail here.
I cannot fail. I cannot give up. No matter what it takes...
Again Blood Claw attacked.
Kayden was prepared; he reared back just in time to escape a mighty swipe of a paw that would have ripped open his face. Blood Claw didn’t pause even for a second. Immediately the next attack followed: Blood Claw’s head shot forward, the mighty jaw clicking shut just a hair’s breadth in front of Kayden’s unprotected throat.
Immediately Kayden lashed out in retaliation. The move had left Blood Claw’s own throat unprotected, and so Kayden went in for the kill, using the full force of his weight to hurl himself at his opponent. His own fangs opening for the vulnerable skin and the veins beneath—but it seemed that Blood Claw had foreseen his move.
He’d left himself open to the attack intentionally to draw Kayden in, and as soon as Kayden’s teeth connected with his skin, Blood Claw threw himself to the ground.
It was too late for Kayden to stop. The full force of his attack carried him forward. When Blood Claw went down, Kayden went down with him, his speed carrying him onward. He flew forward—and Blood Claw used his chance.
Kayden roared in pain when Blood Claw’s paw opened deep, burning lines from his chest to his stomach. The wounds were bleeding heavily; he could feel the wetness of his own blood matting his fur.
With every breath he took, pain was throbbing through him. When he skidded across the ground, he had to shake his head to get rid of the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm his senses.
Blood Claw gave him no time to recover.
A second later the black bear was back atop him. Hot breath hit Kayden’s face. Again they rolled across the ground together.
Blood Claw’s paws opened new wounds all across Kayden’s back, but this time, Kayden gave back as good as he got. He buried his fangs deep into his attacker’s flank, biting down as hard as he could while Blood Claw roared in pain.
When they parted this time, Kayden barely felt the pain, although he noticed how his body’s strength was waning. Dimly he registered that he was still losing blood. Was Blood Claw planning to draw out this fight until exhaustion and blood loss forced him to surrender?
Never, his bear roared. Never! I’ll die for my clan if I have to!
His heart was pounding in his chest. Every beat echoed through him like the tolling of a giant bell. He heard Sidney cry out again, and through the bond between them, he could feel her fear and pain.
You cannot die! Don’t you dare, her voice cried out. Surrender if you have to! I don’t care as long as you are alive!
It took a moment until he realized that those words hadn’t been spoken out loud. The mate bond had sent her thoughts to him. Danger and love had strengthened the bond. And with it came not only her fear, but also an overpowering sense of love. Her warmth was wrapping around him, dulling the pain of his wounds, restoring the strength of the blood he had lost.
I love you, he thought back, the fury of his bear receding for a moment as a deep awareness filled him. I love you.
He could not surrender. Not out of pride or his bear’s instincts. But if he surrendered, what would happen to Sidney? Iron Fang was cruel. He might order her killed because she had seen too much. To him, she as a human held little worth.
To me, she is everything.
He took a deep breath. Suddenly, he was calm. He knew now what he had to do.
The instinct was old—older than this forest. Older than their clan. Perhaps it was as old as the times when
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