Kirith’s grey-blue Dragon landed hard, scattering Wolves in every direction as his talons dug into the gravel and grass below him. As he spun around, he flapped his tail from side to side, herding the Pack and sending them cowering behind trees.

The Dragon was only focused on two members of the Warkshire Pack: Luna, who lay unconscious on the ground, and the Alpha, who crouched down behind her limp body. The fucking coward was using her as a human shield. He knew full well that the Dragon wouldn’t risk shooting a blast of flame in Luna’s direction.

He’s right, of course, thought Kirith.

“I’ll speak to you as soon as you’ve shifted,” said Ripper. His voice trembled slightly, betraying his fear of the Dragon. “Not a second sooner.”

For a moment Kirith considered snatching up Luna’s body in his talons and carrying her to safety. But the Alpha was a devious bastard; he’d be able to reach her before Kirith ever could. If he had a weapon on him, he could end her right here and now.

Rage pulsing through his veins, the Dragon altered into human form. “Fine then. Here I am,” he said, striding forward. “Now let me take Luna somewhere and tend her wounds.”

“If I let you take her away, that rather defeats my purpose in coming here, don’t you think?” asked Ripper, who was stroking a hand through Luna’s red hair. Stop touching her, you bastard, Kirith snarled internally.

“You know what’s coming,” the Dragon shifter growled. “You know I can’t let you live.”

Ripper cocked his head to the side and studied the young woman who lay on the grass, her chest moving up and down slowly.

“I know that,” he said. “But I also know you won’t hurt this woman.” He pulled his eyes up to meet Kirith’s. “I know you’re too much of a fucking soft-hearted fool. That was always your problem, Sigurdsson. You were always soft. People like you are easy to manipulate. You should really learn not to care so much.”

“Better to be soft than to be a heartless bastard who kills children,” Kirith snarled, turning to face the other Pack members. He thrust a massive arm out, pointing at Ripper’s face. “Do you know what he is? Do you know that your Alpha had my wife and children murdered?”

“Lies,” said Ripper. “My Wolves would never believe you. They know that a Dragon is not to be trusted. They know you’re trying to drive a wedge between us.”

Kirith swung back towards him, hatred brightening his eyes. It was all he could do not to reach for Ripper and pull him up by his greasy hair. He should take him down right here, right now. He might have tried it, too, but he couldn’t risk one of the other Pack members hurting Luna while he was occupied with their Alpha. “Your Wolves are brainwashed,” he shot out. “They’re branded with your selfishness, slaves to your will.”

“No. My Pack is loyal,” said Ripper. “Something you know nothing about.”

“Fuck you,” Kirith said. “Threats and cruelty do not create loyalty. They create an authoritarian rule by a reigning piece of shite like you.”

“I’ve had about enough of this,” said Ripper, rising to stand. “I think we should continue this conversation in a more private locale.”

Kirith laughed. “Right. As if I’d accompany you anywhere.”

“Oh, I think you will.” Ripper nodded in the direction of a big, ugly Wolf with a scar slashed across his face. The creature advanced, shifting mid-stride into human form. In his right hand he carried some sort of switchblade, which he flicked open as he walked. Kirith recognized the dark-haired bastard who’d led the assault on Luna two nights earlier. “Cut her throat,” Ripper ordered, nodding towards their helpless victim.

Kirith lunged forward, thrusting himself between the shifter and Luna.

He knew that this was no bluff; the Alpha was insane enough to do it.

“Touch her and you die,” said Kirith.

“Fail to agree to my demands and she dies,” Ripper replied.

A feral growl rattled up in the Dragon shifter’s throat.

“All I want is to chat,” the Alpha said, holding a hand up to stop the man with the knife from advancing further. “If you agree to come with us, I promise to leave the lovely Luna here in the park, untouched. I’ll tell her brother where to find her. She’ll wake up with a bit of a nasty headache, I’m afraid. But at least she’ll wake up. On the other hand, if you’re a pain in my arse, I’m afraid we’ll have to do away with the pretty red Wolf as well as with you. The Pack wouldn’t be losing much; she’d not a very steadfast member, it turns out.”

“Fine, I’ll come,” Kirith grunted. If he was going to kill Ripper at last, better to do it away from Lumen’s territory, anyhow. Best not to inspire some sort of turf war.

He slipped off the sweater he was wearing and bent over to drape it over Luna. “If you hurt her again, though, I’ll see to it that your death is slow and painful instead of quick and equally painful,” he said, turning to Ripper as he rose to his full height.

“Of course,” said the Alpha. “I wouldn’t expect any less. Come. It’s time to show you the Underground Club.”