Demitrus began to shift.

Errol raced toward him knowing if Demitrus fully shifted, Errol wouldn’t stand a chance. Wrapping both hands around his muzzle he squeezed with all his might.

The alpha demon stopped mid shift letting out a growl that shook the ground. He clawed into Errol’s stomach to get him off and keep him from breaking the bones in his muzzle.

Errol felt the rush of hot blood running down his stomach before he felt the pain. He refused to let go, knowing if he broke the muzzle he’d render Demitrus nearly harmless.

“He’s going to have his guts spilled out if he keeps holding him like that,” one of the Herod pack yelled to another.

Errol hooked the leg of Demitrus and pulled forward with his foot. Demitrus tipped backward onto the floor. Errol tried again for a break but his strength was waning.

Demitrus kicked Errol in the chest, launching him a half dozen yards before he landed. The fast feet coming from behind him told him that Demitrus was in a hurry to end him.

Rolling over several times to gain a bit more distance, Errol made it to his knees before Demitrus reached him. Demitrus’ head was all wolf. His shoulders were human but oversized as was his chest and legs. His feet and hands were covered in his dirty fur, his black claws extended.

Picking up the breastplate Demitrus shed earlier he blocked Demitrus’ attack to the face and neck. Demitrus took him to the ground, his claws raking over the metal and denting it with each stroke.

The Herod pack was yelling and he couldn’t hear if Onyx and Ian were still there or if Onyx listened to him and fled.

Errol cried out as the breastplate shifted under Demitrus’ weight and his claws caught Errol in the same place on his stomach.

Demitrus cried out, launching off of Errol as though he’d been burned.

Pushing the breastplate off Errol sat up looking down at his stomach. The silver needle was sticking out of the wound.

Demitrus charged at Errol as he reached for the silver that would burn him to touch like picking up a red-hot iron that was still being heated by a blow torch. He pinched his fingers together over the needle and the pain was so severe that his fingers released it before he could really get a grip on it.

Demitrus kicked him in the face sending Errol flying and landing on his stomach. The pack roared a mixture of cheers and boos.

Errol was temporarily blinded, seeing only white sky. Blood filled his mouth and drained out the side like running water. Demitrus had cut his lip open with his foot claw.

Demitrus came for him again. This time, Errol caught his foot and jerked it forward punching Demitrus between the legs. He grunted and fell onto his knee as he foamed and spat at Errol while clutching his crotch.

Errol stood up taking a knife off one of the Herod. No one tried to stop him, in fact, the cheering grew louder. They believed he was going to use the weapon on Demitrus.

Running at Demitrus Errol kicked him in the face sending him backward.

Demitrus rolled to get up as Errol stuck the blade of the knife into his stomach just past the silver needle. The crowd went silent watching Errol as the blade made contact with the silver and began to burn his hands.

Errol jerked the handle of the blade closer to his stomach forcing the silver needle to rip through the skin that held it. The agonized scream was impossible to contain as the needle ripped through the last few layers and fell onto the floor.

Dizziness swam through his head as he pulled out the knife. The poison was still in his system but he’d just bought himself more time.

I only needed a little more time.

Errol listened to the sound of Demitrus rushing at him and he spun with the knife at a thirty-degree angle. It cut through Demitrus’ throat stopping him as the shock of what had just happened froze his muscles.

He clutched at his bleeding neck.

It wasn’t a fatal blow, not yet.

“You’ve had this coming for a long time,” Errol said on another wave of dizziness. “You’ll never hurt Onyx again.” Knocking Demitrus to his knees Errol swung sharp knife opening up the back of his neck.

Demitrus sputtered tipping to the side as he tried to get air.

“You said your pack gets dinner early tonight, right? I wouldn’t want your last promise to them be a lie.” Errol stumbled backward a few steps and gestured to Demitrus.

The pack surged forward as gunshots fired. Errol felt a silver bullet graze past his ear as he tipped onto his back. He was losing too much blood.

Errol rolled under the tent nearest him as the darkness of sleep dropped like a curtain.