CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Grayson snarled, his eyes flashing. No one, absolute nobody, threatened him or his pack.
He remembered Strom's threatening words to Hayley: “After I paint the woods red with the blood of the Sentinels, I'll come and collect you, my pet.”
It wasn't just an empty threat. Strom had every intention of taking Hayley against her will. He had attacked her in that alley, and if Grayson and Ari hadn't arrived in time…
The image of Hayley's pale, terrified face flashed before his eyes. Her bright green eyes glimmered with tears and the echo of her scream pierced his heart like a knife. Grayson growled at the sudden stab of pain and fury.
No! He would not let Strom hurt another innocent human. He would make sure that Strom never touched Hayley again.
It was time to finish this once and for all.
Grayson charged at Strom, aiming for the jugular. Strom slashed at him, gouging his claws into his side. Grayson didn't flinch. He went after Strom with a vengeance, heedless to the blood oozing from the deep gash in his side.
Strom reared up, confident of his victory. He was going to rip Grayson's guts out and feed them to his wolves.
Grayson saw his chance. Quick as lightning, he struck.
The two huge wolves tumbled to the ground in a blur of matted fur and claws. They wrestled and attacked relentlessly, each fighting to gain the upper hand.
Strom snarled and snapped his jaws viciously at Grayson. His teeth sank into Grayson's shoulder and he bit harder, pushing his fangs deep into Grayson's flesh. Grayson rolled and tried to throw Strom off, but Strom refused to let go. His red eyes glowed with pure hate and hunger. His mouth was filled with Grayson's blood and Grayson saw Strom bare his bloodstained teeth in a victorious smile.
With a growl, Strom tore a chunk of flesh from Grayson's shoulder. Despite the agony, Grayson didn't make a sound. He staggered back and shook his head to clear it quickly. He focused on the enemy and charged again. If he slowed down or hesitated, he would be dead. He had to keep attacking.
The forest whirled and spun around them. Grayson ignored the sounds, scents and movement around them. The Sentinels, the Red Razor pack, the trees were nothing but a blur to him. There was only one wolf in his sights.
Strom's black fur was matted with blood. Grayson didn't care whose blood it was. He was going to finish this fight. He would free those human women, and keep Hayley safe from a ravening, brutal predator like Strom.
Blood dripped into Grayson's eyes as he stumbled sideways. Strom was equally weakened by blood loss, and his blows weren't as quick and forceful as before. They were both exhausted, with grievous injuries and wounds all over their bodies.
Grayson and Strom faced each other, growling menacingly. They charged at the same time, and slammed into each other in midair.
Grayson finally pinned Strom to the ground and bit hard into his neck. Strom bellowed in pain and tried to fight Grayson off, but this was a fight to the death. Grayson wasn't fighting for himself. He had to finish this, for his pack, for those humans. For Hayley.
Grayson pushed his fangs deeper into Strom's neck and clamped his jaws tightly. Strom's legs kicked out once, twice and his body became still.
Spitting out the blood from his mouth, Grayson staggered away, leaving Strom's lifeless body in a pool of dark, red blood.
Turning away, Grayson walked silently away from the clearing. He didn't lead the Red Razor wolves in a howl to mark the passing of their old Alpha and to claim leadership over them. The unified call of the wolves was a show of respect for the fallen Alpha who had fought bravely and fairly for his pack.
Strom didn't deserve such an honor. Asher Ronski had been buried before his blood had dried on the ground. But Strom's body would be left to turn cold and stiff out in the open.
Grayson would order the Red Razor lieutenants to cremate Strom's body the following day, but now, they would leave the body exposed. Strom didn't deserve any dignity in death.
One by one, the Red Razor wolves dropped their heads and followed Grayson. They turned their backs on Strom's body and walked away without looking back.