Xavier lunged simultaneously, shifting midair. A motley wolf barreled toward Jaxx, his claws outstretched, ready to rip him to shreds. Jaxx jumped back, and Xavier’s claws missed his stomach, tearing down his left arm. He grunted, embraced the pain, and used the burn to feed his anger. Anger he could use to make his task bearable.
Slamming a right hook into Xavier, Jaxx sent the male skidding across the floor, where he smashed into the fridge. Jaxx sank to his knees and his body fell forward, muscles and bones contorting and reforming to the shape of his wolf’s body. Skin maneuvered and stretched over his muzzle, and black-tipped gray fur shot out of his pores. Sharp teeth exploded in his mouth; his own razor claws pierced his fingertips.
Shaking his body, Jax let his tattered clothes fall to the tiles, along with most of his human tendencies. Teeth pierced his shoulder. Jaxx snarled, spinning around and knocking Xavier into the cupboard. Xavier yelped at the same time as the whitewashed cupboard door splintered. Taking the opportunity, Jaxx attacked, ramming him into the cupboard again. Xavier staggered back, and Jaxx leapt onto the male, dragging his claws across his flank. Jaxx’s teeth sunk deep into Xavier’s skin, blood pooled in his mouth, and his beast basked in the glory of it. A dark and ugly part of him urged him to tear the flesh from his opponent’s bones.
Their bodies slammed against the counter and dishes sitting on the edge of the bench crashed to the floor, shards of porcelain scattering onto the tiles. Xavier snarled, bucking him off. The other members of the pack would be joining them soon, and Jaxx wanted Xavier neutralized before anyone else was put in danger. Leaping, he met Xavier in the air. They both stood on their hind legs, their teeth clashing, spittle and blood dampening their fur. He dug his claws deeper into Xavier’s shoulders; his teeth tore into flesh. Xavier howled and sank his canines into Jaxx’s shoulder.
Jaxx gnashed his teeth against the burning pain, shaking his head. Xavier ripped free and dodged his attack. Son of a bitch. Jaxx inched forward, his lip quivering in warning. Faster than he’d have liked, Xavier shot forward, his mouth wide, razor teeth gunning for the kill. At the last second, Jaxx darted left, narrowly missing his date with the Reaper. For a moment, his vision turned red and his mouth watered for the kill. Body quivering, anticipating the last moments of battle before he ended it for Xavier. Jaxx spun and attacked, not holding anything back. He tore chunks of fur and flesh from Xavier, enjoying each yowl of pain.
Xavier’s blood tasted like whiskey slipping down his throat a little too easily—hot and comforting. Pleasure hummed in his body. He felt powerful. Strength coursed through his veins with each drop of Xavier’s blood. For a few moments, no thought filtered through his mind other than the kill. The decision carried a monumental weight. He knew if he could end the male, he would be unstoppable.
In some small recess of the wolf’s mind, Jaxx’s human side panicked. He understood kill or be killed—in most cases it was pack motto—but only rogues enjoyed death. Trapped in the quicksand of his curse, his thoughts were slow and sluggish. With every ounce of his being, he fought for his humanity.
He envisioned his true mate.
The same vision he always conjured during his darkest struggles. It didn’t matter that he could never see what she looked like; the thought of someone solely for him brought him a measure of peace. He pictured his arms wrapped around her, her voice almost lyrical in quality, urging him to dig deep, use his strength to hold on, and fight for her. She would find him soon. All he needed to do was hold on a little longer.
As if hit with a sledgehammer, Jaxx took control of his mind, thrusting the wolf back, allowing more of his humanity to pour into the void of death and destruction. Cold to his bones, fear wasn’t something he felt often. He felt it then.
“What the hell…” a woman screamed, then reached for skillet in the middle of the island counter.
Shit!
That’s all he needed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Quinn’s very human mate, Sasha, standing in the middle of their battle. Jaxx repositioned himself, keeping the female and Xavier in his sight. He wanted to kick his own ass for falling so deeply into his wolf’s