The tree groaned under both of us, swaying to the side. The mountain lion’s eyes were wide as it screamed and lunged at me.
I grabbed the back of its neck in one hand and jumped to the ground, holding the wriggling beast like an errant pup. It hissed and scratched, catching its claws into my forearm and digging deep.
I grit my teeth through the pain, pinning the lion to the ground. “Nice try, kitty. But I’m no elk.”
Allow me. My wolf forced the partial shift and his jaws descended again. His teeth glinted in the sun before he clamped down on the thick hide of the mountain beast’s neck, ripping through leathered flesh.
It was a clean and quick kill. Humane.
A hell of a lot more than the mama elk got.
I slung the body over my shoulders. Warm blood dripped down my naked back and I whist
