My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird in a cage, the deafening thud echoing in my ears as absolute panic seized my entire body. *This is it,* I thought, squeezing my eyes shut as the cold air rushed past me. I braced for the lethal impact of that heavy metal blade shattering my skull.
Instead, a sudden violent rush of wind tore through the clearing.
Damon burst through the dark shadows like an enraged predator, launching his massive frame through the air with terrifying speed. He collided with the masked attacker so hard the sickening crunch of the impact echoed off the surrounding trees, sending both bodies crashing brutally into the frozen dirt.
Without giving the intruder a fraction of a second to react, Damon pinned him to the ground, his knuckles turning white as he
