Draco’s howl was cut short. The sound turned into a gurgle, then silence.
When Patrick turned back, all that was left was Alexander, standing over Draco’s mangled corpse, blood dripping from his jaws. His chest heaved, his fur stained with crimson.
Patrick’s eyes widened as Alexander looked up at him. He could imagine the wolf smirking—because even dying, Alexander had won.
Patrick stumbled back, retreating into the trees. He wasn’t foolish enough to test fate twice.
The forest went still again.
Alexander’s form trembled as he shifted back to human, collapsing to one knee. The poison had spread through his veins now, the wound in his side glowing faintly where the silver burned his skin. Sweat poured down his face.
He pressed a shaking hand to the wound, watching the blood pulse betw
