Ethan's eyes snapped open, and then he moved or maybe moved wasn't the right word.
One second, he was standing in the circle. The next, he was gone—a blur of speed so unnatural it made Lydia's breath catch.
The moment he hit the woods, he shifted—partially. His claws sharpened, his golden eyes burning like embers. He wasn't fully a wolf, but he wasn't human either. He was something in between.
The crowd screamed in excitement.
Inside the trees, Nikolas was tearing through the undergrowth, jumping over fallen logs, pushing his legs to their absolute limit. He was strong, his breathing was controlled, and his movements calculated.
But Ethan was stronger. Deadly. Stalking him.
Nikolas must have sensed it because his body tensed—his head tilting slightly, his wolf instincts
