I stood my ground, though every fiber of me trembled. “Stay back,” I warned, trying to summon strength I wasn’t sure I had. “If you come any closer, I won’t hold back.”
He only laughed, the sound cold and hollow. “You’re no threat to us, Olivia. Just make this easy, for both you and the pup.”
In a desperate burst of adrenaline, I reached for the dagger tucked in my boot, swinging it with everything I had. But the assassin sidestepped easily, grabbing my wrist and twisting it painfully until I dropped the weapon. I bit back a cry, the taste of fear sharp on my tongue.
“Did you really think you could escape?” he taunted, his grip tightening as he leaned closer. “The Alpha wants you back, Luna. Don’t make this worse than it needs to be.”
Before I could respond, a sudden blur of motion cut between us. The assassin staggered back, his grip broken, and I blinked, breathless, as I saw him—a familiar figure, all dark menace and raw power.
He didn’t spare me a glance, his attention fixed solely on the assassin who’d dared to touch me. His eyes blazed with a lethal focus, his body tense and ready to strike.