The rest of the walk passed in silence. Timbur gripped the handle of his dual-sided axe, battle lust already blazing in his eyes. We stopped a ways from town and watched as the sun sank lower on the horizon.

  The moment it vanished, darkness cloaked the land in ebony. I tensed, waiting.

  I didn’t have to wait long.

  The still air thickened with tension, charged with an energy I recognized all too well. My focus snapped to the trees just as a form slid from the shadows. It stretched and stepped forward, the moons above illuminating its silhouette as glowing eyes locked onto me.

  Hunger burned in its gaze, heavy and scorching. Its lips peeled back in a silent snarl, the moonlight tracing the sleek fur along its frame. Two white dots marked its forehead—one a full circle, the other a half.

  I glanced up at the sky, noting the moons in matching phases. “Do they get stronger depending on the moon phase?”

  Timbur shrugged, rolling a shoulder as he hefted his axe, his grin downright maniacal. “Dunno. Don’t care. I’ve been itching for a fight all week!”

  Then he was gone.

  A blur of auburn shot forward faster than I could blink.

  The wolf threw its head back in a howl—and dozens of glowing eyes shattered the darkness behind it.

  Timbur either didn’t notice or didn’t care. His axe cleaved through the first wolf in a single swing. The trees and bushes rustled as more wolves surged forward.

  Another lunged from the shadows, locked on him. It didn’t even glance at me.

  A mistake.

  I slid past it and brought my sword down in a clean arc, slicing through its neck with ease.

  Half the wolves turned toward me. I braced, ready for the fight ahead.

  The clearing erupted into chaos. A dozen figures lunged from the treeline, splitting off—half circled me, the rest surrounding Timbur.

  His grin only widened. He hefted his axe and roared.

  “Come on, pups! I’ll show ya what a berserker can do!”

  Power rippled through the air, thick enough to raise the hairs on my arms. His voice vibrated with force, a battle technique most berserkers used to intimidate their enemies.

  It worked, the wolves hesitated.

  But I had my own fight to deal with.

  Keeping four of the six in my sights, I waited, listening. Lunar Wolves favored pack tactics. They circled prey, cutting off any escape, before the alpha moved in for the kill.

  If I could find the alpha and take it out, the rest might scatter.

  I searched for a distinguishing mark, but they all looked identical.

  They weren’t moving—waiting for something. A signal.

  My grip tightened on my sword.

  Time slowed.

  A wolf lunged from behind and the others moved as one.

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  I spun, blade rising just in time to catch its snapping jaws. It bit down hard, teeth scraping along the metal, and wrenched its head sideways, trying to rip the weapon from my grasp.

  I held firm, shifting with the motion.

  Realizing that wasn’t working, it abruptly released my sword—and latched onto my arm instead.

  It shoved forward, trying to force me to the ground, but my boots dug into the dirt. The metal of my armor kept its fangs from sinking in, though the force alone threatened to throw me off balance.

  I twisted, using its momentum against it, and threw it aside. It tumbled but quickly rolled to its feet, legs tensed for another lunge.

  I was faster.

  Before it could react, my blade slashed downward, catching it across the eye.

  It let out a sharp yelp, blood splattering the grass.

  Another snarl from behind.

  The grass crunched softly—a wolf coiling low for a strike.

  I barely turned in time. My sword dug into its side, and I ripped the blade through with all my strength.

  It dropped, unmoving.

  The alpha lunged for the opening.

  Its massive jaws clamped inches from the hole in my armor, hot breath searing against my chest.

  I cursed, slamming my elbow into its remaining eye.

  It didn’t let go.

  More shuffling behind me and realization hit like a hammer.

  The alpha was holding me still.

  A surge of adrenaline flooded my veins. I braced, but before I could react, another wolf leapt onto my back. The sudden weight nearly drove me to my knees.I twisted violently, sending it rolling off. It shook itself and lunged again, joined by the others.

  The alpha’s jaws remained locked in place, keeping me pinned.

  I had seconds before I was overwhelmed.

  “Oi, you fucks, try me on for size!” Timbur’s exuberant call ripped through the air before something barreled through the wolves, sending them scattering.

  Timbur towered over me. He was bigger—several feet taller than before–and his axe swung in a flash too quick to track. Blood coated his front, his grin as unhinged as ever.

  Behind him, the wolves he’d faced laid silent, their bodies still.

  His axe struck the alpha, stopping inches from my chestplate before he wrenched it—and the wolf speared on it—away.

  The alpha let out a strangled howl.

  Timbur slammed it into the ground, dislodging his axe in one smooth motion. He spun and delivered the final blow.

  The howl cut off.

  The remaining wolves hesitated, ears pinned, bodies low. Timbur grinned wider. Blood dripped from fresh claw marks across his chest, but he didn’t even flinch.

  He lunged.

  The nearest wolves never stood a chance and the rest turned to flee.

  Remembering our job–the hungry mouths we still had to feed–I cut through the first and second wolves in a flurry. By the time the last wolf collapsed, its body sliding limply off my blade, Timbur threw his head back, axe raised in victory, and screamed.

  “That’s what I’m fucking talkin’ about!”

  He practically vibrated in his boots. “Spirits above, I needed this! Protecting the refugees was nice an’ all, but it was boring! Let’s go find more shit to kill!”

  I stared.

  I wasn’t sure if I should be concerned for his well-being—those claw marks weren’t deep, but they could be a problem later—or mine.

  He was insane.

  As if to prove my point, he turned and charged straight into the trees—toward another set of glowing eyes.

  I groaned and sprinted after him.

  “Timbur, wait! You’re injured!”

  He flipped me off over his shoulder. “If you want first dibs, then get to the monsters first, slowpoke!”

  That… was not at all my concern.

  Shoving aside exhaustion and exasperation, I chased after him.

  At the very least, he’d make great bait if he kept running in headfirst like that…