The Winter Wolf tried to rise on her one good leg, ice forming shakily at her side, her instincts flaring. She still had her pride. Her will.
But Jayden didn't give her the luxury of strategy.
He lunged like a savage shadow.
CLANG!
Claws met ice.
She tried to surprise-attack him by conjuring a sharp ice spear from behind. But before she could send the spear lunging to his back, Jayden sensed it and quickly raised his feet.
THUMP!
A spinning kick caught her in the ribs, flinging her into a tree. Bark exploded outward in a thunderstorm of wood and snow.
She barely caught her footing when—
CRACK!
His clawed fist smashed into her jaw, then her shoulder, then her ribs again.
She fell.
But Jayden didn't let her breathe.
He didn't give her time to form her next thought.
SLASH.
Across her forelegs.
SLASH.
Across her back.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
The ground quaked beneath each strike.
And yet, despite everything, she resisted.
