Page 35 of Haven

Kile stepped back, his chest heaving with adrenaline. “Get up!” he roared, his voice carrying the weight of his challenge.

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he slowly pushed himself up, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. The battle was far from over, but Kile was determined to finish it.

Kile and Sebastian circled each other. The firelight flickered over their muscular forms, casting long shadows as they sized each other up. Their eyes were locked in a deadly dance of challenge.

Sebastian lunged, his fist connected with Kile’s jaw in a bone-rattling punch sending Kile stumbling back. Blood welled up in Kile's mouth, but the blow only ignited his fury. He swiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” Kile spat blood.

Sebastian grinned, blood also coating his teeth. "I'm going to enjoy tearing you apart. Piece by fucking piece."

With a roar, Kile charged, slamming his shoulder into Sebastian's chest, knocking him off balance. Sebastian recovered quickly, throwing punches into Kile's ribs. Kile blocked most of them but caught a hard right hook to the side of his head. The world tilted briefly, but he shook it off and countered with a savage uppercut that caught Sebastian under the chin, snapping his head back.

They grappled, their bodies slamming together. Fists cracked against flesh. Kile felt the sting of Sebastian's blows, but he was relentless, each hit only fueling his anger. He slammed his elbow into Sebastian's nose, feeling it break under the force.

Sebastian stumbled, snarling like a wounded animal, and wiped the blood from his face. "I’m going to kill you!" he spat, his voice thick with hatred.

Kile didn’t say a word; he only growled, beckoning him with a bloody hand.

With a guttural roar, Sebastian charged again. Kile met him head-on, landing a solid knee in Sebastian's gut and doubling him over. He grabbed the back of Sebastian's head and drove his face into his knee with force. Sebastian groaned and staggered back, blood streaming down his face.

Kile could feel the shift inside him, the wolf clawing at his skin, demanding to be set free. He knew Sebastian’s wolf was also close to the surface. Kile saw it in the way Sebastian's eyes glowed with fury. With a snarl, they both let go.

The transformation was violent. Bones cracked and reshaped, muscles bulged, and skin split as fur burst forth. In seconds, the men were gone, replaced by two massive wolves, their eyes gleaming with the promise of death.

Sebastian lunged first, jaws snapping for Kile's throat. But Kile, larger and stronger, twisted out of the way and slashed at Sebastian's side with his claws, ripping deep into the flesh. Sebastian yelped in pain but didn't back down. He spun around, his teeth catching Kile's leg, dragging him to the ground.

They rolled together in a tangle of fur and fangs, each trying to gain the upper hand. Blood soaked into the dirt as they fought savagely, neither willing to yield.

Kile felt Sebastian’s teeth graze his neck, but he moved just in time. If he hadn’t, that could have been a killing blow. With a surge of power, Kile shook his powerful frame, throwing Sebastian off him and sending the wolf crashing into a tree. Sebastian recovered quickly, but Kile was faster. He lunged, sinking his teeth deep into Sebastian’s shoulder, shaking him viciously.

Sebastian’s wolf yelped in agony. Kile was done playing. He released his hold on Sebastian’s shoulder only to clamp his jaws around his throat. Sebastian thrashed beneath him, but Kile’s grip was stronger. Blood poured from his neck as Kile’s teeth sank deeper, cutting off the bastard’s air.

The wolf’s struggles grew weaker, his snarls turning into wheezing gasps. Kile’s growl rumbled through the clearing as he shook Sebastian violently, feeling the life slowly draining from his enemy.

With one final, savage bite, Kile snapped Sebastian’s neck.

The wolf went limp in his jaws. Kile released his grip, stepping back, panting heavily. With his fur matted with blood, he stood over Sebastian's dead body, letting out a ferocious howl, his chest heaving as the wolf in him slowly began to recede.

Kile shifted back into his human form, bloodied and battered. He looked down at Sebastian’s lifeless body with no regret. The threat to Sadie was gone and everyone present knew that she belonged to him.

CHAPTER 21

The fight was over, but the tension lingered in the air. Sebastian's men were retreating into the woods. Sadie stood, watching as Kile knelt on the ground, breathing heavily, his head bowed. Her heart had been in her throat the entire time in fear for Kile.

Eric and Cole had been by her side, standing guard over her as well as ensuring no one interfered in the fight between Kile and Sebastian. Their presence warned any of Sebastian’s remaining men that this fight was between their alpha and Kile, no one else.

Eric moved toward Kile, his expression hard but filled with relief. Sadie felt an overwhelming urge to run to him to ensure herself he was okay. But as she stepped forward to do just that, Char's wolf slammed into her, sending her tumbling to the ground.

Sadie barely had time to process what was happening before Char’s wolf lunged toward the woman who had struck Sadie earlier. Sebastian’s mate’s scream cut through the night but was quickly silenced as Char’s jaws closed around her neck with a sickening crunch.

Sadie’s stomach lurched violently. She turned her head away, bile rising in her throat as she heard the sound of tearing flesh. Her hands shook uncontrollably, and she forced herself to take deep breaths, trying to keep from vomiting. She managed to stand with Cole’s help.

When she finally dared to look back, Char stood in her human form, her naked body heaving with exertion. Her face was splattered with blood, her eyes cold. Her mouth was red, still wet from the kill. The woman now lay lifeless on the ground, her throat torn open in a savage display of dominance. Seeing the wicked-looking knife still in the dead woman’s hand, her eyes shot up to Char.

“Thank you,” Sadie whispered, realizing the knife had been for her and this young girl had saved her life.

Char’s gaze shifted to Sadie. “Don’t thank me. I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” Char wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and then nodded. “The bitch deserved it and more.”