Shaggy’s late leap allowed him to catch Ryall in the waist as the two came together in the air. With a grunt, Shaggy locked his arms around the bigger man’s waist and tilted forward. Ryall’s claws scratched across his back. But Shaggy ignored the pain and focused on slamming them both back down onto the brick pile below.

Ryall’s back hit the bricks as Shaggy let go and started clawing the Tiger-shifter's mid-section. He clawed through Ryall’s jacket and shirt, turning them into strips of cloth. Blood and viscera went everywhere as Ryall tried to defend himself with his own claws. Shaggy felt his back heal as new wounds were opened up on his shoulders and chest.

The two clawed at each other like wild animals. The scent of iron in the air was almost palpable and Shaggy felt his tired inner-wolf rear its head hungrily. Ryall, still on his back in the bricks, roared in annoyance as Shaggy’s arms started to heal. He snapped his large legs out and kicked Shaggy in the thigh and waist. Stumbling back, Shaggy sent one last claw attack, which barely missed Ryall’s face.

The tiger-shifter stood up, the wounds on his body slowly healing shut as he glared at Shaggy. Flexing his claws, Shaggy stared back and gave a half-grin as he watched Ryall’s healing. It was slowing considerably. With renewed vigor, he charged. Aiming for the bigger man’s legs with a pounce. Ryall pivoted, pulling his legs away from Shaggy’s claws and stabbing his own down into Shaggy’s shoulder.

Shaggy felt the tiger’s short nails dig into his shoulder painfully and winced. Ryall gripped with them and tore a sizeable chunk out. Shaggy yowled in pain and flailed wildly with his claws, catching Ryall in the side. The big shifter ignored Shaggy’s attack and kicked him. The blow caught Shaggy in the side and sent him flying a short distance through the bricks.

His shoulder and insides healing, Shaggy grabbed a brick and threw it at Ryall’s head. Caught off-guard, the brick slammed into Ryall’s face. Breaking his nose. It snapped back into place as Ryall roared in defiance and charged. Shaggy got ready to throw another brick as the bigger man barreled down on him. But his claws made it difficult.

He shifted his hands back to normal and grabbed one just as Ryall hit him. The bigger man brought him down to the ground and raked his claws down Shaggy’s chest. Grunting in pain, Shaggy brought his brick against Ryall’s smug face. The brick broke apart as it hit Ryall, and the big shifter did not look amused. But Shaggy quickly grabbed another and repeated the attack.

The wounds on his chest healed as Ryall head-butted his brick. This one broke apart too and blood trickled down Ryall’s face from a fresh wound. Kicking out at Ryall’s left leg with both of his, Shaggy yanked the bigger man down and rolled. He quickly grabbed another brick and raised it over his head as he got on top of the tiger-shifter. Ryall had barely enough time to get his claws up before Shaggy slammed the brick down on Ryall’s face. Breaking his nose again.

Shaggy followed the brick attack with several more punches that made Ryall pull his arms up to defend. Shaggy kept swinging and shifted his hands back to claws. Slashing Ryall’s arms up. Blood continued to spill and Shaggy could see Ryall’s already slow healing practically stop. His arms were bloody and the big man was panting angrily. Shaggy pointed his long claws down at Ryall’s face and plunged them down for a killing blow. But Ryall heaved Shaggy off of him, using his greater weight and his bloodied arms.

Shaggy crashed into the bricks beside Ryall and tried to get back up. But the tiger-shifter placed a hand on his throat. Another hand grabbed Shaggy at the waist and he was lifted off the ground. Ryall roared below him as he held Shaggy over his head. Preparing himself to be thrown, Shaggy was caught off-guard as Ryall strengthened his grip and brought him down. Right over the tiger-shifter’s knee.

Shaggy felt his bones creak and all the air left his body. Ryall was lifting him for another attempt at breaking his back. Shaggy flailed wildly with his left claw, hoping to hit something vital. His claws raked across Ryall’s chest, but the other shifter ignored it. So instead, Shaggy jabbed his long claws deep into Ryall’s flesh and waited for him to slam him back down. As Shaggy was brought across Ryall’s knee again, his claws carved through Ryall’s body. From sternum to groin.

Shaggy felt his back break, and Ryall gave an ungodly roar. Shaggy was let go, and he crashed into the brick pile again. Ryall took a few steps before he fell alongside Shaggy in the bricks. Shaggy felt his claws shift back into hands and as his body tried to heal itself. His back was slowly healing, but he wasn’t going to be able to move for a bit. Wincing against the pain, he glanced over at Ryall.

The tiger-shifter was laying face down in the bricks, blood pooling across several of them. Shaggy almost wheezed out a victory cry. Then he saw the big shifter twitch slightly. Holding his breath as his vertebrae popped back into place, Shaggy readied himself. But Ryall’s twitching died down and Shaggy blew out a sigh of relief. Either Ryall had died or the big bastard was doing the same thing Shaggy was. Waiting for the right moment to strike.

Shaggy winced as he looked up at the night sky. His spine was healing very slowly. He could feel the pool of energy that fed his regeneration dwindling down to nothing.

“The bastard better be dead or I’m fucked.” Shaggy thought to himself.

He grabbed a brick to calm his nerves and told himself he would be able to use it just fine. His exhausted arms and still healing back told him otherwise, though. But it successfully calmed him and he turned his focus more inward. Which is when he got another surprise.

His lips were curling upward in a smile when the sound of clattering bricks came from his left. Looking over Shaggy caught sight of a long mane of blonde hair. The hair was followed by a slim body, picking its way toward them through the bricks. Shaggy grunted and reaffirmed his grip on his brick. A woman appeared atop the brick pile, crouching low to stay unnoticed. But when she saw Ryall, a gasp escaped her lips, and she hurried over to the fallen shifter.

Shaggy kept watching as the woman gently checked over Ryall’s body. Her face was grim and Shaggy couldn’t tell if she looked more sad or angry at the state of Ryall’s body. But when she turned and glared at him, Shaggy had no illusions about how pissed she was. She stood up and walked toward him as more bricks clattered nearby. Her hand shifted into a furry tiger’s paw and her nails extended menacingly as she leaned down.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Shaggy smirked as he looked up at the woman. Her features were angular and sharp. She was pretty in a severe school teacher kind of way. But Shaggy quickly threw that thought aside as she sneered down at him, her clawed hand ready to slash his throat.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Shaggy said.

“And why not?” The woman sneered. “You’ve beaten my mate, killed my sister, and are generally responsible for this entire shitty week. Why shouldn’t I gut you like the filthy dog you are?”

Another blonde woman appeared where the first one had. Spotting them immediately, she hurried over the bricks and rushed to Ryall’s side. Shaggy watched her with detached amusement for a bit before returning his gaze to the surly woman. He smiled again.

“I didn’t say you shouldn’t. I said I wouldn’t, if I were you.”

The blonde crouched lower, her nails inches from Shaggy’s face. “And I ask again, why not?”

Shaggy blew out a breath and rolled his eyes as another voice answered the blondes.

“Because we’re here, dumbass.”

The blonde had just enough time to look up before Rita’s fist caught her in the face. She yowled in alarm and jumped backwards. The other woman got to her feet and stood protectively over Ryall’s body. Over Shaggy’s prone form, he could see Rita, Cekrass, Stanley, and Ephemara standing near him. With his link, he could feel Vick and Sybil on a nearby building’s roof. As well as Vud, Rin, and Seth, a block up.

Shaggy released his grip on the brick and sighed as the pain in his back lessened. His healing had bottomed out, but not before healing his back. He wanted to get up, but he was so sore he figured it was better to take a break while the two packs squared off. Rita felt his mood and snorted at his thoughts. Shaggy gave her a shrug and winced at the pain.

Ryall’s blonde mates both had different reactions to the appearance of Shaggy’s pack. The first blonde crouched low and shifted to her hybrid form. Yellow fur covered her body and her already sharp face took on tiger-like features. She hissed and snarled at them as the other blonde worriedly looked around. Catching Shaggy’s eyes, the second blonde looked pleadingly at him as she glanced between Ryall’s body and her sister-mate. Fear and aggression were thick in the air, but Shaggy was tired. With a sigh, he opened his mouth.

“Ahh, take Ryall and get the fuck out of our territory.” He said simply.

The second blonde hurriedly started picking up Ryall’s body as the other woman looked outraged. Her slim tiger-form twitched menacingly as she glanced at her partner in indignation. But the second woman wasn’t having it.

“No, Helga! This lot already killed Greta and I’m not losing any more family. Hob is still breathing, but we need to get him home. So stow your fucking revenge and let’s go!”

Shaggy blinked as he spotted Ryall’s chest slowly raising and falling. He was surprised the bastard was alive. Ryall was still bleeding profusely, though. Shaggy grunted in annoyance at himself. If he had known the pain in the ass was still alive, he probably wouldn’t have made the deal.

“We can still kill them, boss.” Rita said.

Shaggy shook his head, wincing as his head hit a few bricks. “No. I’m a man of my word. If they don’t want any trouble, there won’t be any. But if they come back…”

Shaggy left the thought unfinished, and he felt waves of agreement coming from his pack. As one, they all stepped away and raised their hands. Even Sybil and Vick, who were on top of the building next door, made themselves known. The shifted tigress hissed in anger as her eyes scanned all of them. She stalked backwards, giving her sister-mate enough room and space to drag Ryall’s body out of the bricks. Never looking away, the two tiger-women scrabbled out of the ruined building.

Shaggy blew out a sigh as Rita started barking orders. “Cekrass, grab the boss. Tom, Ephe, can you follow the bitch sisters? Make sure they follow orders.”

Ephemara nodded as Tom’s voice spoke up from behind Stanley. “Aw, do we have to? I’m so tired!”

The exhaustion in Tom’s tone made Shaggy take a better look at his pack. Rita was bleeding from a wound on her forehead, Cekrass was limping, Stanley’s hair and face looked mildly singed, and all of them were sporting bruises across the visible portions of their bodies. His pack had been put through it. Mr. White’s HLO troops must have been a pain in the ass.

Rita swung her foot near Shaggy’s head, narrowly missing, but getting his attention. “You do not get to feel bad for us when you are lying there with a broken back!”

“He could feel a little sorry for us,” Tom mumbled.

“GO!” Rita ordered.

Ephemara grabbed Tom by his shirt and dragged him away. Cekrass leaned down and picked Shaggy up, making his bones scream in pain. The big lizard settled Shaggy across both his arms in a princess carry and started walking. A feeling of general mirth came from his pack, but Shaggy was fine with being carried like this. It meant he wasn’t jostled much as they moved. Stanley slipped him some jerky as Rita started explaining the rest of the fight with the HLO.

His pack and wife had quickly wiped the floor with the troopers. However, for whatever reason, the HLO troops didn’t teleport away once they were dispatched. So Shaggy’s pack had to drag the bodies inside. Which took even more time. Then the police and HLO drones showed up, which turned things into more of a shitshow. Rita explained that as they left, the cops and the HLO were arguing over jurisdiction and corporate overreach. Levy stayed to talk to each group as a co-owner of the deli.

“She was arguing rings around both the cops and HLO when we left.” Stanley said with a smile.

“Do we need to slow down, then? We don’t want to all parade into the deli at once. That’s bound to draw eyes.” Shaggy asked around a mouthful of jerky.

His healing was speeding up again, which just made him more and more hungry. That hunger seemed to resonate with his pack. Shaggy could tell they were starving, too, but Rita looked pensive.

“I told Levy that I’d bring you right back.”

“And you will, after healing me up to full with a great big meal.”

The mental equivalent of dogs salivating hit Shaggy all at once and he could see it hit Rita, too. She looked concern for a few more seconds until she huffed angrily and waved for Vick and Sybil to join them. The two on overwatch had been traveling across the rooftops alongside them.

“Fine. But Boss, if we get in trouble for this, I’m laying it at your feet.”

Shaggy snorted. “Who’s the boss here?”

His pack remained deathly silent for a few seconds before they ignored his question and started discussing food options. Shaggy scowled to himself as he realized again that his pack feared his wife more than him. But then he thought of all the ways he could make it up to Levy and grinned to himself. Cekrass cradled him in his arms as Shaggy and his pack argued into the night about appropriate late night dinner options.