I readied for my claws to sink into tender flesh, but instead, the man grabbed my wrist and swung me into the wall. My back met stone, and I yelped in pain.

Raargh!

The claws on my feet found purchase on his legs, and I kicked him away. He slid back and hit the opposite wall as I fell to all fours. I looked up, growled, and then kicked off the wall.

Something grabbed my limbs, and I crashed to the floor, pulling the person behind me.

"Devon! What's happening?" the smaller human shouted.

Let go!

I twisted around and knocked her away. My meaty hand met the side of her chest, and I heard something snap. She went flying, so I turned back to my target and jumped.

He rolled out of the way, jumped to his feet, and kicked me in the ribs with a booted foot. It launched me back; something broke inside my chest.

The pain didn't matter.

I swung a paw at his boot and tore into the leather while the man cursed and leaned away.

"Alice! Grab Astra, now," the larger human yelled across the room.

My feet pushed off the stone, and I rushed at the man, who continued to dodge my attempts to maul him.

Stay still!

My arm met foot, and my claw dug into his calf; in return, the same booted foot that broke a rib smashed into my nose. I reeled and let go. The stars in my eyes blinded my vision.

A vice-like hand snatched my wrist, wrenching it behind me. Desperation surged as I fought to break loose, but a swift jerk pinned both arms, driving them hard against my spine.

"Listen, pup. Release the transformation. Now!"

I slammed my head backwards. Crunch! My skull met something solid. Even as my vision swam, I reveled in the action. Feeling their grip loosen, I turned to chomp on the first thing I could find, biting into their leg.

Blood gushed into my mouth and across my tongue, the delicious iron greeting the hunger inside my stomach. The blood continued down my throat, and it felt warm; the energy in my core met the blood, ready to consume the liquid in its fire, but something changed.

The warm blood flared into an icy chill that sizzled inside my throat. The lava inside my body reacted to the liquid ice and exploded outwards, making me hack up blood. I looked down and growled, swiping away at the small puddle.

A shadow flickered at the edge of my sight. My head snapped around. I looked up in time to see a thick arm aim to clothesline my throat. I tried to snap at the free meat delivering itself to my mouth, but thick claws wrapped around the roof of my snout and yanked upward. The arm reached my neck and crushed it, cutting off my airway.

I met glowing crimson eyes above a wolf's snout.

"Enough! Settle down!" he growled.

His eyes glowed brightly, and his lips receded in a snarl.

They didn't paralyze me the way Grim's had.

My hand shoved into his mouth while he instinctively snapped down. Sharp teeth sank into my flesh, mangling the meat. Finger bones snapped, but I curled my claws around his fangs and yanked downward. He resisted, but having leverage on his lower jaw meant I won in the power struggle. His large wolf head met mine, and I snapped at his neck.

A crushing weight on my chest kept me from biting down, holding me just an inch shy. I strained against it, but his leg held absolute and held me back.

Another growl tore itself from my throat, and I ran my tongue against his fur, the smell of sweat adding to the blood. His foot shoved me away, and I snapped my mouth shut.

The other werewolf tensed his shoulders and raised his head, releasing a deep howl that pushed itself past the flow of fire inside my veins. My bones rattled while my thoughts churned to a slow stream.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Two heavy paws pressed my arms to the floor, forcing them down. I tried to resist but could barely think as the howl commanded me to stop.

No… No!

My thoughts cleared, and I found the same red eyes glaring down. His foot twisted, and the bones in my arm creaked.

"Astra bind him."

"Fine, don't move."

I sucked in a deep breath and shifted my legs. The werewolf reacted by crushing my arms. I ignored the break in my right arm to raise my leg and hook it around his. I slammed my other foot into the back of his knee, causing him to tumble forward.

Now free, I raked my claws across his front while digging my other into his thigh. I didn't feel the same call to hunt the prey, not like before. But a new feral urge slid into my mind.

You won't subdue me!

I pulled, trying to drag the other werewolf closer, but the engine inside my chest sputtered. As a switch flipped, the strength that filled my limbs gave out, and I faltered. A large foot smashed into my face. My jaw creaked, and my skull hit the stone wall.

My body sunk to the floor, and I planted my hand against it to push up, but silver chains snaked around my body. They slid across my muscles and fur, sliding up and down my limbs, across my chest, and around my neck. Another chain circled my mouth, the links snagging into my fangs.

I squirmed to escape, but the chains constricted. Arms and legs bound tight, and my jaw clamped shut, I toppled over. Desperately, I wriggled, trying to break free, but my fleeting strength left me floundering helplessly on the cold floor.

My eyes caught a gleam of movement, and I watched as the shorter human raised a giant axe. Her hands wrapped around the shaft, and she hoisted it high. Before she could swing downward, the other werewolf's hand settled on her shoulder, and she stopped. Slowly, her head turned to look back.

"Stop. He's one of us," the werewolf said.

She frowned and looked at me with fury in her eyes. "I wasn't going to. Only if he moved."

The other werewolf shook his head. "I don't care how angry you are; we don't need Astra to chain up two."

Her frown deepened, but she stayed silent. Before my eyes, the werewolf reverted back into his human form. Fur disappeared, and clothes took its place. As he changed, another woman walked up, and I watched her dress sway with each step.

She leaned down and held out a closed fist. "See you when you're awake, Cain."

As she uncurled her fingers, she blew gently, sending the shimmery pink powder in her hand to cascade into the air. I flopped but couldn't escape the chains. I sniffed and smelled something sweet. I inhaled deeply, the smell intoxicating, but my mouth started to numb.

My eyes blinked, and I saw the woman in a dress wave her hand, the motion blurry to my eyes. With the numbness spreading past my snout, I closed my eyes and let the void take me.

----------------------------------------

My head rolled to the side, and I tried to open my eyes. Both lids felt heavy, weighing me down, but I managed to crack open my right eye. I saw blue light filter through the room, but a blurry spot in my vision made everything hard to see.

I raised my hand and winced as my arm ached with a dull pain. My fingers rubbed at my lids and gently pushed down. They felt puffy.

What happened to me?

Then came the flood of memories; the smell of blood and meat hit my nose, and I recoiled. At the time, I felt drawn to it, but now that the frenzy didn't consume me, the only thing I could feel was... revulsion.

More memories hammered in. Scenes of me running through an endless forest and vague memories about a wall and a tunnel smashed into the forefront of my mind.

Next came the sight of humans.

No. Not humans. People. Grimms, they were Grimms, I recognized.

Next came the flash sequence of attacking Devon and launching the girl away. I winced as the memory played.

I'm pretty sure I heard the sound of one of her bones breaking.

After that, most of the following memories were fragments of thoughts and senses that flooded my mind. I gripped the side of my head and groaned. Devon did something, but I felt the beast inside me rage.

After being chained up, the memories began to slow and stopped when I recalled silver chains tying my limbs together.

I groaned again and massaged my temples.

Ugh, something happened… Grim did something to me.

I tried to remember, but I only got fleeting memories of him causing me pain before the tracking sequence replayed in my head.

Something clinked, and a small puff of cool air brushed my cheek. I squinted at the object hanging in front of my eyes. The cup steamed with a dark green liquid inside. Inside the cup rested a metal utensil, while small white chunks floated around it.

I looked up and met Astra's bright smile as she dangled the drink. "Take it. It'll help get rid of the after-effects."

"Thanks," I said as I took the warm cup.

I stared at the unappetizing green liquid and chunks, but Astra tapped my forehead and motioned to the cup. I internally sighed and used the metal spoon to scoop up a sip worth into my mouth. The liquid felt grainy, but it tasted like vegetable broth. I sipped some more and hummed at the surprisingly hearty-tasting soup.

"Not as bad as it looks."

"Well, that's a little rude. I make potions; why couldn't I cook some good soup?" Astra asked, her words carrying little bite for how offended she acted.

In response, I made a visible showing of slurping up the soup. She squinted but smiled and moved to sit on the couch.

"Aaah. That's good," I said. I lowered my cup into my lap and turned to Astra. "Is… Devon, okay?"

She patted me on the leg. "He's fine, don't worry. As feisty as you were, you're a few decades away from being able to take down someone like Devon."

Jeez, you didn't have to knock me down that much.

"And the other one, the girl. What abo-"

"Alice, no. Stop." Devon said from outside the wall.

We turned to stare at the wall, and I shrunk back as the very angry-looking huntress from before stomped through the illusion the moment it dispersed. Her boots smashed into the ground, and she approached, ignoring Astra as she stood up and Devon trailing behind her.

"You!" she said as she pointed an accusatory finger.

Uh-oh!

I began to stand up, but she grabbed me by the collar.

"Look, I'm sor-"

She reared back her left arm and delivered a fierce hook, smashing into my cheek.