The Alpha's growl came low, resonant, commanding. The rest of the wolves responded instantly — spreading out, tightening the circle. A tactical formation.
Meanwhile Xavier twirled his dagger in one hand, moonlight crawling up his arm like liquid silver.
"Not bad. You've got brains… and a death wish."
He bent slightly at the knees, his stance lowering. The faint glow of his Moonshield shimmered to life again, casting a soft silver halo over the corpses around him.
Then came the first strike.
A blur of black movement shot from his right — a wolf lunging out of the smoke with a snarl, fangs gleaming with venom. Xavier ducked, pivoted, and slashed upward in the same motion — the blade slicing through its throat in one fluid arc. The wolf's body hit the ground and dissolved into black vapor.
But that was just the beginning.
The entire pack moved.
