Chapter 91: Commander
The five werewolves spread out, encircling the clearing, their movements low and predatory. Thick muscles rippled beneath dark fur, claws digging slightly into the mossy earth.
Yellow eyes glowed with hungry light, fixed on the two women. One, slightly larger than the others, presumably the leader, took a step forward, letting out a low growl that vibrated in the tense air.
"Where is the master of this place?" he rasped, his voice a rough growl shaped into words. "This domain... it is new. Weak. Ripe for claiming." He sniffed the air, muzzle wrinkling. "Tell us where he hides. Make this easy."
Scarlet scoffed, shifting her weight, daggers held loosely at her sides. ’Easy? Buddy, my whole day has been the opposite of easy.’ "Sorry, pal," she called back, forcing a casual tone she didn’t feel. "Nobody home. Try next door."
Arachne remained silent, crouched low, her eyes narrowed, tracking the movements of each werewolf simultaneously. Her body coiled like a spring, radiating a dangerous stillness that contrasted sharply with Scarlet’s forced nonchalance.
Her silence was its own answer: defiance.
The lead werewolf’s yellow eyes narrowed. He glanced at his packmates, a silent communication passing between them.
"No?" he growled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. "A pity." He flexed his claws, sharp points extending fully. "Then we will tear this place apart until we find him. Starting with you."
He lunged.
The clearing exploded into motion. Two wolves charged Arachne, aiming to overwhelm her with sheer mass and speed. The other three, including the leader, converged on Scarlet.
’Great odds,’ she thought sarcastically, immediately backpedaling, using the trees for cover. One wolf swiped, claws tearing through the air where she’d been moments before. She ducked under another lunge, rolling sideways across the mossy ground.