Chapter 23: Ways to take down a pack of wolves
The wolf's tail stiffened, its body crouched low to the ground—then suddenly, it burst forward.
The motion was nearly invisible.
Its speed doubled in an instant, becoming a blur of gray-white fur and snarling fangs.
Riley's eyes widened as he barely managed to react in time. His instincts kicked in, and he threw himself into a roll just as the wolf's claws slashed through the space where he'd been standing a heartbeat ago.
Dust and loose leaves scattered from the impact.
Even before he'd finished rolling, Riley snapped his right hand forward, towards the monster.
"Spike Shot!"
Swoosh!
A thin, metallic brown spike erupted from his palm, streaking toward the Dire Wolf with a faint whistling sound.
But the wolf wasn't standing still.
Its body twisted mid-run, sliding with the grace of a predator born to kill.