He managed to tear into one of the men and rip his throat open in his first pounce. He landed on top of the fallen shifter, blood splattering around him. Hal and the other two shifted, their animal forms becoming solid just as Maverick turned to face them.
Pilar suddenly dropped down from above … she’d climbed a tree to come at the men from a different angle. She landed on the rhino, stuck her claws in, and hung on as he bucked across the field. The hyena chased them, jumping up and snapping at Pilar.
Maverick was faced with the horrific, hulking shape of Hal’s furless bear form. With no hair, he was especially monstrous, something completely unnatural. Maverick scented the air, detecting only the faintest hint of Hal’s scent.
You need to die, you tricky, fucking bastard.
Hal stood on his hind legs and roared, a sound that echoed into the surrounding forest. Birds flew from bushes and fled, and small creatures ran across the forest floor. Everything ran from the alpha’s cry.
Maverick felt a great surge of rage rising in his chest. A flaming energy seemed to set his heart on fire, making his blood run hot. Maverick opened his jaws and roared back at Hal, the extreme pressure inside him releasing in one magnificent torrent of sound.
It was Hal’s voice that died first and Maverick’s cry that drowned him out and resonated through the forest like a declaration of his supremacy.
Maverick saw doubt flicker in Hal’s eyes. He crouched, baring his teeth and feeling his body ripple with power. Hal had lost in the first threat display, and now he was afraid. Maverick could smell it.
He leapt at Hal, going for his throat. The bear swiped with one paw, catching Maverick right in the ribs and sending him flying. Maverick rolled and jumped at him again, catching another line of scratches across his ribs and getting no closer to bringing Hal down.
Pilar’s words came back to him.
You aren’t being careful.
Maverick knew that raw power wasn’t going to cut it. He had to use a more powerful weapon, his brain. Leaping at Hal and getting thrown across the clearing wasn’t the way to win.
Hal suddenly dropped to all fours and charged him. Maverick stood his ground, leaping up at the last second to maul Hal’s face. The bear screamed, struggling away as it grabbed at the wounds.
Maverick began to circle the creature, feeling his strength coiling in his muscles, preparing to strike. When Hal’s back was to him, he darted in and left long deep scratches on the bear’s flanks before slipping away again.
Hal roared and spun around, almost falling. Maverick jumped back as the bear stumbled, then slashed at his face again. As the hulking, hairless thing struggled after him, Maverick decided he would try for Hal’s back and cling to him until he could get his claws into his enemy’s throat.
He had to dance and pace around Hal several times until the bear began to really stumble. Blood was trickling down Hal’s face, getting in his eyes. Maverick danced lightly across the soil, finally finding a good opening.
He sprang for Hal’s back, digging in his claws. The bear shrieked, standing up and trying to claw at Maverick, but he was right in the center of the creature’s back, and Hal couldn’t reach him.
Maverick extended his claws, so they dug deep into Hal’s skin, then he began to climb. The bear screamed under him the whole time, but Maverick kept his careful pace so the bear’s frantic motion wouldn’t dislodge him.
As he got to Hal’s shoulders, the bear twisted and jumped up and down, desperate to get him off. Maverick simply dug in his hind claws and slashed downward with his powerful front paws.
He felt his claws pierce flesh and roared in triumph. Blood splattered the soil as Hal fell to the ground. Maverick shook himself and roared again, the cry of an alpha claiming victory.
Pilar!
He whipped around, running into the long grass. Immediately he caught her scent, and then he saw her running toward him. They jumped at each other, batting with their paws and finally tumbling over and over in a sinewy feline embrace.
For a moment, they lay in the grass together, gently nudging each other’s faces and purring like crazy. After a few minutes, they got up, heading back to the steel mill. The DOD had already arrived, and Maverick and Pilar quickly shifted and got dressed so they could debrief.
The agents had everything under control as they directed their forensics and cleanup crews. Maverick saw a few remaining goons getting arrested and thrown into cars.
“It looks like this case is wrapped,” an agent said, heading over to shake Maverick’s hand. “I’m Agent Miller, and I’m in charge of this operation now. We can’t thank you enough for your efforts.”
Maverick shrugged, putting an arm around Pilar. “It was something I had to do. I’m just glad we stopped them before more people got hurt.”
Agent Miller nodded. “Yes. We lost a lot of good men here. It’s been a very ugly situation. Please, give my regards to Nick and the rest of the agency.”
“We will,” Pilar said. “Is there anything else you need?”
Miller shrugged. “There will be official reports to complete. I can get those over the phone. Why don’t you guys take off? It must be a long time since you had a decent rest.”
Maverick didn’t feel tired, but he had to admit, it had been a long time since he’d rested. It seemed like an eternity now that he’d had to worry constantly about being attacked. The realization finally struck him that he and Pilar were free. They could go to bed for a week if they wanted to, and no one could stop them.