Snapped Rope, Savage Blood
KANE
We gathered at the riverbank like wolves staring at fresh meat.
The rope stretched high above the roaring black water, thick, swaying slightly in the wind, looking like a death trap designed just for us.
Scarlett’s group, our group, and some forgettable pack of nobodies clustered together, all staring up.
Forty fucking feet of nothing but air and death below.
My blood was singing.
Professor Ryan raised his hand. “Go!”
Scarlett immediately tried to twist out of my arm. “Let me go, Kane. I need to come up with a plan with my team…”
“Love,” I drawled, tightening my hold just enough to keep her pressed against me, “why love? I’m right here to help.”
She stared at me like I’d grown two heads. “Were you not listening? It’s not each person on their own, it’s each team for themselves!”
I grinned down at her, flashing teeth. “Exactly, love. And you’re on my team now. The rest is just decoration.”
Rhys stepped up beside us, voice smooth as silk and twice as deadly “She has a point, Kane,” he said softly, but that serene smile told me he didn’t give a single fuck about rules. “Though I prefer *our* definition of winning.”
Scarlett’s eyes went wide with panic. “You two are going to get us eliminated!”
Rhys tilted his head, looking at her like she was the most precious, breakable thing in the world. “Darling… as long as we get across, that’s all that matters.”
“GUYSSSS!” Lily shrieked, pointing up.
Team 9 was already moving, three of them carefully inching along the rope, claws partially out for grip, moving slow but steady.
I clicked my tongue. “Oh… that’s not good.”
Scarlett opened her mouth to argue, but I was done talking.
“Hold on, princess.”
Scarlett barely had time to blink. “What—Kane, *no*—!”
I wrapped one massive arm around her waist, yanked her against my chest, and *leapt*. My claws exploded from my fingertips as I slammed into the trunk of the tree. Wood splintered under my grip. Scarlett screamed, her small body plastered to mine as we shot upward.
I laughed the whole way, loud and wild, the wind whipping through my messy hair. “That’s it, *love*! Scream for me!”
We reached the top in seconds. I pushed off hard, launching us onto the rope behind the last member of Team Nine. The second my boots hit the thick cord, I flexed my thighs and *shook* it…hard.
The entire ninth group lost balance. Shouts turned into screams as they tumbled off one by one, hitting the freezing river below with loud splashes. One guy tried to grab the rope again but missed, flipping mid-air like a pathetic doll.
“Oops.”
Scarlett’s eyes were huge, pure horror written across that pretty face. Her whole body shook against mine, back flush to my chest, her sweet little ass pressed right where my cock was already thickening.
“You’re insane,” she breathed, voice cracking. “You’re actually psychotic…!”
I laughed against her ear, tightening my arm around her waist. “Love, you say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Behind us, Rhys moved like a shadow. He dragged a protesting Lily up the same way, landing gracefully behind me with her tucked under one arm like luggage.
Saint followed last, calm, silent, walking along the tree branches before stepping onto the rope like he was strolling down a hallway. His massive frame barely made it sway.
The three of us now owned the rope.
I kept one arm locked around Scarlett’s trembling body, her back flush to my chest. The river roared below us. Wind whipped at us and I’d never felt more alive.
“See, love?” I whispered against her hair, voice thick with dark satisfaction. “Easy. Now be a good girl and hold on tight while Daddy gets us across.”
Scarlett’s heart hammered so hard I could feel it against my forearm. She was soaked in fear and adrenaline, shaking like a leaf… but her thighs pressed together anyway.
Rhys’s golden eyes met mine over her head, that calm, approving smile promising more chaos.
The river roared beneath us.
We started moving across the swaying rope like we owned the fucking sky.
Scarlett squirmed in my hold, her voice shaky but stubborn. “Okay, crazy, let me down. I can walk now.”
I tightened my arm around her waist for a second, grinding my hard cock against her ass just because I could. “Please, love? Let me carry you the whole way. I like you right here.”
She sighed, the sound equal parts frustration and reluctant heat. “Professor Ryan might eliminate us if I don’t at least participate. Please, Kane.”
I groaned like she’d just kicked me in the balls, but I loosened my grip and carefully lowered her until her feet found the rope. “Fine. Move slow, love. One foot in front of the other. And don’t look down.”
She nodded, breathing fast, and started shuffling forward. Her arms were out for balance, tiny hands trembling. The wind whipped her dark hair around her face, and every little sway of the rope made her whimper. But after a few steps she found a rhythm.
“I… I’m doing it,” she whispered, voice full of shaky wonder.
I leaned in close behind her, lips brushing her ear. “Yes, love. Look at you. My fierce little Omega walking the abyss like she was born for it.”
She actually smiled for half a second, proud, and so fucking cute it made my chest tight.
Then she staggered.
Her foot slipped and a sharp gasp tore from her throat as she tilted sideways. I moved like lightning, arm snapping around her waist and yanking her back flush against me before she could fall.
“Easy,” I growled, holding her steady. “I’ve got you.”
She turned her head, green eyes wide and grateful. “Thank y…”
A ground-shaking ROAR ripped through the air.
The river exploded.
A monstrous creature, half serpent, half nightmare launched out of the water like a living torpedo.
Its body was thick, glistening black scales, jagged fins slicing the air.
Massive jaws unhinged, rows of serrated teeth the length of my forearm gleaming under the torches.
It slammed into the rope mid-air with terrifying force.
The thick cord snapped with a sickening crack that echoed like gunfire.
The world dropped.
“SHITTTTT!” I bellowed.
We plummeted. Screams exploded all around us Lily, the other groups still on their sections, everyone.
I grabbed Scarlett with both arms and snatched the dangling end of the broken rope with one clawed hand.
The sudden jerk nearly ripped my shoulder out of socket, but I held.
We swung violently above the churning water like bait on a line.
The creature roared again, thrashing in the river, its ugly head whipping toward us. Its eyes were glowing, hungry red slits and it lunged.
Huge jaws snapped inches from Scarlett’s dangling legs.
Hot, fish-rot breath blasted over us. I roared right back and kicked out hard, my boot slamming into the side of its snout with every ounce of feral strength I had.
Cartilage crunched and the beast howled and spun away, crashing back into the water in a massive splash.
For half a second I thought we were clear.
Then it came back faster.
Its jaws opened impossibly wide and shot upward, locking around Scarlett’s lower leg with terrifying precision. Razor teeth pierced fabric and skin and blood bloomed instantly.
Scarlett’s scream tore through me like a blade. “KANE….!”
Everything went red.
A primal, unhinged snarl ripped out of my throat as white-hot rage flooded every cell in my body. My vision tunneled and the need to protect what was mine exploded like napalm.
I dropped the rope with one hand, claws fully extended, and drove them straight into the monster’s eye. “GET THE FUCK OFF HER!”
Rhys was already moving like death incarnate. He released Lily (who caught another dangling piece of rope), shifted partially mid-swing, blond hair wild, golden eyes blazing and dove. He landed on the creature’s massive head, claws sinking deep into scales as he tore into its neck with vicious fury.
Saint also lost it completely. A ground-shaking roar exploded from him as he dropped from his section of rope, shifting mid-fall.
Bones cracked loudly. Massive black wolf form slammed into the beast’s side like a wrecking ball.
Jaws the size of my torso clamped down on the creature’s fin, ripping and shaking with savage, guilt-free violence.
The monster thrashed wildly, trying to drag Scarlett underwater. Her blood mixed with river spray. Her screams were getting weaker.
I saw nothing but red.
“YOU DO NOT TOUCH WHAT’S OURS!” I bellowed, voice completely feral.
I ripped my claws free from its eye and drove them repeatedly into its throat while Rhys shredded the other side and Saint tore chunks out of its body. The water churned pink with blood. The beast’s roars turned into gurgling screams.
But its jaws were still locked on Scarlett’s leg, dragging her down with its dying weight.
We were all losing altitude fast, the broken rope swinging lower and lower toward the deadly current.
And my princess was bleeding.
My mate was screaming.
The three of us went fully, unhinged, ballistic.
Nothing else in the world mattered anymore.