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hour? She pushed herself off the wall and staggered out into the alley.
    Kayla looked over her shoulder, examining the shadows. The hair on her neck stood up. She felt as if someone was watching her, but shrugged it off, walking farther into the darkness of the alley.
    When Roo pawed her leg, she looked down at him, unable to shake the feeling of eyes on the back of her neck. Walking faster down the length between the buildings, her heart pounded in her ears and her breathing became ragged.
    She felt off; something in the pouch had shaken her very core. She looked frantically around, but realized she was lost. With no hope left, she turned and faced the oncoming terror.
    She crouched, controlled her breathing and waited. Everything clicked into place as Hidalgo, Keaton’s wolf, made his way towards her. She knew it had all been a lie from the beginning, and wondered if the address she’d been given even existed. The stench of the alley flooded her nostrils while she pulled her sword and waited for him to reach her.
    “Roo,” she whispered when he growled. “Stay, boy. It will be okay.” Tightening her grip on the sword, she taunted, “Well, well, if it isn’t Hidalgo. Keaton’s little doggy come out to play?”
    “Why aren’t you running, bitch?” He snarled, his words slurring through his misshapen mouth. His features grossly distorted in mid-change.
    “Because I don’t run from bad little doggies. I kick them.” She grinned.
    “You’ll regret that.”
    “Bring it,” she taunted. “Roo, left flank!”
    Hidalgo lunged at her, completing his transformation mid-leap. She reacted with lightning speed, her muscles remembering motions long in disuse. With a flick of her wrist, the sword moved in a smooth arc, hitting him across the hindquarters. Blood flew; he landed on his side, skidding. She knew she’d gotten lucky; MoonSkins were notoriously hard to kill.
    She prayed for time before he got to his feet again. Roo tore into his side, knocking him off balance when he tried to rise. She backed away, reached into her hip pouch and pulled out a syringe. Pulling the cap off with her teeth, she injected wolf serum into her thigh.
    Kayla hoped it reacted before he got his teeth into her. She had no wish to become a wolf. The serum raced through her blood, leaving trails of fire in her veins.
    Hidalgo regained his feet, this time circling her, looking for an opening. Roo dashed in for quick rips and slashes; Hidalgo snapped back.
    Her breathing grew ragged as the serum worked; she took advantage of it and tried to look as if she were growing tired. She fought to keep him in her line of sight while he moved faster and faster around her, ignoring Roo.
    The wolf leapt again, his claws raking her arm when she blocked and lunged with the sword, slicing a narrow line across the MoonSkins belly.  He shifted and the blade bit again into his shoulder. With a howl, he darted off. She spun around to where she thought he’d be, only to find him somewhere else. With no time to block his momentum, he hit her. His claws sliced through her clothes and raked her stomach. She slammed into the rough stone wall; the force of the blow cracked her skull, sending her into darkness.
    * * *
     
    Hidalgo watched the woman slide to the ground. The sudden pain in his hind leg reminded him she hadn’t been his only opponent. He turned on the dog, forcing him back. She’d made a mistake thinking he only had one master. He would be well paid to off the meddling bitch. He licked his muzzle. Her dog was just a bonus; he could have a little bit of fun before he killed the woman. Snarling, he grabbed the dog by its shoulder, swinging it about with his teeth before digging his claws into the belly.
    The dog whimpered before it fell to the ground.  Hidalgo moved in for the kill, only to be surprised when the dog’s teeth clamped around his wind pipe. It collapsed under the pressure before he felt his throat being ripped from his body. It was