Maximus

Dominic stood in front of me.

Shadowfang. Xander’s Beta.

Once, that title would have meant little more than another hound trained to fetch and bleed at his master’s command. But the scent that clung to him now was different. Not just fear. Not submission. There was defiance in it, sharp and bitter like iron in blood.

I took a slow step closer, studying him. His shoulders were straight, but the exhaustion was plain in the set of his jaw. His hands were ...