**John**

Excruciating pain flares through my side, the intensity of it enough to make my vision fade in and out. I hear the voices of people crowding around me, but I can’t focus on any one person. All I feel, all I can think about, is the pain igniting within my body.

Perhaps I was stupid for attacking the other Alpha unprepared as I was. It was late, and I was tired. But that’s no excuse. I still should have flattened him out for entering my territory. The assh*le ...