Undercover Wolf's Great Loss (Shifter Doctor Daddies Instalove Romance 3)

CHAPTER EIGHT

Claude

Remington had sent his goons.

Their presence hardly threatened me, the appearance of the three wolves on my side of the river posing no real challenge at all. I had taken far more than three at a time. And I wondered if these three goons were aware of my incredible strength.

Were two of these wolves the same men from the hospital? Though those men had been handled, I was sure they had run back to Remington with their tails tucked between their legs, egos blown apart by the fact that me, Dr. Claude Fleming, had sent them whimpering into the night.

I smirked as well as I could with my maw widened. The corners of my lips turned up, a vicious look emanating from my eyes. I circled the first wolf and watched as the other two followed our lead, dancing with us and waiting for their moment to strike.

It would be a dangerous fight, but I knew I could take them down. When it came to my daughter and her foster mother—as well as my mate—I would do just about anything to make sure they were protected. Nothing could stand in my way.

Not even these idiots.

The brown wolf in front of me lunged, jaws snapping at my neck. I retreated in time to avoid his razor-sharp teeth and then feigned left, hopping to the right to snap at one of his legs. He yelped as he tried to bite back.

But he missed. And I would make sure he missed each time.

The two wolves behind him grew restless. One wolf was gray with black trim around his paws while the other was white with a tuft of red fur like a tie beneath his chin. Both peered at me with green eyes as I darted forward, catching the brown wolf by the ear and snapping my head back.

Yowling, the brown wolf retreated, pawing at his torn ear. I smiled as well as I could with a snout and spat the bloody fur from my lips. Rearing back on my haunches prepared me for the next few attacks.

This was a dance I was all too familiar with. To pay off my debts, Remington had tossed me into an underground fighting ring, one that tripled his wealth with each match that I won. After all that practice, it seemed silly for the alpha to send his worst men to face me down.

Though I had never seen Remington in his wolf form, I could only imagine the mangy mutt was as cowardly and pathetic as the three wolves in front of me. The brown wolf had retreated behind the white wolf who stepped forward menacingly. It didn’t faze me.

None of this fazed me. It was just another Friday night in the ring. Fangs extended and mouth dripping with drool, the white wolf dove for my legs, inspiring me to dance back. I put enough distance between us to gauge what my next move should be. My eyes flitted briefly to April who had shifted into her wolf form, a magnificent beast holding up against the other three goons.

Please, don’t get hurt, I begged. You’re my only hope here. We have to save my daughter.

Destiny screeched when the white wolf lunged for my throat. The sound of her crying over the rapidly rushing waters doubled my strength, inspiring me to drop my head low and barrel forward. I knocked the white wolf into the river and spun around to face the other two wolves.

The brown wolf hesitantly stepped forward as the gray wolf circled, looking for a weak spot. I didn’t have any. They were going to have to try harder than that. Splashing erupted behind me, though I wasn’t concerned about the white wolf getting out of the river just yet.

The wind whipped through the trees, tickling my fur as I lowered my head once more and prepared for another lunge. I trotted carefully to the left to mimic the circling dance of the gray wolf, moving back to the right while patiently waiting for my opening.

The brown wolf faked a few assaults, trying to trick me. But I hardly flinched. I hardly even moved. Allowing him to wear himself out would give me an advantage. This was far easier than I had anticipated, taking so very little work on my part.

It was almost too easy.

A warning growl was all the brown wolf received when I charged him. I slammed my paws into his shoulders and knocked him to the ground, plunging my teeth into his neck. With a quick shake of my head, he yelped and went limp, blood spilling into the dark soil.

Fur and blood decorated my maw as I raised my threatening gaze to the gray wolf. He took a few steps back, ears flattened to his head as his nose touched the ground. Without missing a beat, I pounced on him, yelps for help ringing in my ears as I delivered the same fate to him as I had his friend.

Victorious, I stood over the two lifeless bodies with blood soaking into my paws, observing the river where the white wolf had plunged into the water. He was nowhere to be found. Frantic, I turned to Viola and Destiny who had managed to climb onto a boulder. The two of them huddled together, wet and frightened.

I would get to them soon. I had to check on my mate. Growls of panic and fear reached my ears, prompting my attention to the right where April was locked in a heated brawl with one of the wolves. The other two were injured, slinking toward the trees with their tails tucked between their legs.

This was my chance.

I launched in their direction, showing no mercy as I tore the two of them apart. Their cries were brief, cut short by my snapping jaws. When I was done, I shook out my fur, watching April carefully. She had a handle on the situation. I would only interfere if she needed me.