Of Gods and Wolves Read Online Free Page A

me.
    “Huntress, you’ve just bested my third son,” he snarled at the clapping wolves and they quieted. “Now you meet my second. UnnúlfR!”
    Oh, we were starting with the easy and working our way up. Well I guess that was normal. I shook out my shoulders and concentrated on the tunnel. I couldn’t look up and see Thor. If he gave me scared eyes, I’d get distracted.
    “Beautiful job, Godhunter,” Loki called. “Beautiful. You’re not just winning the fight, you’re winning the Froekn.”
    I ignored him. Mainly because I didn't have a comeback  but also because there was shuffling and scratching noises coming from the tunnel and I was betting the new guy wasn’t taking me on in full wolf form.
    Sure enough, a huge werewolf came striding out of the dark, graceful for such a big guy. He had a pale yellow pelt and his eyes were oddly human, an icy blue, so light he almost looked blind. I was reminded of a husky I once saw, so strangely beautiful. This werewolf was just as striking but I had no desire to pet him as I had the dog.
    I stilled as he approached. My arm had stopped bleeding and had begun to throb but I tried to concentrate instead on the sleek wolfman stalking me. He got within five feet and began to circle. Instead of following him, I closed my eyes and waited. I heard a few murmurs but, just as I expected, the crowd went silent again. They were probably wondering what the hell I was up to.
    Very simply, an opponent circles you and you run the risk of losing your footing while you keep shuffling to keep him in sight. If you close your eyes, you’ll hear his feet and know exactly where he is… and you’ll be prepared for his attack from behind because where else is he going to attack you from, given the opportunity?
    So I listened, waited, and sure enough, when he reached my back, he sprung. I twisted and spun downward, doing a spiraling slice while I leaned a leg out to steady me. Catching him across the thighs, I went deep and had to fling blood and bits of gore off the blades while he landed in a heap. There were a few gasps and a few howls but it quieted again quickly. This was not the entertainment they'd been expecting.
    UnnúlfR sprang up but gave me a wary look. “Nice move, human.”
    I bowed and he leapt at me, just like I figured he would. Turning the bow into a tumble, I kicked my legs out once I was beneath him. His high pitched whine told me I’d hit something tender. When I got to my feet, I looked back and saw that I’d actually torn stripes up his stomach with my boot hooks. He was mad about that. Snarling, frothing mad.
    I settled down into my crouch and snarled back at him. The war magic within me itched to pull my kodachi but the jaguar rejected the weapon, feeling more at home with my bladed gloves. The claws were my favorite weapon anyway and they seemed to be a crowd pleaser, I decided I'd go with them as long as I could.
    “ Maybe I’ll lay you down and fuck you after I beat you, since my brother hasn’t had the balls to do it yet.”
    “ After this is through, you'll answer to me for that, UnnúlfR,” Trevor shouted above the boom of rolling thunder that shook the hall.
    “ Come and pull me off her, if you dare,” the pale wolf taunted back. He trailed a hand over his groin and there were a few howls of encouragement from the watching wolves.
    Thor stood with his arms crossed, staring at the wolf like he was memorizing his face for future reference. He didn’t say anything but the thunder still shaking the walls and the lightning flashing in his eyes spoke volumes. There wasn't much more he could take.
    “As soon as you can find your equipment in all that fur, let me know and I’ll think about being afraid. At the moment however, I’m still waiting to be impressed.” I settled further into my stance, watching him closely.
    UnnúlfR launched himself at me, boy this wolf was predictable. He was an old wolf, an assassin, he should have learned restraint by now. It