Duel in Leo Carillo

My mom and I sped off as fast as we could. Using the car, we drove towards the beach.

"Damn. Where's the beach my future son-in-law is going to?"

I glared in annoyance. How could Mom use that term in such a critical situation.

"There are many beaches. I was attacked at Leo Carillo. Is it possible that the boy went there too?"

I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate. Unfortunately, my ability as a half-werewolf could not sense where Sol was.

"Ah, is that Sol?"

I opened my eyes. We had just crossed El Matador Beach. My eyes blinked as I saw a familiar figure laughing with two men and a woman.

I felt like jumping for joy. At least they were okay, not attacked by wolf creatures like us. Or maybe even attacked by a vicious vampire on the hunt.

But where were vampires in the middle of sweltering Malibu?

I laughed inwardly at my ridiculousness. Vampires would never survive in this city. Sol's family would never meet a hungry vampire or werewolf.

"Hi, you guys need some help?"

Mom pulled the car over. Her smile was friendly and cheerful. Her expression was much different from mine, which tended to be moody and often put on a somber face.

"Oh, Lei? Madam? Are you here?"

Mom waved a hand. "Just call me Linda. I heard your car broke down. Do you need a ride home?"

Sol explained succinctly that Mom and I were the new neighbors in the house they lived in. Strangely, I didn't want to smile at Kay and Ferdinan, Sol's parents.

There was something strange about them, but I didn't know what it was. My instincts just warned me to keep my distance from the couple.

"Thanks for the ride. But we can take Sol's car."

"Your own car?" Mom asked again.

"It's been taken to the garage." Kay replied.

"Alright then. We're leaving first." Mom waved goodbye before raising the windshield.

From the rearview mirror I saw the little family. They were still looking at us. Their gazes weren't obvious, but I felt really uncomfortable.

"Maybe the werewolf that attacked me is hanging around here." Mom soothed as I expressed my anxiety.

"In that case, we should patrol. Don't let those werewolves attack beachgoers." I suggested.

Mom nodded in agreement. "Sergey will definitely be happy with our actions. Those destructive werewolves will most likely eat the beachgoers seeing how aggressively they attacked me."

I paused. My spirits faded a little when I heard Sergey's name mentioned.

Sergey Moon is the leader of the Moon Clan. He was an unrivaled alpha. The only strong one in the clan.

And the only werewolf I was matched with.

Yes, that's right. Mated. Sergey said, feeling me as his mate. But I didn't feel the same way about him.

Shouldn't fellow mates be able to feel? It doesn't only apply to one party, right?

"Don't think about anything, Lei. Focus on our new job first." Mom patted the back of my hand.

I just nodded weakly.

"Leo Carillo is only four miles from here. In wolf formation, it can run here in just minutes." Mom told.

In comparison, the distance between Leo Carillo Beach and El Matador Beach takes seven minutes by car or over an hour on foot. That's the normal time traveled by humans.

However, for us werewolves that distance can be cut by ninety percent when we are in werewolf mode. On a night this dark, no one would suspect two wolves roaming the forest by the beach. The darkness of the night would mask their movements.

Mom parked the car between the alcoves of the cliffs. Hidden from the coast guard's reach. We went out barefoot.

It was easy for Mom to turn into a wolf. She was already a full-fledged werewolf. While I, who's only half-blood, can only metamorphose during the full moon. While right now there's no moon rising.

So, I wandered around in human form, while Mom hopped between the cliffs of the beach watching the surroundings.

Mom's wounds must not have healed properly. I noticed Mom's movements were a bit lame. I inwardly complained. If I were a full-fledged werewolf, I would have been able to help Mom patrol by now.

[Lei, ten o'clock.]

I looked in the direction Mom was pointing. There was only a small dark cave. My eyes narrowed.

There was nothing there, but my nose smelled a very familiar scent.

Mom's low growling sound was heard. Her canine teeth appeared. While I started to set up a stance to give a fight.

Then from the direction of the darkness came a louder growling sound. There were two. I frowned trying to distinguish each sound.

I prepared myself even more. Dueling was nothing new to me. During my time as Dad and Mom's child, I had faced off against the werewolves of other clans several times.

However, the werewolf this time was different.

I was stunned, momentarily losing my self-control. Ten meters in front of me stood two of the biggest werewolves I had ever seen.

Their bodies were solid and towering. Their gray fur moved in the wind. A pair of brown eyes the color of acorns stared down at me.

Damn. They're really big.

[Move aside, Lei!]

Mom's voice rang loudly inside my head. I shook my head, refusing to obey my mom's orders.

"I can face them, Mom."

[Don't be stubborn! They're strong!]

Mom scolded, but I didn't care. I jumped high in the air and planned to land a single leg punch to the head of one of the wolves.

Missed!

The lead wolf easily parried my attack. My leg twisted hard. I screamed as the pain shot up to my head.

Shit! Damn it! Damn it!

I cursed inwardly. Luckily, I was still able to plant my feet firmly on the sandy ground.

However, I was not fast enough. A wolf leaped at me. Its body, which was twice as big as mine, was intimidating.

I screamed in surprise as the wolf crushed me. Its mouth was wide open showing off its long canine teeth. Saliva dripped down my face.

It was only centimeters away from sinking its bite into my neck. I tried to break free, struggling with all my might.

I almost succeeded.

Unfortunately, I was still outmatched. The wolf only shifted from above me, but it could still reach me again.

It looked like it intended to kill me. Its claws tore into my arm, which was wrapped in a thin parachute jacket. I bit my lip against the onslaught of excruciating pain.

I searched for Mom's whereabouts. It turned out she was wrestling with another wolf. I didn't have time to find out what was going on because my opponent was after my other arm again.

I tried to push her chest away. I put all my strength into it. He only shifted a little and started to raise his two hands.

I was dripping with sweat. This was no good. I could die in vain with human strength like this.

This time I changed my strategy by trying to trip the attacking wolf's leg. However, before I could do so, the wolf's body suddenly slammed hard to the side.

I was freed. I quickly took a deep breath of oxygen to fill my lungs. As I tried to figure out what was happening, my gaze instead met the third wolf standing right in front of me.

He was huge. Very, very big. And I gaped wide-eyed as this newcomer tore through the enemy wolf's neck with incredible ease.