Elisabeth's POV
Pure instinct drove me sideways as his razor-sharp claws slashed through the air, missing me by inches but catching the edge of my shirt. The fabric tore away with his strike, and fire shot through my shoulder where his claws had grazed skin. The pain was sharp and immediate, but there wasn't time to acknowledge it properly.
My leg shot out in desperation, connecting hard with his kneecap. He stumbled backward with a vicious snarl, giving me the opening I desperately needed.
Inside my mind, my wolf was going absolutely wild, demanding I let her surface and tear this threat apart. Every fiber of my being wanted to shift and fight with everything I had. But I forced those urges down deep. A full confrontation wasn't possible here, not when so much was at stake.
I hauled myself upright, my muscles screaming in protest as adrenaline flooded my system like liquid fire.
