Thora's POV: I moved on instinct, twisting my body to the side. The iron bar whooshed past me and slammed into the wall, inches from my shoulder. "You little bitch! Don't you dare dodge me!" Hazel's voice was sharp and shrill in the dark. "You got me punished by Dad. I'm going to beat you so bad you won't be able to get out of bed!" The iron bar cut through the air again and again, the sound echoing down the narrow hallway. I stayed in a safe corner, my lips curling in a cold smile. "If you're so tough, come and catch me." Werewolves only get night vision in their wolf form. Hazel had landed that first swing because she was hiding ahead of time and guessed where I'd walk. Now that I'd dodged, she was just swinging blindly like a headless chicken. But I was different. In the apocalypse, I'd fought at night countless times. Even in my human form, I'd trained myself to adapt to darkness fast. I watched her stumble around in the shadows. She looked like a clown. "You—get out here ... " Smack! Before she could finish, I stepped forward and slapped her hard. The hit sent her staggering to the floor. "You hit me, you ... Ouch!" She tried to push herself up, but I stepped on her wrist first, grinding down with my heel. Her scream ripped through the hallway.Green Villa had excellent soundproofing, especially here. Even if she yelled, no one inside would hear. "No one ever taught you? The one who tries to kill a family member should be despised most." I bent down and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at me. Her skin trembled under my fingers. In the dark, her pupils shrank, her eyes wild with fear. "Let me go! If Dad finds out, he'll kill you!" Hazel's voice was harsh on the outside but trembling underneath. "Oh?" My thumb stroked along her jawline. "Tell me—if the elders at Council Hall found out you paid rogues to set me up, sent me over a cliff, almost killed me—do you think Dad would still protect you?" "I didn't! You're just jealous because I'm pureblood! You're slandering me!""I hate liars the most." My eyes went cold. I raised my hand and slapped her again, hard. "Ugh ... " Hazel whimpered in pain, trying to glare up at me. "Who do you think you are? You're just a dirty mixed-blood—how dare you hit me ... " Smack! I backhanded her again, harder this time. Her cheek swelled red, and blood beaded at the corner of her mouth. Her whimper turned into a sob. The hand under my boot twitched. Her other hand groped along the floor—reaching for the iron bar. I flicked my fingers, and the bar flew into my hand as if it had a mind of its own. The tip of it pressed against her forehead a second later.She sucked in a sharp breath. Her voice shook. "You ... you haven't even awakened your wolf spirit. How ... " "You're wondering why I'm faster than you—a pureblood with an awakened wolf spirit?" I finished her sentence with a cold laugh. "Hazel, you know what word I'd use for you? A clown." Her teeth ground together. Sweat rolled down her temple. She didn't dare move again. I lifted my foot off her wrist. "Behave yourself from now on. Next time, it won't just be your hand I hurt." I turned to leave, but then I caught the look in her eyes—pure venom. Her stare was like a poisoned blade. If she could, she'd leap up and tear me apart right now. I stopped walking. My mind shifted.This one couldn't be left alive. Slowly, I moved my hand behind my back, pulling at the tiny thread of power left in my body. Blue flames flickered at my fingertips. It was the second ability I'd awakened after the apocalypse—fire control. It could burn through even the alloy weapons most werewolves used. I narrowed my eyes, ready to let the flame leap toward Hazel ... Suddenly, a voice, tense and urgent, came out of the darkness. "Thora, stop!"