The second I hit the ground, Bakugo lunged at me like a missile. The sheer force behind his attack sent a shockwave through the construction site as his fist slammed into the ground where I'd been standing just a heartbeat earlier.

"Too slow, tiger!" I taunted, darting to the side.

He snarled, a mix of fury and determination lighting up his crimson eyes. "I'm gonna rip you apart, you little—"

"Focus, Katsuki," Todoroki interrupted, his tone sharp but calm. He was circling me, his movements deliberate, calculated. Like a wolf stalking its prey.

Great. Now I had to deal with strategy and brute force. Lovely combination.

Todoroki's mismatched gaze pinned me in place for a moment, sending a chill down my spine. "You're skilled," he said, almost like he was complimenting me. "But you're not getting out of here unscathed."

"Oh, don't flatter me," I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "You'll make me blush."

I shifted my weight, ready to bolt again, but Bakugo wasn't giving me the chance. He was already moving, faster than I anticipated, his movements wild but precise.

I barely had time to dodge as his hand shot out, fingers crackling with the faint beginnings of an explosion. He wasn't using his full strength—thank the stars for small mercies—but it was enough to keep me on edge.

"Stop running and face me!" Bakugo roared, his voice echoing through the skeletal structure of the site.

"I'll pass on the whole 'getting my skull caved in' thing, thanks," I shot back, darting up a pile of scaffolding. My snow leopard instincts kicked in as I climbed higher, my claws giving me the edge.

Todoroki was already there, of course. He was waiting for me at the top like he'd predicted my every move.

"Predictable," he murmured, his voice like ice.

"Annoying," I countered, leaping to the side before he could grab me.

My landing wasn't graceful, but it got the job done. I hit the ground running, zigzagging through the maze of beams and debris, trying to put as much distance between myself and the two alphas as possible.

But they weren't just chasing me. They were herding me.

I realized too late that they were steering me toward a corner of the site—a dead end.

Bakugo's triumphant laugh sent a chill down my spine. "Nowhere left to run, you little bastard!"

I skidded to a stop, my tail lashing behind me as I turned to face them. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced a smirk onto my face.

"Well, this has been fun," I said, panting slightly. "But I think I'll be heading out now."

Todoroki tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You're boxed in. There's no escape."

"That's what you think," I muttered under my breath.

Because while they'd been busy chasing me, I'd been busy mapping out every possible escape route.

My eyes darted to a nearby crane, its arm extending out over the site. It wasn't perfect, but it was my only shot.

Without giving them a chance to react, I bolted toward it, my paws kicking up dust as I ran.

"Get back here!" Bakugo roared, the sound of his boots pounding against the ground behind me.

I reached the crane and leapt, my claws digging into the metal as I scrambled upward. The structure shook under my weight, but I didn't stop.

"You've got to be kidding me," Bakugo growled, already climbing after me.

Todoroki stayed on the ground, his eyes following my movements. He wasn't the type to waste energy chasing me up there—not when he could just wait for me to come down.

But I wasn't planning on coming down.

Not yet, anyway.

I reached the top of the crane and paused, my chest heaving as I looked down at the two alphas below. Bakugo was halfway up, his face a mask of rage, while Todoroki stood still, his expression unreadable.

"You guys really know how to make a guy feel special," I called down, my voice laced with sarcasm.

Bakugo's growl was almost feral. "I'm gonna—"

"Yeah, yeah, you're gonna kill me, rip me apart, blah blah blah," I interrupted, waving a paw dismissively. "You might want to work on your material. It's getting old."

But even as I taunted them, my mind was racing. I needed a way out. A real one this time.

And then I saw it—a stack of crates and barrels on the far side of the site, right near the perimeter fence.

If I could make it there, I could climb the fence and disappear into the night.

It wasn't a great plan, but it was better than nothing.

With one last glance at the two alphas, I took a deep breath and leapt from the crane.

The wind rushed past me as I plummeted toward the ground, my body twisting mid-air to land on a stack of scaffolding below. The impact jarred me, but I didn't stop.

I hit the ground running, my paws barely making a sound as I sprinted toward the crates.

Behind me, I heard Bakugo's enraged shout. "Get back here, you damn leopard!"

Todoroki was silent, but I could feel his gaze boring into my back as I ran.

The crates were just ahead, and I pushed myself harder, my muscles screaming in protest.

But just as I reached them, I felt a burst of heat behind me.

Bakugo.

He was close—too close.

I turned sharply, dodging to the side as an explosion rocked the ground where I'd just been standing.

"Missed me!" I called over my shoulder, my voice dripping with mockery.

But I couldn't keep this up forever.

The fence was my only chance, and I wasn't going to let them take it from me.

With a final burst of speed, I reached the crates and leapt onto them, my claws scrabbling for purchase as I climbed.

The fence was right there, just a few feet away.

Freedom.

I could taste it.

But before I could make my final leap, a pair of crimson eyes locked onto mine.

Bakugo.

He was right behind me, his face twisted into a snarl of pure rage.

"You're mine," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.