Anything worth having is worth fighting for

She didn’t waste her time with them, no what she needed was proof. Someone who wouldn’t run willy nilly. Destroy the evidence first, they would. No way in hell would they be booking it so early. It was working so far, flushing them out…but then, a good amount began to catch wise, the ones who were left. She saw a flash of…of something. At first impression, it looked like…claws? But no, that wasn’t possible. It had to be a knife of some sort, and holy hell was it fast. She barely had time to dodge as the sharp objects came whistling by her head, a sharp pain blossoming on her shoulder as coat was torn to meet flesh, the heat of blood felt quite clearly. Penny knew what being wounded was like, knew it instinctively when something was wrong with her body. But then again, that knowledge allowed her to not only tune out the feeling, but use it as well, and adrenaline spiked through her body as she rolled away, aiming her gun at her attacker.

"Don’t move, or I’ll be forced to shoot." She gave, one last warning. She had to do this properly, the right way, even if it had all gone to hell. They would respect her, they would trust her to do her damn job, and fuck, they would finally listen to her hunches!

Obviously, the ones who weren’t listening weren’t just those she worked with. A bullet whizzed by her head as thoughts were ignored and with a resounding shit, she flung herself backwards, kicking over a table to use as a shield. Glasses shattered and beer was sprayed about as it was dislodged, and she crouched behind it, taking aim when she could. The goal was to wound, but she had no qualms about killing if necessary. Penny glanced again, and saw that they were closing in, in some sort of almost instinctual formation. Almost…animalistic. More drugs? The whole PCP thing was wearing a bit thin- an entire town hooked on it? Not fucking likely. She wasn’t swallowing that bull any longer. 

But there were too many. She had no choice but to retreat, and with a deep breath to steel her nerves, Penny moved out from behind cover to get to the door, trying not to think of the many behind her, the way the bullets whizzed by her in deadly attempts at taking life. As she did, she glanced down into the pit, her focus momentarily broken by the two fighters in the ring…and a familiar face. Even under all the blood, those eyes. The man who wouldn’t tell her his name. Well, it looked as though he had indeed good reason to. She filed this little encounter away, a mental note on the file for the Nameless Man in her mind. Nameless Man number 2, she should say. There were many of those in Emerald Cove, the ones who flat out refused to tell her their names.

She was doing well, but that one moment of not focusing cost her. 

At the attack, he knows who's been hit first when the fresh smell of blood permeates at a rapid pace. Shit just got worse when Erica released her gun, warning the goon that she'll shoot, but since when did wolves care about being shot? Or any Lorean for that matter. They were fast so she'd have to have one hell of an aim and even still, he would laugh it off and the healing process would jump start. Wolves were too stubborn to die by a bullet wound alone. But she didn't know that. What he didn't predict was the use of firearms from anyone other then Erica and Jackson spun around, trying to find the culprit who pulled the trigger. It was surprising that the upstairs club hadn't come down here to check out the situation yet. Maybe it was for the best.

This had quickly turned into into a nightmarish western flick as the men huddled together in predatory stance, wanting to spill blood with little to no remorse concerning their actions. Jackson attempted to leave the ring, but was ultimately stopped by a couple of shifters who brusquely command that he stay where he was.

"The fight ain't finished," one man states with a deadly glare accompanied with glowing, yellow eyes and a snarl displaying sharp canines. Like hell if he was going to take orders from a bunch of thug shifters. The prize money meant little to him and more than anything else, Jackson just wanted to get out of here.

A broken pace of footsteps take hold and he turns to find Erica making a run for it. Their eyes lock for a moment and he can tell she recognizes him right off the bat. Well now he was doubly fucked, but he wasn't so much worried about himself as he was for her own safety when several men followed after her without delay. Jackson growled impatiently, not bothering to wait for permission to leave before aggressively shoving past the men like a battering ram and he bolted in the direction Erica had fled towards.

Timing was everything and she was still safe when he had closed the distance, but at his intrusion, they now had a new target as they turned to catch sight of the trespasser.

"Get back in the fucking ring, you worthless dog! What? You with the cops now?"

Jackson didn't budge, standing his ground with a fierce gaze before lunging forward and striking out one guy who wasn't all too prepared for his attack. The others weren't too pleased by his defiance whatsoever as they tried their hand at returning fire but with practiced agility, Jackson managed to dodge in good time, standing in front of Erica with a hand held up in protest, tone unwavering as he glared.

"Just leave her out of this."

A gun was procured by the man who had spoken before, a volatile sneer exhibiting itself as he pointed it at Jackson.

"Good thing I bet against you then."

He fired without pause and the bullet grazed against Jackson's bicep and in adjusting his aim, he held it in perfect alignment to his heart.

"Next one's more fatal. Now move."

As much as the cut stung, Jackson paid no mind to it before jumping forward and headbutting the short, broad-shouldered man; hastily swiping the gun from his hand and firing at the legs of the two other stragglers behind the one who stood in front. The hit wasn't crippling as they folded to the ground, grabbing at their calves and cursing to the Heavens.

Jaw set, Jackson thrust the muzzle to the assailant's forehead, knowing the damage that could be done and how much he didn't care about pulling the trigger, but he stopped himself in realizing the situation he was currently in and backed up, eyes focused forward as he offered his free hand to Erica to help her stand.