The Frenzy War by Gregory Lamberson

where they stripped off their clothes and stood naked, waiting.
    When they heard the side door open and saw the male and female assassins enter, Tim nodded to his companions and all three of them Changed. Then they ascended thestairs in dead silence and followed the pair into the great room. The humans joined another male and then a male and a female in the living room. They wore night vision goggles but carried no discernible weapons, though Tim assumed they were armed to the teeth.
    The Wolves moved unnoticed along the floor until the first female turned around. Fearing she was seconds from discovering them, Tim reared up on his hind legs, startling her. He knew that Samuel and Kyle did the same behind him. When the woman called out to her comrades, Tim flexed his muscles, showing her just how magnificent a specimen he had become. It was important to keep the element of surprise on their side.

    Michael turned at the sound of Valeria’s panicked voice and saw three werewolves towering before her, their ears almost touching the ceiling. All three were males, which meant there had to be at least one more creature—a female— somewhere in the house.
    A trap. They were expecting us!
    Using one hand, he eased Valeria out of his way. “Don’t let them box us in. They
want
us to go upstairs.” He drew the Blade of Salvation from his coat and wielded the heavy weapon in both hands.
    The werewolves snarled at the sight of his sword but showed no fear otherwise. Upstairs, he heard the thumping of feet—paws!—and the growling of at least two more beasts.
    Five on five.
    Moving to his right with the stairway behind him, Michael formed a triangle with the werewolves at one point and Valeria at the other. “Take them!”
    In response to his command, Valeria and Henri drew swords of their own. Silver swords. Blades of Salvation. He heard Myles and Eun draw their weapons as well.
    Five strong.
    The werewolves looked from human to human, their bestial countenances exhibiting equal parts confusion and rage.
    Surprise!
    Michael charged forward, cocking his Blade over his shoulder and swinging it deep into the first monster’s neck. The werewolf howled in agony and sank to his knees. When Michael wrenched his Blade free, blood sprayed out of the gaping neck wound with such force that it splattered the ceiling. He swung his sword again, separating the monster’s head from his shoulders. The head rolled across the carpet, followed by gushing blood as the carcass pitched forward.

    Inspired by Michael’s courage, Valeria charged at the werewolf on the left with Henri behind her while Michael swung at the one on the right.
    Both beasts dropped into defensive postures and roared like lions.
    Valeria’s Blade sank into her target’s right shoulder, Henri’s into its left arm, severing the claw, which spun through the air. Blood from its open wrist splashed their legs. Valeria jerked her sword free, and she and Henri buriedtheir weapons into wolf flesh, their Blades butting against each other inside the beast’s neck.
    The werewolf’s eyes rolled in its skull, and it opened its jaws to howl but only heaved blood. Its front right claw encircled Henri’s Blade, and Valeria worked her weapon through sinew.
    Then she turned her body sideways and flung the creature’s head at the stairway. Her momentum caused her to sink to her knees in the blood-soaked carpet, and as she used her Blade for leverage to stand, she saw a werewolf crash into Eun above and send her flying down the stairs, the beast atop her.

    The second monster Michael attacked nearly knocked the sword out of his hand, and he pirouetted to regain his balance and fend the beast off. He swung the Blade with great chopping motions, driving the beast across the room and away from the others.
    We have to spread out or we’re finished.
    As the werewolf roared at him, he sensed the beast’s frustration. The