“It’s sundown. You can come back for me tomorrow.”
“You’ll be frozen to death by tomorrow.”
“The shift will protect me. My wolf will be fine in this weather.”
“And possibly lead you somewhere it’s unsafe to shift back. If she can walk at all.”
“Come on, Jason,” she yelled, tears streaming now. “Don’t fight me on this! We’ll never make it out together. For once, just do the smart thing and go! I’m giving you permission to take the easy road.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You spoiled me for that, Selene. I never want to do what’s easy again. Only what’s right. Only what you would do.”
She leaned her head back against the rock, cursing.
“I think your shoulder is dislocated. I’m going to try to force it back into the socket.”
“Do you know how to do that?”
“No. But how hard could it be?”
She looked at him worriedly. “Maybe you don’t have to. Maybe it will correct itself when I shift.”
“Maybe.” Jason frowned. “But if it doesn’t, I won’t be able to correct it in wolf form.”
“And if I can’t move as a wolf, I’m dead.”
“We’re dead.”
“Your wolf won’t necessarily stay. It’ll survive, any way it can.”
Selene glanced at the mercilessly setting sun.
“It’s going to work,” Jason said resolutely. Gently, he worked her coat off her injured arm. She was still bleeding due to a nasty gash on the back of her shoulder. Hopefully that would heal when she shifted. And if Jason could knock the joint back into place, there was a shred of hope they’d make it out of here alive. He felt down her arm to the joint. Selene tried not to scream but the pain was nauseating.
“Just do it, Jason!” She could already feel the shift starting, a bubbling grind under her skin.”
“I’m sorry about this.” He positioned her arm again and gave a fast, hard thrust. This time Selene screamed, a scream that turned into a howl. The shift was coming. Her shoulder felt oddly warm, although her arm still wasn’t working properly.
“Is it any better?” Jason pitched forward, the shift turning his green eyes to amber. He unzipped his jacket in the throes of transformation.
She used her good hand to strip out of the winter clothes, following his lead. “I still can’t move it, but it doesn’t hurt as much.” She pitched forward, her jaw elongating as the snow stung her naked flesh.
“I love you, Selene,” Jason said suddenly, claws sprouting from his knuckles. His distorted hands landed on the stones near his feet.
“I didn’t believe you before,” she said, the need to confess gripping her heart. “I thought I was just another passing fancy, temporary entertainment for your vice.”
“That’s not true.”
“When you left with Nickelova tonight, I thought you were joining up with her. I thought you couldn’t resist her.”
He shook his head. “I had to—” He groaned as tawny fur broke out across his inner arms.
“I said yes before on Rivergate grounds because I wanted you so badly I was willing to lose everything, even if I might have you for only a short time,” she rambled. She had to tell him, had to get it out. “I never thought I could want someone again. I thought I was ruined for love after what happened to me… the things I did. But I believe you now. I love you too, Jason, in a forever way.” White fur climbed her arms, over her shoulders, between her breasts.
If Jason said anything else, she didn’t hear it. Her last thoughts were that she wasn’t cold anymore. And then the wolf took over and she wasn’t Selene anymore.
26
The white wolf’s consciousness was one-part instinct, one-part chemistry, and one-part body language. With a soul of total freedom, she sped down the mountain, ignoring the slight ache in her shoulder that gave her a pronounced limp. The dark wolf, her pack, was by her side, smelling of thick fur and hunger. Yes, hunger. It was time to hunt.
