A blood-curdling scream filled the air.
HOLY FUCKING FUCK.
That was worse than the ankle.
Way worse than the ankle.
Way,wayworse than the ankle.
More cracking sounded.
More pain exploded.
I swayed as my vision grew spotty.
I was going to pass out.
Would I wake up at all?
Anything to make the pain go away.
Just before everything went black, a pair of warm hands wrapped around my face.
Deep brown eyes met mine. They were dark enough to get lost in, but steady. So fucking steady.
“You’re going to be fine, Zoe. Take a breath,” a low, smooth voice said calmly.
I tried. Desperately. Only a tiny amount of air entered and left my lungs.
“Good girl. Take another one.”
The praise dragged my mind right to the gutter. It was enough of a distraction that I managed another small inhale before the air escaped again.
“Just like that.” Connor’s eyes bobbed as he nodded lightly. “One more.”
I sucked in more air, and automatically let it out.
There was another snap.
I screamed, and my arms grew too weak to hold me up.
Connor’s hands left my face in time to break my fall by lifting me into his arms. Onto his lap.
Somehow, I was conscious enough to wonder if he was hard. Not enough to feel it if he was, though.
“Take another breath.” His voice was more commanding, this time.
I obeyed. It was shallow again.
“Listen closely, Gorgeous,” he said. “You’re fighting the wolf, and it has to stop. If you can’t let go, you won’t shift, and you won’t survive.”
Somehow, he stated that fact in a way that didn’t make me panic more.
That was why the pain was so bad.
I was dying.
“I’m not going to let that happen,” he said. “You’re mine now, and I protect what’s mine. I know it fucking hurts, but I need you to breathe with me. Ready?”
