Thud. Thud. Whack.
What's going on? What am I missing?
Whack. Whack. Whack.
Why does he smell different than other vampires? Who is he to her?
Whack.
A growl crawled up the back of my head, the beast in my chest clawing at the thought of her on top of him, her voice screaming into the night sky, face etched in pleasure.
WHY?!
“Shit, Nick!” My thoughts broke. Kevin was standing behind the punching bag, holding it as sand spilled from the broken seam. His mouth hung open as his eyes kept darting around then back to me. “You broke the fucking bag!”
Squeezing my fists at my side, I reminded myself I was supposed to lie low, not call attention to myself. Shit.
“Dude!” Kevin punched my arm, and I looked down at the spot, missing the ache that used to be there when I was human. “You’re the strongest turned wolf I know!”
He whispered that last part, glancing around like he was making sure no one else heard.
“Aren’t all beas—I mean… werewolves this strong?” I still didn’t understand why he was so surprised.
He puffed out a chuckle like I was an idiot, then threw the broken bag to the side and waved his hand over the sand on the floor. The air shifted like it was being sucked into his palm, then his fingers twitched in one direction, dragging all the particles with them. Air mage.
“I’ll get another bag. Hold on.” He jogged off, leaving me with my thoughts.
After the tournament, the large Latin werewolf had split us into two groups. My group was told to train at a facility closer to town the next day, while the others stayed behind. I hadn’t known until I showed up that morning that the fighters here were either destined for the professional circuit or leadership positions in the Syndicate. Some of them had even been handpicked by Nova, which irked me… I mean, it irked the beast in my chest.
Looking around at all the top-of-the-line products, pristine work-out gear, and magic items for training, I had this sinking feeling like I didn't belong. Was I here because of that fight? I wasn’t the best fighter, but it had been my favorite activity at the police academy, and I’d gotten best in class. I knew I’d do okay, especially with heightened speed, agility, and strength now on my side. I guessed I’d impressed her?
A surge of pride rose in me. I waspleasedthat she saw value in me but quickly realized how ridiculous that was. Proud that a supe mob boss liked my fighting? Pitiful. I was here for a job. That was all I needed to focus on.
It wasn’t long before another trainer stepped forward and split us into pairs, telling us this person would be our training partner. I was paired with Kevin, an easygoing mage who liked to talk—a lot.
I reminded myself that this was good, an easy way to remain in the background while staying in the know, but his incessant chatter was already grating on my nerves. It had only been the first day, and I was already tired of him.
Or is it because you stayed up all night, watching her?
Shaking off that nagging voice, my mind drifted back to the scene I’d been trying to erase. Her hand locked around his neck, claws digging in, claiming him. His hips slammed into her like she was his salvation, like there was no air left in the world except what came out of her mouth. They moved together as if the forest itself had been built as their private suite.
My gut should be curdling at the thought. Repulsed or, better yet, indifferent about the whole situation. It should have been nothing more than a passing breeze, a detail to note and dismiss.All I needed was her location, her patterns, the kind of intel I was supposed to be gathering, but that wasn’t what happened. My gaze had glued itself to her, fists clenched, body trembling with an ache that had nothing to do with restraint.
I wouldn’t have been out there at all if the other fighters hadn’t wanted to shift and run off their injuries because we healed faster in wolf form. I’d taken it as an excuse to unleash the beast inside of me because he was already clawing underneath my skin, begging to be let loose.
I hadn’t known it would catch her scent. Hadn’t known how far it would go, but the second it inhaled her, a tether snapped taut, pulling me toward her with the force of magical magnets.
After my turning, I’d read about the thing called mates. How the beast chose the one it believed to be your perfect match. It had always sounded too much like soulmates, too romantic, too binding. How could this thing possibly know who was perfect for me?
Still, the fact remained that it was in control, and it bothered me.
I just remembered being laser focused and running. I had followed a small trail into a clearing, looking around with these beastly eyes. Even with it being cold, a small brook burbled against the stillness of the forest. Underneath the moonlight, the water looked like threads of silver weaving its way down between the frosted edges. It should have been serene.
Instead, it became a stage, and when my eyes found her on the ground, naked, along with that vampire, I nearly howled into the crisp sky. Her hair caught the moonlight, a white halo over taut muscle and supple curves. Her body was bent and arched, aweapon ready to go off. Forged in beauty and brutality, she was living proof that such opposites could live in the same flesh.
Then he rolled her to the ground, green eyes flashing, and claimed the spot that… that I felt was mine.
As soon as I realized that feeling came from the beast inside, I expected it to lose it, to lash out and rip him apart. I liked the thought of that, so I didn't fight it.
