“So where’s your big pack?” Klimt asked with a smirk. “Don’t see them around anymore. Did they abandon you?”
“Shut up,” Remington muttered.
“Just like your dad did when he kicked the bucket?”
“Shut up!”
Remington threw a furious punch at Klimt’s chest, but it didn’t land. Klimt snatched Remington’s wrist and threw him to the ground like a ragdoll. As Remington tried to scramble to his feet, the alpha stomped on either side of him, preventing him from moving. Klimt took a deep breath and licked his lips.
“They left you behind, didn’t they? Finally figured out how weak and useless you are, I bet,” Klimt said with a chuckle.
Remington glared up at him, but even from this distance I saw the flicker of fear behind his eyes. “They didn’t.”
“But you’re not useless, Remington,” Klimt said with false affection. “You’re a nice, young omega. I couldn’t have you back then, but now you’ll be my mate, won’t you?” He leaned down with a shit-eating grin. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you’re in heat. Don’t kid yourself. Youwantme.”
Fury blazed in my chest. No, I hadn’t misread the situation. Something foul was going on here. Klimt looked like a disgusting, slobbering pig. There was no denying his intention. Remington was terrified, and Klimt was a sick fuck.
But what could I do?
A deep, heavy presence rumbled inside me. Something with hundreds of teeth and rough skin. Something swift, ancient, and dangerous.
That’s right,I thought, determination burning in my blood.I’m not just a human anymore. I’m one of the strongest predators on the planet.
The shift came over me. It was natural and smooth, like water gliding over my skin. It was meant to be. My body twisted in the air, slicing into the river as fast as an arrow. I didn’t think about the tingle of freshwater when my form was meant to inhabit saltwater—the only thing on my mind was saving Remington.
Water roared in my ears. I followed the flow of the river like my body was part of it. I was a silver bullet shooting over the edge of the waterfall. From below the surface, I sensed both their heartbeats—Remington’s was frantic and anxious, and Klimt’s was clogged with lust. My senses were so sharp that I even heard the thickthumpof the alpha’s blood under his skin.
His thin, fragile human skin.
My shark knew exactly what it wanted.
And you know what? I agreed with him.
I erupted out of the water. My rows of sharp, flesh-ripping teeth sank into Klimt and I dragged him back into the water. Remington let out a yelp and scrambled away. He was startled, but safe. Good.
In my relief, my jaws loosened. Klimt twisted in my maw. The soft flesh of a human was gone, replaced by a wolf’s thick pelt. A moment later, fangs bit into my snout. Pain flared. I thrashed, splashing water everywhere, and in my panic, I threw myself on the shore. A moment later, I popped back into human form with a gasp.
I cursed myself. I still wasn’t used to my shark form yet.
Water drenched my black hair and pieces of it got in my eyes. I tasted blood. Some of it was Klimt’s, but it was mixed with my own, too. The bastard bit me right on the most sensitive part of my body.
“Where the fuck did he go?” I spat.
I wiped the wet hair out of my face and shot to my feet, looking around frantically for a wolf. But when I saw a wide-eyed Remington looking at me, I forgot about Klimt. I turned to the omega. Neither of us spoke for a moment. Unfortunately, it was during this time that I became very aware of my nakedness.
Remington didn’t seem to care. He wasn’t looking at my junk.
He was staring right into my eyes.
5
Remington
The fearthat turned my blood to ice had melted. Mostly. It was a little jarring to see a shark leap out, snatch a grown adult, and drag him into the water in real life. But it happened. And now that shark was a man again, standing right in front of me, naked.
Did I mention he was ahandsomeman?
Despite the frigid grip of fear, the warmth of my heat still stirred below my belly. I bit my lip. I didnotwant to deal with that embarrassing bodily function right now, but of course, the gods loved to torment me.
