Lanlin’s dominant pheromones are like a living thing around me, burrowing beneath my skin. I’m choking on them.
My forehead throbs.
A fever rushes through me. I’m burning up.
“You’re killing her.” Daire’s tight voice sounds close by. “How much longer? I can sense that she’s in danger, you bastard…”
Lanlin holds me closer, ignoring Daire. He is shaking, as sweat drips down his forehead from the effort of using his animalism to break through the magic, which has been woven through my bones, blood, and skin.
He is pale and looks close to passing out but he clenches his jaw and pushes on.
Hunt me through the desert, my wolf.
Howl under the cold moonlight, my wolf.
Now…
I shudder and…
My inner wolf bursts out.
Lanlin and Daire are both knocked backwards by an explosion of shadows too long held inside.
I transform with a howl of joy into a huge scarlet Shadow Wolf.
I look like woven fur, shadow, and blood.
Savage euphoria surges through me.
I throw back my head and howl again, this time at the moon.
Then I sniff, scenting the most delicious pheromones: sunlight, frost, and incense.
My Alphas.
Mine to hunt. Mine to claim. Mine to bite.
My pack.
I circle Daire and Lanlin, who lie sprawled on the ground.
Daire’s eyes widen. “Oh, you’re bloody beautiful. Look at your gorgeous fur and fangs. Also, we’re fucked, aren’t we?”
I crouch with a delighted snarl, readying to leap.
Lanlin grabs Daire’s hand and drags him up, baring his fangs at me with primal delight. “Run…”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Blood Kingdom
Freya
I howl.
I am the night, the moon,wolf.
Growling savagely, I lope up the cliff’s sandy path. My blood-red fur bristles, while shadows trail from me as sharp as spear-tips.
