The growl that ripped from his throat was anything but soft.
It was a warning. Deep, vicious, promising violence. His lips peeled back from his teeth, and the sandy wolf froze, ears flattening against his skull.
"Stone," I said sharply.
He ignored me. Stalked toward the other wolf, hackles raised, every line of his body screamingthreat.
"Stone, stop."
He didn't stop.
The sandy wolf whimpered. Dropped to his belly. Showed his throat.
It wasn't enough. Stone kept advancing, that terrible growl still rumbling in his chest, and I felt his rage through the bond—hot, irrational, consuming. This wasn't about territory or dominance.
This was about me.
Mine, the bond screamed.Mine, mine, mine.
"Stone!"
I moved without thinking. Stepped between him and the cowering feral, put my hand on his muzzle, forced him to look at me.
His eyes were pure gold. The wolf was in control. The man was barely there.
"Stop," I said. My voice was steady. I had no idea how. "He's not a threat. Look at me. Look at me, Stone."
The growl faltered.
"That's it. Come back to me."
His eyes flickered.
"I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. But you need to calm down."
For a long, terrible moment, I thought he wouldn't. Thought the wolf would win, thought I'd have to watch Cole put a dart in my mate's flank.
Then Stone shuddered. Pressed his muzzle into my palm. Let out a long, shaky breath.
He was still tense. Still radiating possessive fury. But he was back.
"Good," I whispered. "Good boy."
A huff. Indignant. Even as a wolf, Stone didn't appreciate being talked to like a pet.
I almost laughed.
Behind me, I heard James let out a breath he'd been holding. Felt Neal's relief pulse through our bond.
When I turned, they were looking at each other.
Their expressions were worried.
**
We played for two hours.
Or rather, they ran and played. I walked, following the trails at a human pace while the wolves streaked through the trees around me. Sometimes they'd disappear entirely, swallowed by the forest, and I'd feel only echoes of them through the bonds—joy, freedom, the primal satisfaction of muscles stretching and lungs burning.
