Tears sting my eyes, so I close them tight. For a moment, I can’t speak, overcome with too many emotions to name. Framing his face, I press my forehead against his. “I love you too.” The words come out on a ragged gasp, and I can’t be sure if I’m laughing or crying.
Soren chuckles before he pulls me into a kiss, sweeter than the finest mead and just as intoxicating.
This is it. We will never be separated again. This is the start of our beginning together.
There’s a flash of light behind my eyelids. Suddenly, fury slams into me, burning my lungs so pungently I can taste it. It’s Gunnar’s pack bond, but it burns in my chest like fire.
No, no, no!
I’m on my feet, throwing myself in front of Soren. “Please. I can explain.”
I barely recognize Gunnar as his bestial rage twists him into something inhuman before my eyes. Fur crawls over his skin, fangs glistening in his mouth. The portal shimmering over the lake slams shut behind him as he wades onto shore.
“Youlied,” he snarls, the words grating over jagged fangs. “All this time, you fucking lied!”
“Lyall, let’s go!” Soren grabs at my shoulder, but I refuse to move. My brother’s wolf is riding him hard, and I fear running will provoke his prey drive.
“Gunnar. Please. Sit down, we can talk about this. There’s so much you don’t know. Just listen—”
“You’ve been meeting with this traitor, all this time!” Gunnar roars, sending birds flying from the trees. People passing through the park gasp, throwing worried looks over their shoulders.
Run, run, run.I wish I could scream the words at them.
“It’s not like that!” Gods, he must hear me out.
Gunnar grows taller, muscles bulking up. His shoes split as clawed feet puncture the material.
“What the fuck?” Soren whispers, voice thin with terror.
“He killed Leif,” Gunnar snarls, panting harshly as his clothes tear, body twisting into that of a beast. “T-took my little Bjorn from me.” Grief thickens his voice. “He was just a baby. Because ofhim,my family is gone!”
It’s hopeless. Gunnar has finally lost himself to his berserker, and it’s all my fault.
“Lyall—”
Whirling around, I shove Soren in the chest. “Run! I’ll hold him off!”
I have no fur to aid me in my shift. If I go up against him in this form, he’ll tear me apart. But I have no other choice. No one is taking Soren from me again.
A roar shakes the ground. People scream in shock and terror. The air wheezes from my lungs as Gunnar slams into me, throwing me onto my back. I brace, hands over my face, but he doesn’t waste a second on me.
No, he goes straight for Soren, and my worst nightmares are made reality.
Soren screams in agony when Gunnar’s fangs drive into his shoulder. The scent of his blood turns my world upside down.
“No!” I charge at my brother, leaping onto his back. I grab his arm, trying to pull him off.
“Gunnar, stop! Please!” a voice cries. A familiar one.
Gunnar freezes, fangs still buried in Soren’s flesh, eyes wild with rage.
Arlo and several other men and women emerge from the shadows of the park. The scent of their magic burns my nose. Golden torcs around their necks glint in the light from the streetlights.
Witches.
My heart sinks. They must have been nearby this whole time, watching us.
Oh gods. This can’t possibly get worse.
