I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, we have that in common.”
The dimple returned to his chin with his smile, and my stomach dipped, my wolf stirring with rousing feelings sheshouldn’t have for a man without a wolf. She pushed against my skin, wanting him closer, and I was helpless but lean into him.
Then another thought filtered into my mind. “You know about Wolf Shifters, that I’m one of them, and you are not afraid of me?”
Intensity seized his gaze as he moved closer too, eyes boring into mine as his expression transformed with an emotion impossible to recognize. One that unnerved me, and still, me and my wolf liked it. No one had ever looked at me that way.
“How could I possibly fear you, when you are the woman who brought me back to life.” The man’s breath fanned my lips with each word, making my wolf ache for him.
Speechless by the intensity exuding from him and taking over me, I remained unmoving, while a sizzling heat I’d never experienced spread through my chest and navel. He winced a little as he leaned into me, but the pain didn’t stop him. The next second, his mouth slowly closed over mine, sending my pulse into a reckless frenzy. Lips softer than I could have ever imagined moved against mine in a demanding but gentle way, claiming them, and igniting my being like Ryker had never done with a simple kiss. He pulled away too soon, and I found myself wanting more—no—needing more.
Unable to think with my wolf’s ache for him, I pressed my lips to his, feeling every ounce of my body awaken. His smile brushed my mouth once he cradled my neck, deepening the kiss, nibbling at me, and sending sexy tingles down my already simmering skin. My wolf curled inside of me, the sizzling sensation he created consuming her too.
The human had done what Ryker never had, bring my wolf and me to life.
“What have you done?!” my uncle’s voice thundered along the trees.
I jumped to my feet, whirling around to face the entire hunting pack flanking him, all standing as men.
“I saved the life of an innocent man your hunters were going to kill!” I shouted back, not regretting my decision. Sure, there was some questionable behavior in the last few minutes, BUT other than that, I was proud of doing the right thing.
“You stupid, bitch!” Ryker growled and the next second the human stood between us.
He actually jumped in front of me, as though he could protect me with his body from a literal pack of powerful Wolf Shifters. I would have smiled at that, but the sight was terribly frightening. Especially when his wounds worsened with the forced movement to protect me.
“Call her that one more time, and I swear I’m going to rip your balls off and then make you wear them as a necklace!” the human spat, pure, undiluted fury driving his promise. His corded muscles shook from the effort of holding himself back, fists trembling at his sides.
“Are you insane?!” I hissed, pushing him aside until I stood in front of him again, protecting him.
When my eyes returned to Ryker he was being held back by his goons, Barret, and Kellan, who looked like they would rip me to pieces themselves if they had the chance. Briefly glancing at our Alpha, I realized they weren’t the only ones, and knowing what he was capable of—and what he put me through for something so simple as wearing makeup—I couldn’t even imagine what he would do to me now.
“You betrayed me!” my uncle raged, his jaw and arms partially shifting. “You gave into the enemy, you pathetic excuse of a Wolf Shifter!” Stepping forward he walked among his hunters, the disdain he tried to hide from me becoming painfully clear. “You are a traitor…”
Those words sliced deeper than anything he had ever done to me.
“Your father would be ashamed of you!” my uncle spat with pure disdain, his statement reverberating over my skin like he’d struck me.
“He’s an innocent man!” I yelled back, gesturing to the human. “What the hell is wrong with all of you? Why can’t you see that?!” I screamed, tears falling from my eyes because, with that simple statement, he’d succeeded in doing what he’d been trying to do all these years.
Break me.
“Innocent?!” Ryker raged like a madman, shifting into his massive raven-black wolf, and escaping his friend’s hold. He began strutting toward me with precision, as though he was hunting his next prey.
With a flicker of our Alpha’s finger, the Hunters all began to shift into snarling, rabid wolves, gathering behind Ryker as he led them across the patch of forest that still divided us. A wave of fear crashed into me, and I turned to find the human looking all around us, as though searching for a way out… like he could outrun what was about to happen.
“There is no escape,” I whispered, another tear leaving me. “I’m so sorry. I tried to save you, but I made it worse.” I faced the Hunters again, standing in front of him so he couldn’t see the horror that was about to happen.
“Bring them to me…” our Alpha growled, and the shifters’ pace quickened.
“No,” I whispered, walking backward until I bumped into the man’s chest. “Ryker, please. It’s me. Don’t do this. It’s still me… please,” I begged, looking into ire-filled, glowing eyes that saw nothing but the traitor his Alpha had condemned. “Ryker!” I screamed in full panic, trying to snap him out of it to no avail.
I reached behind me and took the kind human’s hand in mine, to at least give him some comfort.
“Whatever happens, you are not alone. I’m with you.” The whisper meant for the innocent man danced in the wind, reaching my uncle’s ears.
Renewed wrath ignited in his glowing eyes with my words. “She chosethem,” he raged, all sanity leaving him. “Kill her!”
His command echoed in the frigid wind, and Ryker’s wolf lunged straight for me, claws first.
