Yeah, well, tell that to Cade,I snap. Because he’s already back on two legs, looming over us like a storm that’s about to swallow the whole damn world. And if we live through this, I’m the one who’s going to feel the full weight of his wrath.
I try to push Wolf to move, to see more than a patch of dirt, but she’s too weak. My body stays heavy, useless. The shadow that settles over us makes me flinch, bracing for another strike. Except this one isn’t teeth or claws. It’s going to be words. And those might cut deeper.
Cade stands there silently, his body vibrating with fury. I finally manage to turn enough to see him. His eyes—usually molten gold—are so dark they look like melted chocolate. His jaw locked so tight, I half-expect it to shatter.
If I could talk, I’d apologize. I’d crack a joke. I’ddo something.But stuck like this, all I can manage is a pathetic whimper, and I doubt that’s going to smooth things over.
Then, instead of unleashing hell, he lowers himself to the ground. Both of his hands press against my wolf’s flank, and tingles seep through fur and skin, heat pooling at the wound until it burns and soothes at once.
Liz’s voice cuts through the night. “They’re both dead. What the hell happened?”
He doesn’t answer her. I’m not surehe even can through his rage. It’s white-hot and directed right at me as he commands my wolf with just one word.
“Shift.”
“Can she even do that in her condition?” Liz asks, but still receives no reply.
Another minute of staring down with Cade, me attempting to plead for his forgiveness through my wolf’s eyes, and him seeming as though he’d rather I were dead right now.
He doesn’t want us dead, Wolf says.He’s just worried.
Sure, that’s all this is.
The silence carries on until he finally stands and grunts. “I saidshift.”
I still don’t think I can, but this time, there’s a power in the word that my wolf doesn’t want to ignore. No, shecan’tignore. I thought he couldn’t control us like that, but apparently, a weakened Ashmark can still be commanded.
Wolf drags herself inward, pushing my presence back to the surface, and agony detonates through every nerve.
What the hell are you doing?I cry out as our bones grind and skin tears, folding back into human shape.
Making sure we don’t further piss him off.
Nowyou’re worried about that?
If it wouldn’t likely kill me, too, I’d be seriously considering turning this wolf into a welcome mat.
By the time it’s over, sweat drenches me. My skin feels flayed, my chest heaves, and I can’t quite pull in a full breath. The world tilts, and it takes everything in me to keep my eyes open as I lie bare and trembling under Cade’s unforgiving stare.
He leans down once more, his shirt in his hands. Gently—far more than I expect—he drapes it over me, the fabric warm from his body, smelling of pine and fire and him. Then, without hesitation, he gathers me into his arms, cradling me as if I weigh nothing.
“I’m so?—”
He cuts me off with a single, sharp word. “No.”
“But she?—”
His gaze drops to mine, still almost black. “I said no, Rowan.” The way he says my name feels almost like a warning, a plea, and a promise all at once.
This time, I keep my mouth shut. Clearly, he needs more time to calm down, and the least I can do is give it to him.
Liz falls in step beside us, her expression softening as her eyes meet mine. She blows me a quick kiss, a silent comfort in contrast to Cade’s ire. If only he were as forgiving.
When we arrive back at NightShade, Archie is already there in full Great Dane glory, blocking the doorway with his hulking frame. “What happened? Why didn’t anyone get me?”
Cade doesn’t answer, his silence louder than a snarl, but Liz speaks for him. “There was an attack. Two wolves, both shadowed in dark energy. I got one, and Cade got the other, but not before Rowan was hurt.”
Archie’s jowls curl into a snarl. “You weren’t ready for that.”
