I struggle against them, which only earns me more punches into submission until I’m already forming bruises. Blood drips down my face and over my chin. My body trembles, starting to give up the fight as they pull me through the dirt.
This is it. I’m done for.
The sound of a low growl echoes around us. My eyes barely manage to stay open; instead, I stare down at the brown leaves by my bare feet.
“Holy shit.” I hear before I fall face-first into the ground.
The screams of the two men echo around me, and I shudder as the silver continues to slice into my skin.
I release a gargling nose as I choke on the blood that suffocates my throat.
My head swims as the silver is quickly unwrapped from my body, and I’m rolled onto my back. Warm hands cup my face, and the touch immediately sets off fireworks in my chest, the smell of gasoline making me relax.
No. No.I shouldn’t be relaxed around his scent.
“Hey.” I hear his rough voice.
My skin rises in goosebumps.
“Hey,” he says again, louder this time. “Look at me.”
I keep my eyes shut as I try to catch my breath.
“I said, look at me,” he demands, using his sharp tone.
My eyes suddenly open, unable to deny him.
Glowing green eyes are inches from mine. For a second, I think I see a sliver of worry behind them, but then I remember I hit my head and got beaten. I’m delusional.
He blinks, and they turn back to stone. Yeah, definitely delusional.
“We need to move.” His deep voice slips through me.
I can hardly breathe right now. He’s too close, and the bond is glowing inside me like a flitter of fireflies.
“Can you shift?”
There’s no way I’m able to shift, not with all my energy zapped from me. I manage to shake my head. Caleb sighs and looks up above him. He hands me a piece of clothing and helps me put it on. A weird feeling of care stretches through my body, especially at the fact that he won’t look at me.
Every time his fingers brush my skin, it’s like I’ve been shocked by a taser, and it weirdly takes away the pain I’m currently experiencing. I don’t want to be grateful for it, but I am—silver isdeadly.
He pulls away from me and shifts back into his pitch-black wolf.
Wrap your arms around my neck,he says through our mindlink, reminding me that since we’re mates, it’s something we’re able to do.
My mouth trembles. It’s the first time I’m hearing him in my head, and it brings instant tears to my eyes. Smooth yet rough. Comforting yet terrifying.
It messes with my thoughts.
Now.He demands.
My quivering hands reach up to run through his thick fur. I can feel him shaking as much as I am, but I don’t feel it for long until he stands up on all fours.
Hold on as tightly as possible.
I secure my arms around his neck. My skin is on fire as I press myself into his wolf’s body, and he races off through the trees. My mental battle proves difficult when I start to slip, but I dig my nails into my arms to hold on tighter.
We somehow make it back to the pack house, where Ava and Lucy rush to my side as I slide off Caleb’s back and hit the grass.
