Brenna raised the gun and sighted her shot as the wolf lunged forward.
Another wolf slammed into the side of the feral one. Eric! The two large wolves, evenly matched in size, rolled over one another, crashing into the couch and side table. Wood splintered and fractured. Fur flew as teeth snatched and claws shredded.
The feral pushed off Eric, a chunk of his hide and flesh caught in Eric’s mouth. The feral yipped as his flesh tore.
Brenna stood to the side of the room, rifle still in her hand, and watched. What else could she do? She couldn’t take another shot at the feral without risking hitting Eric. Besides, Eric looked like he had recuperated from his wounds and was currently winning.
With a flurry of fur, the feral growled and lunged away from Eric. His paws and claws clattered and scraped against the slick hardwood floor as he fought for traction.
Brenna lifted the rifle, paused to aim, and shot him in the hindquarters.
The werewolf yelped. After gaining purchase, he ran across the room, knocking over another side table. The lamp crashed the floor, spraying glass, but the feral didn’t pause. He kept barrelling through the cabin until he jumped out the window he’d come in through.
Still in wolf form, Eric dropped the hunk of feral flesh at her feet and panted.
“Ew.”
He licked her face.
“Gross.”
He whined.
She jerked her head toward the window. “Go.”
Eric smiled in wolf form, flashing his shiny teeth and took off after the feral. She knew what had to be done. Eric had to hunt down and kill the feral, putting him out of his own misery and keeping everyone else on the mountain safe. If he didn’t, the feral would continue to terrorize any human or werewolf he encountered and he most definitely would return to try his luck against Eric and Brenna again.
Brenna sighed and lowered the rifle. The tension flowed from her muscles and the effect from adrenaline racing through her veins faded. She wanted a nap, but one look at the destroyed living room and she knew she had a lot of work to do. Besides, she wouldn’t rest until she knew Eric was safe.
Chapter 12
In naked human form, Eric walked through the front door just as Brenna finished sweeping up the rest of the glass. Luckily, Brenna’s family had extra boards, nails, and a hammer for emergencies. After locating the supplies, she nailed the board to the windowsills to seal up the broken window. A new draft snuck in through the cracks, but this cabin always had an energetic air flow.
Relief swept through Brenna at the sight of Eric, fully healed and safe.
He shut the door against the cold and searched the room with a wild gaze. Feral wild. Oh no.
Sometimes, the hunt drove the inner beasts too much. All werewolves drove a fine line between the wild animal they housed inside and their humanity. All werewolves fought to keep control. Once they tipped over the edge and became feral, nothing could save them. Had Eric lost the battle?
The moment Eric spotted her, the tension from his shoulders eased and he stalked toward her. Another intense emotion replaced the wild gaze. With fluid grace, he moved like the predator he was, prey in sight. “I need you.”
She lowered the dustpan to the nearby coffee table and leaned the broom against the wall. Eric’s words rocked her, they called to her, caressed her, demanded her.
Eric stopped a few feet in front of her, his gaze boring into hers.
What was he waiting for? Consent? He saved her from a feral werewolf. Her lips still prickled from his kiss. Her body yearned for more and her heart pulsed. Sheachedfor him. “Well, I don’t know. You were gone for a while.”
Eric pursed his lips.
“Us fickle women just…” She snapped her fingers. “Change our minds without—”
Eric was on her before she could finish her sentence. His hot mouth claimed hers, his strong arms crushing her body to his. He stole her breath away but before she suffocated, he pulled back and traced her lips with the tip of his finger. “I like you like this.”
“Alive.”
“Safe. Warm. In my arms...” His voice trailed off as he leaned in farther to kiss her neck.
“And?”
