Closing my eyes, I block him out, block everything out but that inner power begging me to set it free. I welcome the pain with open arms, need it to clear my mind of everything but what we’re here to do.
I hear a gasp and look up to see Grey watching Jet saunter towards him, sleek and black and terrifying if you’re human. Jet bares his teeth as he advances, coming to a stop a few feet away. I really fucking hope Grey doesn’t do something stupid like try and stroke him, or he’ll lose a hand.
I don’t care either way, but explaining that to the rest of the Silver Blades isn’t something I want to do. A low growl gets Jet’s attention, and with Beth and Flint carrying the rucksacks in their teeth, we set off into the woods.
MORGAN
I’m dozing against Luke’s shoulder when I hear them.
His hand reaches for mine in silent support, and the faint trace of his fear hits me. I know it’s fear because he’s spent the last few hours teaching me how to decipher basic scents. It tastes wrong on the air, my wolf reacting to it, and fuck me, that’s a thought I never imagined having.
Jesus Christ.
I still can’t believe this happened. Even with the evidence literally hitting me in the face, it’s a struggle to accept that I’ve fundamentally changed inside.
I haven’t shifted though.
Can’t even if I wanted to with the cuffs still on.
Luke tried to coach me through it, to teach me what to do as soon as I get the chance, but the idea of it terrifies me to the point I almost had another panic attack.
“When they come for us, they’ll take the cuffs off and fit you with a shock collar to keep control,” he whispers quickly. “When you get in the ring, they might force you to shift or half shift to make things moreexciting,” he bites out. “They’ll keep shocking you until your instinct takes over.”
I shake my head. “Ican’t.”
“You won’t have a choice. Your wolf will take over and magic will do the rest.”
Magic.
What the actual fuck.
He squeezes my hand as the voices get louder, nearer. “The more you fight it, the more it’ll hurt. You’ll feel a pull in your chest.” He brings his hands up and taps over the middle of his chest. “Give into it and let your body do what it’s meant to.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is. If you trust your gut and let it happen. It’ll only hurt for a second if you don’t fight it.”
Three men come into view and Luke lets go of my hand. I miss it immediately.
One of them aims a gun at me. “Silver bullets.” He taps the barrel. “Stay in the fucking corner.” He beckons to Luke. “You’re coming with us. Looks like you’re the opening act.” He grins and my heart drops to my stomach.
I have to physically stop myself from reaching for Luke when he moves towards the cage door. What if he doesn’t come back? What if he dies out there?
My heart bangs so hard against my ribs I’m surprised I can’t see it moving.
Luke glances back at me over his shoulder. “Remember what I said,” he murmurs so quietly I have to strain to hear. “It’ll be okay, Morgan.”
“Stop fucking whispering,” the guy with the gun snaps, and Luke faces them again as the other guy unlocks the cage door while the third trains his gun on him.
They immediately fasten a collar around his neck and drag him out.
I listen to them walk away, the guards barking orders at him.
For the last few hours there’s been a background hum of voices. I know people have been arriving at wherever we are, but I’ve pushed the reason to the back of my mind. Two minutes later a massive cheer goes up.
I feel sick.
When a feral roar cuts through the night, I can’t tell whether it’s Luke or not, and I shrink back against the bars.
