Page 78 of Moonlight & Mayhem

Moon grabbed his wrist. “No shifting.”

“Not shifting,” he insisted.

“Your claws—” Moon said, nodding to his hands.

“Technicality.” He reached for the door, and Moon grabbed him.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Handling it,” he said.

“Mayhem!” He opened the door, and wind ripped through the SUV as Mayhem leaned out. The wolf looked down, and Mayhem grabbed its foreleg. Pain exploded through his side, but he ignored it.

“Get off the fucking car,” he shouted. Mayhem yanked, and the wolf lost its grip and tumbled onto the road.

Chrome accelerated, and Mayhem slammed the door. Moon just stared at him. “What?” he asked.

“You tore your stitches,” she shouted at him.

Mayhem looked down at the blood soaking his shirt. “Maybe.”

Her eyes flashed silver. “Mayhem.”

“Fourth time's the charm?” he asked.

“I am going to kill you,” she insisted.

“Get in line,” he mumbled. The black veins surged, and Mayhem gasped as pain ripped through his body.

His wolf roared, and Moon grabbed him. “Mayhem!”

The darkness raced up his arm and across his shoulder, toward his chest. “Fuck.”

Moon pressed both hands against him. “Look at me.”

He couldn't. His wolf slammed forward. Shift. “No,” he shouted.

Moon cupped his face. “Mayhem.”

SHIFT. His bones started to ache. “No!” he told his wolf again.

Chris twisted around. “What do we do?”

Moon didn't look away from him. “Keep driving.”

Chrome pressed the accelerator, and Mayhem gripped Moon's wrists. “Get away.”

“No,” she said.

“Moonlight,” he warned, so afraid that he was going to lose control and hurt her.

“You're not hurting me,” she insisted.

“You don't know that,” he spat.

“Yes, I do.” His vision blurred and his wolf pushed. Night root burned through his veins, and Moon pressed her forehead to his. “Listen to me,” she said. Mayhem growled in response. “Your wolf knows me,” she continued.

Mate. His wolf said. Her wolf answered. Ours. Mayhem shook. Moon's scent surrounded him, and his wolf slowed.