Page 63 of Rejected By the Winter Wolf

I drop the bag and charge into the road in front of the truck. He barely hits the brakes in time, not that it would matter. I’d survive–he wouldn’t. They both stare at me through the windshield. He’s surprised. She’s mad.

He hits the horn. I slam my hands on the hood hard enough to dent it. She’ll learn I’m not fucking around, and I won’t be made a fool of in front of a stupid human.

“Get out of the fucking car,” I order her.

She shakes her head.

Obstinate.

I bare my teeth at her, but it does nothing. She thinks she’s safe.

“Look, man, I’m just trying to help her out⁠—”

I round the car and yank his door. The whole thing comes off, ripping free from the body with a shriek of metal. I drop it and grab him next, pulling him onto the asphalt.

“What the fuck?” He clings to my wrists. “You lunatic⁠—”

I drag him to the opposite side, across a ditch and into the forest. My blood is rushing through me, my wolf as angry as me. But for a different reason. He thinks she was going to leave him. He’s upset. I’m furious for almost losing the witch. To a stupid fucking human offering her a ride.

I’d find her again, but that’s not the point. Humans can’t be trusted. He could’ve done anything he wanted to her. He could’ve driven down a quiet road and robbed her, raped her, or killed her⁠—

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Jesus. She asked⁠—”

“Kian, stop.”

I ignore Astra, too. My skin is hot. I want to rip the guy’s throat out and coat her in his blood. I’ll tear him limb from limb for thinking he could take her away from me. Fuck everything, all I can focus on is the white-hot roaring anger flooding my system.

A vine catches my ankle.

More wind around my other foot, climbing rapidly up my legs.

“Astra,” I growl.

I crane around and find her at the edge of the trees, kneeling with her fingers pressed into the soil.

“I said stop,” she says, her voice echoing. Distorted by magic. “Let him go.”

I glare down at the trembling, pathetic human. The sour stench of urine fills the air, and his pants darken at his crotch.

Gross.

I yank him up, so his face is inches from mine. He’s not tall enough. His feet dangle inches above the ground.

His fear is visceral.

I’d love nothing more than to fulfill whatever he’s thinking will happen, to rip him to shreds and leave him for the crows. But not with the greenery working its way up my torso. The vines slide under my shirt, creeping and hugging my skin. It tickles more than it hurts.

Can Astra feel me through them? Does she know they’re working their way across my abs, twisting and slipping up across my ribcage? In a moment, I’ll be rendered immobile. If I’m not already.

I settle for a threat to dispense with the man in front of me.

“You so much as glance at her on your way back to your truck, and I’ll kill you.”

“O-okay,” he stammers.

I release him, and he falls on his ass. He scrambles backward. When he’s far enough away, he jumps to his feet and rushes back to his truck.

Sure enough, he gives her a wide berth, his head bent down.