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I shook myself, thick scruff jiggling as I stretched in my new form, my human emotions fading as my other senses took over. Her sweet scent hit my sensitive nose and I couldn’t help the whimper that escaped. I wanted to crawl on my belly, bare my throat so she would understand how sorry I was for forcing the mating claim without her permission. My paws itched with the need to run, to chase her down, and let our wolves solve the problems our humans had created.
I paced instead.
The cage growing smaller with each turnaround.
Until a strange scent marred the damp air, the smell of gunpowder and ozone mingling and causing my nose to twitch.
She appeared, silent as a ghost and equally terrifying, and it was all I could do not to roll over and show her my belly. My head bowed under the weight of her stare as my fur stood on end. Power, subtle but strong, pulsed from her, crackling in the air between us.
“I should have known,” she spoke aloud, vitriol dripping from each word. “Are you here to steal another of my children?” There was no mistaking her question as anything but a dare and my head lowered further as I panted, trying not to fold under the command she wielded. “You won’t succeed. That I can promise you.” She crouched, her bearing regal, and familiar ice blue eyes examined me, strands of silver hair floating on currents of static electricity, as she sneered, “There is nothing here for you but death, wolf.”
I raised my eyes, my lip curling as I bared my teeth, drawing on the long dormant power of an Alpha as I met her gaze, refusing to bend to her will. Her stare sharpened at my show of defiance and her mouth twisted.
“You cannot win,” she snarled and her eyes glowed as my front legs buckled, sending me crashing to the ground. She leaned close, only the bars separating us, but I couldn’t even snap at her as she hissed, “Don’t fear, wolf. Your death won’t be in vain. I’ll hang your carcass from the trees to warn any others who may attempt to cross our borders.”
Unwillingly, my eyes closed and I fought as unconsciousness tried to take me, only succumbing when the acrid scent disappeared and I know she was gone.
***
Up….You! Wake….now! Words attempted to penetrate the fog, each one distant and I grasped at them, trying to make order from them. Something nudged my side and I rolled reflexively. Finally! Wake UP! The last was a scream and my eyes jerked open to see an angel standing above me, hands on her hips, as she proceeded to kick me with one foot.
“Ow,” I grunted, moving out of reach of her sharp strike. Stop! I ordered when she went to swing again. What are you doing? I asked, recognizing the white haired girl methodically kicking the shit out of me.
Saving your life, she answered, tossing her hair. I see you met Gran, she paused, chewing her lip, again.
Gran? I questioned, wondering if she could possibly mean the terrifying old lady who’d put me on the ground without lifting a finger. That’s your – grandmother?
Paige nodded, leaning down to grab the pair of shorts I’d discarded the night before, Yep. The one and only. She tossed them on my lap and I reached for them. You should just go ahead and shift, she commented, glancing over her shoulder. I hesitated, not remembering shifting back into human form.
Why are you in here? I asked again, seeing the door was wide open and Paige didn’t look too concerned. Aren’t you supposed to be guarding me? I nodded to the open door. I could escape.
She gave me a pitying smile. That’s kind of the point, not to state the obvious here. She tapped her fingers nervously. You need to hurry. I’m not supposed to be down here.
Why not? I questioned, getting to my feet as she kept her eyes firmly fixed on the wall. You were here yesterday.
That was before Gran decided I might fall for your handsome face, Paige replied nonchalantly as I choked. Her head tilted as she gave me a considering look. You are good looking, but you’re kinda old.
I’m twenty-eight, I protested, wondering when that had made me old.
She gave a surprised laugh, muttering to herself, Wait till Dru finds out you’re younger than her.
Dru? I questioned sharply, wondering if I’d finally found the name of my elusive mate. She suddenly became evasive, shaking her head.
You need to go. She made a shooing motion with her hand and I crossed my arms, not budging. Seriously, Dru told me to come let you out. You’re supposed to follow her scent off our lands and then go home.
Where’s your sister? I demanded, reluctant to go anywhere without seeing her. Paige’s chest heaved with a long suffering sigh.
