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The piercing pain in my chest came and went, paralyzing me on the spot when it shook me at thecore.
Nero was there, his arms around my torso. “I’ve got you. Now you need to run from here. Let us finish this once and for all.” He patted my rump and nudged me toward the frontgates.
But I couldn’t move when I’d just turned into a wolf. The realization locked me in place, not a muscle moved, not even the panic jammed in my cheststirred.
Nero rushed into battle, and mid-launch, his body shifted with the grace of an eagle swooping through the air. Within moments, he landed on his paws, his white fur fluttering as he charged two guards holding down awolf.
Bodies lay everywhere, both human and wolf, and it killed me. Dread punched me in the gut. Hollow and barren, reminding me of the stories I’d read about the different races in Haven fighting to the death. That was why the world had been divided into seven realms. To create peace—the opposite of what the priestess haddone.
Toward the castle, I spotted her, holding her skirt and running into the manor. Before I could stop myself, I went after her, each step slow. Every now and then, my shoulder stung as if someone tossed boiling water over it. Obviously, healing as a wolf took time… A luxury I didn’thave.
I pushed one leg forward, and then another, gainingspeed.
A dark wolf blur whizzed past me and thundered into thecourtyard.
Oryn?
My legs refused to fall into a rhythm, and I stumbled into a tree. Heavens, how did anyone walk on four paws? Okay, one at atime.
Someone screeched from the manor, and I sped up. The moment I entered the cobblestone yard, Igasped.
Six guards cornered Oryn, while the priestess held a thin, long knife in one hand, poised in a striking pose above hershoulder.
“Grab him and hold him down,” sheyelled.
My stomach somersaulted, and a guttural snarl rolled through me, shaking me. No one touched my shifter. A sense of possessiveness claimedme.
All gazes turned in my direction, and I lunged at the priestess, hating what she’d done to Terra, the fear she’d inflicted, and the mercilessdeaths.
She whirled around, her blade pointed atme.
Everything happened too fast, and I swore the wolf side of me pushed forward, reaffirming we had this. To trusther.
Nearby, Oryn jumped into his own assault, battling the guards. But one turned towardme.
Just out of reach of the priestess, I swung around her in a wide berth, then pounced up against the wall for leverage. The pain increased in waves, but I drove it back. I twisted and pivoted midair, hurling myself towardher.
She jerked around as I crashed into her, my mouth latching into her neck. We both fell to the ground, her blade falling, and me bitingdown.
Her cries meantnothing.
Blood hit mytongue.
Kill.My wolf bellowed. For my parents’ deaths. For Dagen’s brother. For Oryn’s pack members. And for the countless other wolves andhumans.
A guard charged and kicked me in theribs.
I crumpled, writhing, my pain deep, stinging andburning.
He hovered closer, his knifeready.
My blood painted the cobblestones as I teetered upright. Exhaustion crashed overme.
“Kill it,” the priestess shouted as she climbed to her feet, crimson coating her neck andgown.
I growled. No more backing away or feeling sorry for myself. I’d fight for what I believed in, stand up to theenemy.
Right when the guard lunged, I ducked and looped aroundhim.
