by Jane Jamison
They changed, the amber in their eyes flashing as their fangs slid over their lower lips. Raine took her hand and licked it, then gripped her chin, making her look at him. “The only thing you have to do is remember that we love you. That will get you through the pain and to the other side.”
Alarm threatened to take her, to make her change her mind, but she held fast, ready for whatever torture might lie ahead. “Do it.”
She screamed as three sets of fangs dug into her skin, one on each shoulder with Raine driving his teeth into her arm. Instinct took over and she fought against them, but they kept her as still as they could. She screamed again as the pain fired outward from each wound. Her body shook and her eyes rolled back in her head. Darkness took her as her scream turned into a whimper.
* * * *
The wind blew through Callie’s fur and into her open mouth as she raced along the ridge with her wolves. The world around her was amber-hued and her keen eyesight and sense of smell picked up sights and aromas she’d never known existed before she’d gone through the first transformation.
Hearing their paws pounding into the ground, she sped up, determined to make them earn the position at the head of the pack. She had no doubt they would, as they always did, trading the leader’s spot throughout the night. She led the pack for now, but that wouldn’t last long. Blue hated taking a position behind her.
She’d awakened after they’d bitten her to find the world a different place. The wolf she’d sensed inside her, yet had never recognized it for what it was, roared to life, ready to show her a world she could never have dreamed of. Her inner wolf had made the transition easier than it would’ve been if she’d been entirely human. Since that day, she’d changed many times and now she could do so as fast as her men could.
A nip on her butt sent her flying faster, almost stumbling over her feet as she tried to outpace them. Blue charged up to run beside her, his tongue lolling out of his mouth, his ears preened forward to catch any unusual sound. Raine and Pete joined her on the other side, their amber eyes glued on her. Her time to lead was at an end. At least for tonight.
Without warning, Raine threw his golden-furred body against hers, stopping their run. She spilled over him, both of them rolling a few feet before they finally came to a stop. She growled, flashing her teeth as she got back onto her feet.
Raine’s warning growl turned her around to find Blue and Pete, their bodies tense, their heads lowered. Just beyond them stood six of The Cursed. The creatures showed their fangs and jostled back and forth, but didn’t come any closer.
Raine joined his brothers, forming a defensive line in front of her. She padded forward even as Blue growled another warning. Although she tried to get past them, they nipped and snapped at her, keeping her behind them.
Her wolf’s mind howled, scratching to tear The Cursed apart. But it was her human side that won out. Shifting back to human, she stood up and marched past the snarling wolves.
“Scrunch.”
Scrunch eased to the front of his group. He tilted his head at her then whirled around to growl at his companions. They quieted, but still remained restless, their bodies twitching, their red eyes glowing.
“How are you, Scrunch? You’re staying out of holes, like I’m doing, right?” She wished she had a piece of fruit to share with him.
Raine transformed into his human body. “Callie, be careful.”
She didn’t bother glancing at him. She could hear the worry in his voice. “It’s okay. If they’d wanted to attack, they’d have already done it.”
“Still…”
“I will. Don’t worry.”
She reached out her hand, palm up, toward Scrunch. Both groups reacted, jostling about with nervous energy.
“Callie, if he scratches you…”
“He won’t.”
Yet she still held her breath when he lifted his hand toward her. With his paw-like hand shaking with as much trepidation as she was feeling, he touched the tip of his finger to the middle of her palm. She smiled, mouth closed so he wouldn’t take it as a threat.
One of The Cursed growled and Scrunch yanked his hand back. Surprised, she jerked her hand away, too. The Cursed backed away, keeping their faces toward her, then, once they were at a distance, they whirled around and disappeared into the forest line.
Raine grabbed her and held her tightly. “Hell, don’t ever do that again. I think I lost ten years off my life.”
“But it worked, don’t you see?” Her body hummed with excitement. “We made contact with The Cursed and no one got hurt on either side.”
“You’re lucky they didn’t attack us. We were outnumbered.” Raine’s blue eyes sparkled as his brothers, still in wolf form, paced around them, growling their displeasure.
“But they didn’t. That proves we have a chance of making peace.”
“Maybe. But let’s try keeping them at a distance for a while.”
“Aw, where’s the fun in that?”
“Look, woman, don’t make us have to tie you up again.”
She touched his face, tenderly. “And treat me like your captive?”
“If we have to.” He brushed the hair away from her face.
“Then go ahead. Tie me up.”
“Yeah?”
She pulled out of his arms and stepped back. “Yeah. Why not? It’s just my body. You captured my heart the first time I looked at you.”
With a wink and a toss of her hair, she let the transformation take her again. A few moments later, she spun off to the right and dashed down the hillside. She sported a wolfish grin as her men followed behind her, once more vying for the lead.
THE END
WWW.JANEJAMISON.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jane Jamison has always liked “weird stuff,” as her mother called it. From an early age she was fascinated with stories about werewolves, vampires, space, aliens, and whatever was hiding in her bedroom closet. (To this day, she still swears she can hear growls and moans whenever the lights are out.)
Being born under the sign of Scorpio meant Jane was destined to be very sensual. Some would say she was (and remains) downright sexual. Then one day she put her two favorite things together on paper and found her life’s true ambition: to be an erotic paranormal romance author.
Jane spends at least six days a week locked in her office surrounded by the characters she loves. Every day a new character will knock on the door of her imagination. Her plans include taking care of her loving husband, traveling, and writing at least twelve books a year.
For all titles by Jane Jamison, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/jane-jamison
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
