by Callie Rose
No. It’s not true. It can’t be.
I refuse to let this man manipulate my emotions or make me doubt myself. No matter what hand he had in my birth, he has no control over who I become now. So I shove my doubts away; I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear.
Never again.
“It doesn’t matter if it did,” I tell him, my voice cold and hard in the still night air. “And it doesn’t matter if I’m part witch and part wolf. I’ve chosen my side, you slimy fucking worm. And it’s with the men I love.”
Clint’s eyes widen in shock. He’s never heard me speak to him that way; he probably didn’t believe I even could.
A sudden rage contorts his features, and he bucks against the dirt, throwing his hips up. The sharpness of the movement loosens Ridge and Trystan’s grip on him. Moving faster than I would’ve thought possible, the older man rolls over, leaping to his feet.
He raises his hands, and it feels like the temperature around me drops ten degrees as black smoke gathers at his fingertips. I surge forward, forgetting about my nakedness, forgetting that I don’t know how to use my own magic well enough to utilize it in combat. All I know is that I won’t let the man who manipulated and abused me hurt any of the men I love.
But Ridge and Trystan are faster than I am. I’ve barely taken two steps before they shift back into their wolf forms, leaping toward Clint with their jaws snapping.
I can tell Ridge holds back, attempting to subdue Clint without hurting him. But Trystan has no such qualms. His powerful jaws bite down on the man’s neck so hard that blood spurts. My sensitive ears hear bones crunch, and then Clint sinks to the ground on his belly.
My body freezes in shock, the world seeming to slow around me as I watch the man who raised me fall. Somehow, it makes sense to me that Trystan was the one to make the killing blow. The one to destroy the man who hurt me.
He fought so hard for me to stay home and be safe. This is how he takes care of me.
And despite the nausea that fills me as a coppery scent stings my nostrils, I’m a little relieved.
It’s over.
Clint goes limp, blood puddling beneath his face. His maniacal eyes meet mine, and he chuckles. Even as his life’s blood spills from his body and the light and consciousness leave his eyes, he chuckles.
Our gazes meet one last time. He grins, the same sadistic smile he’s given me for years. Only now, it doesn’t cut as deeply. It doesn’t fill me with fear or loathing.
It’s just kind of pathetic.
Clint blinks, and his eyes become unfocused. With his last breath, he rasps, “Oh, child. You better hope she doesn’t find out about you.”
“Who?” I demand, taking a single step forward, as if I can keep him alive and make him talk through the sheer force of my will. “Hope who doesn’t find out?”
But it’s too late.
My fake uncle is gone, taking all of his secrets with him.
***
To Be Continued…
The Claimed by Wolves series continues in Dark Wolf.
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Want to read a completed paranormal romance series? You can check out Fallen University: Year One, the first book in my fast-burn paranormal academy series. Turn the page to see the description and cover. Free to read in Kindle Unlimited!
AMAZON TOP 100 BESTSELLER
Did you know ordinary people can be turned into demons? I sure didn’t. Until it happened to me.
One day, I was a regular college student, working a boring job and studying for finals—and the next, I was transformed into some strange creature of the night.
Now I’ve got powers I don’t understand, I can change my appearance with a thought, and I’m having all kinds of odd… cravings.
If I thought all this bullshit was gonna get me out of going to college though, I’ve got another think coming. Nope, I still need an education. Except the classes at Fallen University are on things like “Curses and Hexcraft” and “Magical Combat”.
It’s not all bad. There are these four hot as hell guys I keep bumping into—Kingston, Jayce, Xero, and Kai. I’m not sure if I should trust them; they’ve each got secrets of their own, and they’re definitely dangerous.
But that craving I’ve been having?
It’s pulling me right toward them.
Yup, things are about to get real interesting at FU.
**Available now on AMAZON and AUDIBLE.**
Books by Callie Rose
Boys of Oak Park Prep
Savage Royals
Defiant Princess
Broken Empire
Kings of Linwood Academy
The Help
The Lie
The Risk
Fallen University
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Ruthless Games
Sweet Obsession
Sweet Retribution
Sweet Salvation
Claimed by Wolves
Fated Magic
Broken Bond
