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It was so surreal, seeing the world through his wolf’s eyes again.
It had been too long. Part of him had been unsure he’d even be able to transform.
But even his wolf, especially his wolf, had no choice but to bend to Caster’s will.
The strength of his true nature as it moved through the house was inexplicable.
He let it overwhelm him, knowing Caster’s protection would be there when it became too much.
Glass crunched beneath his paw with every step, the air thick with the familiar scent of everyone in it.
The witch’s presence had faded in the last few minutes, but it was there, beyond the lush compound that surrounded Caster’s property.
She was here, there was no mistaking it, but both sides of him didn’t even dream of going after her.
It would be so easy, but Caster’s final command echoed in their shared mind space, and the wolf shifted its senses to focus on his brother.
Caster was right. Mikey’s safety was far more important right now.
He saw Riley, Caster’s mother, Edie, and Riley’s mother gathered in the living room, their discussion a distant echo he couldn’t comprehend.
In this form, words were only decipherable when spoken into his mind.
They stopped talking as soon as they saw him, a hint of surprise mixed with fear emanating from the women, but Riley smiled.
He recognized the appreciation in the powerful witch’s demeanor.
Mark may have been absent during the war, but he was as capable of using the brute strength of his wolf as Dean.
Today, the witch would find out just how formidable he could be.
And when it was all over, he could have his forever with Caster.
He ignored the fear he could sense from the women.
They had nothing to be afraid of and went through the house, following the unique scent that was Mikey.
He found his brother in the kitchen with Caster’s younger brother Ben and Sophie.
Sophie seemed hurt, though in wolf-form, he couldn’t quite make out the nature of her injury.
Ben gasped, but the shock on Mikey’s face was almost comical.
Are you OK? He reached into his brother’s mind even as his prolific sense of smell scanned the room for his blood, finding only the unfamiliar scent that must be Sophie’s.
I’m fine. Mikey moved away from Sophie and Ben, his steps tentative, almost as if he wasn’t sure this was happening. How did you…?
I don’t know. I just could. It was a lie. Of course, he knew how. Caster was how, but he didn’t have time or the words to explain that to his brother.
Mikey placed a hand on his head, and Mark pushed into it. My Goddess, I’ve missed you. We need to tell Dean.
Yes, but why aren’t you in wolf-form? The witch is here.
He glanced at Ben. Riley said it wasn’t necessary. Then he gasped, his hand digging further into Mark’s fur. Can you turn back?
His fear was valid. Mark was even now, even after Caster’s assurance, still afraid he might remain stuck this way. But there was no reason for Mikey to worry about that. I’m in control. It will be fine. Is Sophie OK?
Yeah. She was standing right at the window when the blast came through. She’s healing. We need to call Dean.
He started to reiterate their immediate problem, only for his senses to zero in on Caster.
His presence, his unique scent, was even stronger, filling the space in his mind as if looking to connect with the human side of him.
Mark turned to see his smile, Damien, and Riley following him into the room.
He spoke, but in wolf-form, Mark couldn’t quite make out what he said.
His demeanor, his stance, was, however, unmistakable.
He issued orders, but there was little urgency.
Confused, he reached into his mind. Why aren’t we doing anything? She’s out there. I can still feel her.
She can’t get in, and the worst thing we can do is go to her without a plan.
His human side understood the need for a strategy, but the animal in him wanted to get rid of the woman who was the cause of their pain. He itched to rush through the door, his jaw aching with the image of her body thrashing in its confines.
Don’t you dare. Caster’s command halted all strategies, silencing his growls. Come with me.
He turned, and Mark had no choice but to follow. He ignored Mikey’s questions and the strange looks from the others. Caster led him to the study, which seemed much smaller now, and closed the door behind them. Come back to me. There will be time for a fight later.
Mark’s hesitation was momentary. He hadn’t done this in more than ten years, and his fear of failure was there, but so was the elation of allowing Caster full control of the real part of him.
His wolf didn’t even hesitate, retreating behind the psychic barrier it called home in the space of a minute.
The pain of the transformation was strange.
He’d missed its deliciousness, couldn’t wait to experience it again.
Caster’s smile carried an air of pride. He smiled back, aware of his nudity, but unfazed by it.
It was another thing he missed about transforming, coming back into his skin, raw, primal, free without the constriction of clothing.
Part of him wanted to dance, to celebrate the return of his true nature, but there was a powerful, terrifying threat outside.
“We will celebrate. I promise.” Caster held out his hand, and Mark accepted the connection, allowing him to draw him closer. “But this is it. Our chance to end this.”
He nodded. “I wish Dean were here.”
“The witch has surrounded the house with impenetrable dark magic. We can’t get out, and no one outside can get in.” Caster grabbed his shoulders, holding him still. “Take a breath.”
His lungs expanded with an intake of breath he hadn’t known he needed.
“Do you feel that?”
It was a toxicity that permeated the air, invading everything, even his sense of taste. It was bitter in its consistency, like death upon death. There was no other way to describe it. It was also familiar. The same scent, the same stench of death had invaded his space that night.
Caster narrowed his eyes. “Yeah?”
He nodded. As comfortable as he was with Caster, he was unsure he could talk about that night, not without crumbling into a broken mess, and they didn’t need that. Not right now. Not when he was so close.
Caster nodded. “No, we don’t. I need you strong. Can you still feel your wolf?”
“Yeah.” He started to inquire about their strategy when Kyle walked in with a bundle in his hand.
Caster nodded toward it. “Get dressed. It’s going to be a long day.”
In the few minutes it took for him to cover his nakedness, Mark wished he hadn’t skipped breakfast. Transforming to wolf-form and back was a high-energy activity for both sides of himself, and his body craved nourishment.
“I’m sure Sophie has something. Let’s go see.” Caster stood in Mark’s way as they approached the door, holding him back until Kyle was out of earshot. “I need you to put those walls up again.”
Mark shook his head. “But that will keep you out.”
“And everyone else.”
Mark nodded and reached for the barrier, closing his mind to all intrusion from vampires. Caster was right; there was no need to share everything with everyone.
Everyone was gathered around the kitchen when they arrived, and Mark breathed a sigh when he saw James. If he couldn’t have Dean by his side, he’d settle for the next best thing. Besides, James was the only person in this room who’d battled the witch before and won.