Chapter 9
Almost before she realized what she was doing, Misti had shifted and was attacking him. This wasn’t a mere snapping attack. This wasn’t just an aggressive bull-like rush toward him. No, she darted forward, swatting at his head—he, too, had changed form by now—and her teeth snapping at his ear. Her fangs connected, and she twisted her head from side to side.
Anders ripped himself free and circled her warily. He was a fool for not attacking her back. A few drops of blood oozed from his ear. The stench made her want to howl, but the sight also churned her stomach. It wasn’t as if Anders was the first wolf she had ever attacked. In fact, just last year, she had killed a Shadowed Star herself. She’d been on guard duty around the perimeter of their domain, and when she saw the mangy beast, she had not hesitated to kill him.
But Anders, the only werewolf who had known her body, she found herself not wanting to kill him. Harm and maim, yes. Annihilate? No.
Such weakness. How could Misti live with herself after what she had done? Betraying her people. She was despicable, contemptible, a disgrace.
Rage filled her, geared toward herself, but she unleashed it all on Anders. She would bring him down. She would pin him. She would expose his throat and then decide whether or not to rip it out.
The first two swipes of her claws, he deflected away, but on the third, he shoved her paw down and then pinned it there with his claws. His eyes were a dark amber, and they glowed in the darkness. It almost seemed as if he was trying to see through her, into her.
It unnerved her so much she headbutted him, only he was too quick, or her too slow, and he moved his head and neck in such a way that she more or less nuzzled him. A rush of warmth flooded her body, and she stilled. Her wolf both wanted to kill him and to offer him her rump. How in the world could she be so conflicted over a man, a wolf, she hardly knew? A werewolf she had no business wanting to get to know. A werewolf she should have killed already.
Anders whined in her ear, the sound tugging at something deep inside of her. The call of the lonely. He understood the kind of life she must live now. While his exile had not been self-imposed, hers would not be any easier. At least she knew to suspect her family would tail her. He had thought himself free for a long while.
Only to be called back in to kill me. My death would initiate complete war between the two packs.
Yes, fleeing was her only option. Only one single question remained. What should she do about Anders? He couldn’t be allowed to follow her. While he wasn’t fighting her hard, more or less only protecting himself, she couldn’t trust that he wouldn’t run back to his family and divulge her location.
She retreated a few steps.
He held his ground.
A few more steps backward.
Anders shifted back to his human form. Naked and majestic and perfect, save for that damned mark on his back
“You’re going to run,” he said.
It wasn’t a question.
She stretched out her back, long and deep, before changing her shape. “I have no other choice.”
“There are always more options if you just would consider them.”
“Like what?” she retorted. “You want me to trust you? How can you even want to help me after I hurt you?” She gestured toward his bloody ear.
“I let you hurt me.”
Misti rolled her eyes. “Get pleasure from pain, do you?”
“You already know I do. Your scratches on my back prove that.”
Hoping the darkness hid her blush, she cleared her throat. “You… I… It was a mistake.”
“One I’d like to repeat.” He advanced a step toward her. His outline was prominent, especially between his legs.
“You know we can’t,” she said hoarsely. Why did her body still react to him? He was the enemy.
Not for those years he had been in exile, a voice in the back of her head said.
“We’re grown adults. We can do whatever we want.”
“Including turning our backs on our families and not catering to their every whim,” she said hotly. “You meant to kill me. What was your plan? To fuck me then kill me? Was I such a good lay that you figured you’d wait to rip out my throat until morning? Is that it? I’m sorry we ever met, Anders. I wish I never spread my legs for you. I hope I never see you again.”
And she reverted to her wolf form and raced away. Yes, she was taking a chance by not killing him, but she couldn’t be around him. Not while she was so confused and uncertain about everything concerning him, concerning her father, concerning her life.
For the first time, she wondered what she would wish for herself if she had the freedom and liberty to do as she wanted. Try as she might, she couldn’t see a future free from her father’s influence, and right now, his influence would mean her death.