Chapter 9 #4
“You should see what my wolf can do.” He stepped closer, whispering, “You should see what our Alpha can do.” I looked at Kole. He studied me, gauging my reaction, along with the rest of the crowd. Was I supposed to scream? Run away crying at the sight of blood?
A man next to Kole laughed, clapping him on the back. “Well, she might not be putting out, but at least she isn’t squeamish.”
Before I could blink, Kole had his hand around the man's throat. The wolves around him backed up, clearing space as Kole lifted the man into the air. He pulled him close, face to face, snarling deep. With a flick of his wrist, the man's neck snapped and Kole dropped his lifeless body to the ground.
No…
Not lifeless.
I stood there, stunned, as the man who had insulted me lay, eyes bulging and blinking. Unable to move.
Still alive.
Kole stalked towards me, his wolf in his eyes. I looked up at him as he towered over me. “It takes a lot to kill us.”
I could feel the heat emanating from him, along with a scent so intoxicating it made my blood rush. My heart beat so loud I was sure they could hear it. Of course they could. Wolves could hear their prey from miles away. My body wanted Kole and they all knew it.
“Tough to kill. Good to know.” I tilted my chin as he took another step closer, a breath away from me.
I felt the air hum between us. A strange feeling shifted in me, as if something inside was reaching out for him.
His wolf eyes fixed on my mouth, hungry.
“If you try to kiss me, I’ll bite your tongue off. ”
His eyes flashed in a way I didn’t like.
My heart stuttered as I watched his face begin to morph, his eyes turning black, his teeth elongating to sharp points.
He was growing larger than before, thick veins running like snakes along his arms, muscles bulging.
He panted, breathing hard, his change brought about by my challenge.
This was just a hint of the monster that Dinah had warned me of, the twisted animal that would eventually claim me against my will if I didn’t give in soon. The thing that lived between Kole and his wolf.
Collectively, I felt the crowd around us pull away. Behind Kole, Konnor gestured at me to stay calm. He had a gun in his hand which gave me some comfort.
The beast was hungry and I was its favourite meal.
Acting on instinct, I stepped away, which was exactly the wrong move.
Too fast, he gripped my neck, pulling me close.
His teeth snapped in my face, a warning.
His features were distorted, not quite wolf, not quite man.
I could feel his desire, flowing from his body to mine, the air thick with pheromones designed to draw me in.
He shook, his beast willing him to take me, Kole fighting it.
Before I could struggle, I heard Dinah somewhere behind me say, “Don’t move, Iona.”
Trusting her, I did as she asked. I stared into Kole’s face, seeing a barely caged beast staring back at me.
The beast grew, dwarfing me with his sheer size.
He wanted me, he wanted me more than anything.
His grip tightened. I swallowed, struggling to breath.
His wolf snarled at me to be still and behave.
Against all my pride, I whimpered. “Kole…”
The beast's jaw clenched. I felt the warriors around us hold their breath. I wondered what they would do if he attacked me.
My blood rushing in my ears, I watched as Kole pushed the beast back, the black in his eyes giving way to the green.
He released my throat and I gasped. He bent and inhaled me.
I stayed perfectly still, feeling his rumble of need vibrate in my chest, a vibration that reached deep into my core. What was happening to me?
The watchful stares of a hundred wolves faded away until it was just us. The ripple over my skin grew, heating until it burned deep inside.
He pulled back, his eyes blazing. I swallowed, my throat thick with a desire I didn’t want. He looked over my shoulder at Dinah.
“Get her out of here.” With that, he stalked away from me, his body rigid, as if every step pained him. I watched him go, feeling all sorts of things I couldn’t admit out loud.
“He’ll be fine. He’s just gotta burn off the energy,” Konnor said, taking his shirt from Dinah and slipping it on. “Unless you want to help him burn it off in other ways.”
I ignored him, watching as a space cleared around Kole, a crowd gathering at a distance to watch.
I gasped as they converged on him. Thirty or more wolves at once.
They swarmed him, a swirling heaving mass, but he didn’t go down.
He fought, relentless, ruthless, and this time, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
Konnor hadn’t been joking. I’d never seen anything so brutally violent and I wanted it like a starving woman wants food. I hungered for that wildness.
“We need to go.” Dinah touched my arm and reluctantly, I allowed them to lead me away. From the corner of my eye I could see her giving me that look that told me she knew, just as I knew, that her plan had worked. Before, the bond had been nothing more than a whisper, now it was a tangible thing.
I needed to get out of this place before Kole Maclay sank his claws any deeper.