Chapter 25: A Kiss of Fury
25
The forest blurred around me as I ran. My paws barely touched the ground, sending leaves and twigs flying in my wake. The freedom of my wolf form was intoxicating–no triplets, no Lilith, no painful memories. Just the wind in my fur and the earth beneath my paws.
I pushed harder, faster, letting my wolf take control. She knew where we were headed- somewhere we shouldn’t go, somewhere dangerous. The border.
The scent markers grew stronger, warning me to turn back. The Silver Crescent Pack territory was ending. Ahead lay the lands of the Obsidian Claw Pack–fierce warriors with a reputation for showing no mercy to trespassers.
I slowed just enough to catch my breath, then pushed forward. Crossing the invisible line felt like breaking an oath, but I didn’t care anymore. Let them catch me. Let them punish me. It couldn’t be worse than the hell I was living.
The trees grew denser here, older. The forest felt different–wilder, more ancient. I followed the sound of running water until I came upon a small stream cutting through the woods. My tongue lolled out, suddenly aware of my thirst.
I approached cautiously, ears perked for any sound of danger. Lowering my muzzle to the water, I drank deeply, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat.
A twig snapped behind me.
I whirled around, hackles raised, a growl building in my throat. The forest was silent, but I wasn’t alone. My wolf sensed it too–another predator watching from the shadows.
A massive black wolf emerged from between the trees, its coat so dark it seemed to absorb the surrounding light. Eyes the color of moss fixed on me with predatory focus. The wolf was enormous–nearly twice my size, with powerful muscles rippling beneath its midnight fur.
Alpha. My wolf recognized the power instantly.
I backed up slowly, preparing to flee if necessary. I’d made a terrible mistake coming here.
To my surprise, the black wolf didn’t attack. Instead, it cocked its head, studying me with what almost looked like curiosity. Then slowly, deliberately, it began to shift.
Where the wolf had stood moments before, a man now crouched–naked and powerful. He rose to his full height, completely unashamed of his nudity. His body was a masterpiece of muscle and sinew, marred only by a jagged scar running down his right side. Dark hair fell over piercing eyes that held the same mossy green as his wolf’s.
On his shoulder, a black tattoo of a wolf’s paw marked him as Obsidian Claw.
10.65
<
25 Chapter 25: A Kiss of Fury
“You’re far from home, Seraphina Moon,” he said, his voice deep and smooth as velvet.
I tensed. How did he know my name?
A smirk played across his lips as if he could read my thoughts. “Yes, I know who you are. The question is, what are you doing in my territory?”
I remained in wolf form, unwilling to shift and expose myself. My ears flattened against my skull.
“Not going to speak to me?” He took a step closer. “That’s alright. Your eyes tell me everything I need to know. You’re running from something–or someone.”
A howl pierced the air in the distance–from Silver Crescent territory. The man’s head snapped up, his expression hardening.
“Your keepers are coming,” he said, his voice suddenly urgent. “This isn’t the time or place for this conversation, but we will have one, Seraphina Moon.”
Without another word, he shifted back into the massive black wolf and sprinted away, disappearing into the trees as silently as he had appeared.
Moments later, another wolf burst through the underbrush–brown with hints of gold, a white streak running down his chest.
Orion.
His eyes widened when he saw me, shock quickly giving way to fury. He shifted immediately, bones cracking as he transformed back into human form. Unlike the stranger, he made no attempt to hide his body from ine.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he snarled, stalking toward me. “Do you have a death wish?”
I turned and bolted back toward our territory, refusing to shift or respond. I heard him cursing behind me, followed by the sounds of him shifting again to chase me.
i ran faster than I ever had, adrenaline fueling my escape. By the time I reached the Silver
Crescent border, my lungs were burning and my legs trembled with exhaustion.
Safe on our side, I shifted back to human form and hastily pulled on the clothes I’d stashed in a hollow tree. I’d barely finished buttoning my jeans when Orion crashed through the trees, already shifted back and wearing just a pair of torn shorts.
“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” he roared, advancing on me. His chest heaved with exertion, muscles tensed with barely contained rage. “You crossed into Obsidian Claw territory!”
“So what?” I shot back, lifting my chin defiantly.
“So what?” he repeated incredulously, “They could have killed you! Do you understand that?
<
25 Chapter 25: A Kiss of Fury
+234
They could have torn you apart and we wouldn’t have been able to do a thing about it!”
“Maybe that’s what I wanted,” I said coldly.
Orion froze, his expression shifting from anger to something else–something that looked almost like fear.
“What did you just say?” His voice was dangerously quiet.
“You heard me.” I stared straight into his eyes. “Maybe I wanted them to end it. Wouldn’t that solve all your problems? The unwanted mate, gone forever.”
“Is that what you think?” He took a step closer, invading my space. “That we want you dead?”
“Don’t you?” I laughed bitterly. “You’ve made it pretty clear how you feel about being stuck with
me.”
“We don’t want you dead, Seraphina.” His voice dropped lower. “We never wanted that.”
“Could have fooled me.” I turned away, not wanting him to see the tears threatening to form. “Just leave me alone, Orion. Go back to Lilith and forget you saw me.”
His hand shot out, gripping my arm and spinning me back to face him. “I smelled someone else on you. A male.”
“Jealous?” I taunted, even as my heart hammered in my chest.
“Who was it?” he demanded, his grip tightening.
“Just some guy,” I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Big, strong, handsome. Didn’t seem to hate me on sight, which was refreshing.”
Orion’s eyes darkened dangerously. “You let a stranger see you in wolf form?”
“He saw more than that, I lied, watching his reaction closely.
His entire body went rigid. “What are you saying?”
“Nothing happened,” I admitted, rolling my eyes. “But he seemed interested. And he knew my name, which was… intriguing.”
Orion pushed me back until I was pressed against a tree trunk, his powerful frame caging me in. “He knew your name?”
“Is that the part that bothers you?” I challenged, tilting my head. “Not that I was alone with another man, but that he knew who I was?”
“All of it bothers me,” he growled, his face inches from mine. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, smell his unique scent of pine and smoke. “You belong to us.”
< 25 Chapter 25: A Kiss of Fury
“I belong to no one,” I hissed. “Especially not to someone who wishes I was dead.”
“I don’t wish you were dead!” he exploded, slamming his palm against the tree beside my head. “Damn it, Seraphina! Do you have any idea what went through my mind when I realized you’d crossed the border? When I thought they might have found you first?”
“Why would you care?” I pushed against his chest, but he didn’t budge. “You’ve made it clear I’m nothing but an obligation to you.”
“You’re my mate,” he said fiercely. “Whether I wanted it or not, whether you believe it or not, you’re mine. And I will protect what’s mine.”
“I’m not yours,” I spat. “I’m just the girl you’re forced to tolerate because fate played a cruel joke on all of us. Go back to Lilith. She’s who you really want.”
His eyes flashed with something dangerous. “You have no idea what I want.”
“Don’t I?” I challenged. “I saw you with her on our wedding night, remember? I know exactly what you want, and it’s not me.”
Orion’s breath caught, a flash of shame crossing his features before hardening again into anger. “That man in the woods. Did he touch you?”
“Would it matter if he did?” I taunted.
He snarled, a sound so primal and possessive it sent shivers down my spine. “Answer me.”
“No,” I finally admitted. “He didn’t touch me. But maybe next time-
His lips crashed against mine, cutting off my words. The kiss was brutal, punishing, his mouth claiming mine with a fury that stole my breath. One hand tangled in my hair, the other gripped my hip with bruising force.
I should have pushed him away. I should have slapped him. Instead, I found myself responding, my body betraying me as heat flooded my veins.
Comment
