Page 17 of Forbidden Wolf

“I know, baby, me too.”

I pushed myself up, a tear escaping to trickle down my cheek. “I don’t want to kill anyone.”

Levi cupped my face in his hands. “You do whatever you need to survive, do you hear me? Nothing matters except that both of us survive the next twenty years.”

His fierce gaze bored into me, his strength infusing into me until I nodded.

I buried my head into his chest, suppressing the tears that desperately wanted to fall. “They’ll enrol me in the breeding programmes.”

“Then you connect to another soul far from that room. They can send our bodies into battle whether it be with a sword in our hands or a breeding programme, but they’ll never touch what is sacred.” His hands traced up and down my spine in assured ownership, his touch possessive.

My lips skimmed his skin, and I sensed his wolf clawing to the surface. His skin became slightly rougher and his chest expanded more as he breathed, his claws digging into me.

“It’ll be light soon.” The words tore my soul to shreds. It was too soon. We hadn’t had enough time together.

The cold water of the waterfall doused me with the reality of the situation, dragging me back to an existence I no longer wanted to live in. Levi reached the bank first and dragged himself out, he grabbed me under the arms and lifted me out of the water.

We’d almost reached our clothes when a snap of a branch warned someone was there. A thud sounded in front of us, and my heart lurched into my throat when I recognised the man who stood glaring at me.

Too late, I realised the danger I’d allowed both of us to walk into. I was always so cautious, but emotions had blinded me tonight.

“You dirty, filthy, little whore,” he said with a sneer, his eyes running over my naked body. “I take it this is why you’ve avoided me.”

Sam had stalked me for weeks, wanting to be my first breeding partner. He’d approached Dad several times about an alliance.

His eyes blazed hatred and his fangs bit into his lip, a bead of blood trickling down his chin.

“I can explain.” My hands came up in front of me, even as panic erupted in my brain.

“I’ll make sure you and your family are fully punished. You gave yourself to a fucking wolf.” He struck my face, jolting my head to the side.

A low growl rumbled behind me.

“You’ll be given to every man on the base before you’re tied to a stake and left in the sun,” Sam said, his fangs and claws appearing.

Levi snarled, and I sensed his wolf through our blood connection.

A sinister smile twisted Sam’s lips.

“I even offered to share my rations with you.” His gaze moved to Levi for a moment. “Please don’t tell me you were feeding from the wildlife.”

“Sam, please. My sister has nothing to do with my relationship.” I stepped between the two men, grabbing his arm.

“Relationship?” he asked in disbelief. “There is no such thing between our kind. He is nothing more than a feral beast. He’s been fucking you to get access to our facility.”

He yanked his arm away and prowled back toward the facility. He stopped, half turning toward me, an evil smile curving his mouth. “Castus will enjoy punishing you before he executes you.”

“You sick, twisted little shit,” I cried. Castus had always been my greatest fear.

Sam launched himself at me, eyes flashing red.

An echoing growl sounded behind me before soft fur pushed me aside. Levi had transformed into his massive black wolf, his canines huge in the moonlight. His snarl echoed around us and vibrated into the trees to make the leaves rustle in protest.

Levi grabbed Sam, tossing him into a tree like the rag dolls that Kimber used to throw about. He clung to the tree, scampering up it. Levi’s back-leg muscles bunched before he jumped, his teeth grabbing Sam’s leg to drag him down before he escaped.

Sam flipped, his claws trailing down Levi’s back and his fangs latched into his shoulder. Blood spurted from Levi’s wound and my stomach rolled in horror. Sam was a fully grown vampire who’d been trained to fight.

His eyes moved to me for a split second and a feral smile stretched his lips. “You’re next, sweetheart.”