Page 81 of The Wolf King

I reach one of the landings. The male cries out again, and I follow the sound down a sconce-lined corridor. There’s a loud clatter ahead, followed by a low grunt. It’s coming from one of the rooms.

Heart in my throat, I push open the door.

The room is dark, but I can see I’m in someone’s bedchambers.

A regal four-poster bed with black silk bedding dominates the space. An oil lamp has shattered on the floor and shards of glass glint on the sheepskin rug.

“Ry—”

The young wolf’s name dies in my mouth.

There’s a male in the room, but it isn’t Ryan.

He’s facing away from me, so all I can see is a muscular back—a silver web of angry scars crisscrossing his skin. He’s leaning against a desk and he’s breathing hard.

He’s wearing nothing but a pair of breeches.

“Blake?” I whisper.

I don’t understand. He should be a wolf.

“What are you doing here, little rabbit?” His voice sounds strange—as dark and smooth as the night sky outside the window.

Slowly, he turns around.

He’s covered in a thin sheen of sweat, and a couple of dark strands of hair stick to his forehead. There are scars on his torso, too, but my gaze is held by the strange look on his face.

I step back, my hand reaching for the knife in my pocket. “Blake... I... I thought you were... Why aren’t you...? What are you doing?”

His nostrils flare.

He breathes in then sighs, his head tilting back. The tension in his muscles dissipates. “Fuck it.”

When he meets my gaze again, the wolf is in his eyes.

A cold smile spreads across his face.

“Run,” he says.

Chapter Thirty

Run.

Although my heartbeat skitters in my chest, I turn to stone. My feet grow roots and I cannot move. I can only stare in horror, unblinking, at Blake.

The ghostly glow from the full moon reflects off his damp skin. He stalks toward me.

“Run.” His voice is different—low, and raspy.

The air is charged. It feels like lightning is about to strike.

And then hechanges.

It only takes a few seconds, but every bone in his body breaks and shifts.

And what is left in his place...

Time stops.

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