Page 97 of Locke

Locke snaked his arm around my waist and gave a nod to Tajah. She and Bram were doing their magical duties, I supposed. They were pouring salt, sugar, cocaine- hell if I knew, in a circle near the fire while the rest of the group were talking amongst themselves.

Grim and Journey exchanged anxious whispers, their voices barely audible. The sound of their words reached my ears, crackling like distant static. Desperate to hear, I instinctively reached up to my ears, tugging and massaging them. As my fingers explored, a damp liquid trickled down my lobes. Trembling, I slowly withdrew my hand, revealing a sticky residue-stained crimson with blood.

“It’s normal.” Locke held my wrist looking at the blood. “Your hearing is acclimating to a wolf’s. It’s also why your body heat is rising quickly as well.”

Ah, okay. Glad to know that.

Grim’s scowl deepened when he approached. “When were you going to tell me you were a fucking lycan, Locke?” Grim hissed. “You’re like my brother.”

Locke shrugged his shoulders. “Never came up in conversation?” He smiled and hugged my shoulders.

Locke continued to smile, that crazy psychotic one where I could see how people perceive him as a damn lunatic. And he partially was. He was unpredictable. Hell, now that I was in his head, I could see he’s one complicated guy.

His mind would jump from one idea to the next, not truly fixating on one problem but many. When Locke saw a problem, he attacked it from every angle and anticipated every move from his opponent. I didn’t know how to keep up. He truly was an apex predator.

For now, I’ll stay out of it and ask my questions when I need to.

“You going to make an announcement or something?” Grim raised his brow.

Locke shook his head. “Nah, It will be a fun surprise. Then, I’ll shift too, and everyone can see what an exceptional power couple we are. Right, babe?” Locke stared down at me with such adoration, while I pulled my hand away from my ear that dripped with blood.

I agreed that I could take this, and I would not say no.

“We got this.” It was said a little weaker than I intended, and my body heated, not with arousal like I was accustomed to, but a roaring fire of needles and piercing pain.

I gritted my teeth and tried to push through the agony, but it was like a thousand knives stabbing into every fiber of my being.I could feel my bones shifting, stretching, reforming beneath my skin, and the sensation was excruciating.

Locke’s firm grip on my arm tightened, sending a shiver down my spine. The intensity of his gaze locked onto mine, as if peering into the depths of my soul. I could almost hear the sound of his steady breaths, intermingled with the faint rustle of leaves in the nearby trees. The scent of earth and Locke’s overpowering one calmed me enough to concentrate on the road ahead. In that moment, I felt the weight of his concern, and unwavering determination seeped into my very being. “Hold on, love. You got this,” he urged, his voice a soothing balm amidst the chaos raging within me.

Tajah and Bram had paused their preparations, their attention now fully on me. Tajah’s eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, her hands crackling with arcane energy as she prepared her area of magic. Bram’s expression was grim, his features etched with worry, most likely for my well-being.

Did he know?

Grim and Journey exchanged a knowing look, their expressions unreadable as they observed the beginnings of a pain I’d surely never forget. Grim clenched his jaw, his gaze hitting me, then to Locke.

I roared out, doubled over in pain. It was a human scream which morphed into an animistic roar that echoed into the night air, cutting through the quiet night. The sound echoed in my ears, resonating deep within my body’s changing form. I felt a surge of power coursing through me, overwhelming and raw in its intensity.

“Let’s get started,” I heard Tajah’s words settle over the roaring fire.

Locke held me in his arms so I wouldn’t lie in the dirt, but the ground looked so inviting. The softness of the earth, its coolness would feel so good against my bare skin.

“I want my clothes off—”I barely said before Locke had already ripped them off with his claws.

Being stripped naked in front of everyone didn’t bother me, all I wanted was to be comfortable. Damn it all to hell if everyone saw my ass and tits, since they’d already seen me have an orgasm in the bar.

I could hear Tajah’s rhythmic chanting echoing in the background, filling the air with a melodic energy. As I lay there, my senses became increasingly heightened, every sound and movement magnified. Locke, towering above me, seemed to float effortlessly, his gaze fixated on the others, as if expecting an imminent threat.

He was protecting me, I realized. I was in a vulnerable state. Naked, shifting, transforming. The gun that was strapped to my thigh when I got dressed earlier was snapped off my leg when Locke ripped off my clothes. I really was utterly fucking helpless.

“Keep her comfortable, just like it was any other shift,” Bram said gruffly.

I stared up at him and noticed his hood had come even lower to cover his face.

“When she shifts into her lycan form, she’s going to beg you for death. You cannot lose control because of your mate’s pain. And, I can’t give her any pain relief. She must live through the same pain you have suffered.” I felt his eyes on me and with the fire blazing, I could see his lips pursed into a thin line. “And I mean every bit of pain, when you completed your lycan form.”

Locke gave a jerked nod, his hand resting on my shoulder. His hand that should feel warm— burned my skin and I screamed out in pain.

“She will get through this. Our luna is strong,” Locke said with conviction.

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