Page 117 of Wolf Cursed
The defined arms and broad chest became front paws. Kai Stone, the human, was gone. In his place was the same black wolf I’d seen in the woods the night of the full moon.
He was even larger than I remembered. And his eyes were completely aware of me. His fur matted with the rain which he kept shaking out as if the wet annoyed him.
I remained perfectly still just as he’d coached me to do earlier.
But instead of marching off to complete the next part of the plan, he walked over to me and rubbed his enormous body against my hip. My hand fell to his head and trailed down his back as he slid past. Then he turned, and our eyes met.
My breath caught.
Kai was gorgeous and amazing—in any form.
And he was mine.
I smiled at him, holding out my hand, palm up.
Kai approached and stuck out his tongue, licking a trail across my open palm. I yanked my hand back, laughing at the way he wrung himself out again.
He looked at me uncertainly.
We were about to sneak into a heavily guarded cabin, under the threat of real danger, and he was worried what I thought of his wolf’s wet fur?
“You look fine,” I told him, reading his emotions, which was weird and exciting all at once.
Clearly satisfied, Kai turned away and disappeared into the trees ahead. I waited, crouched against a tree for cover, and listened. The thunder masked most of the noise, but I caught a grunt and then a yell and then nothing.
A moment later, Kai’s wolf reappeared.
I let him lead the way into the clearing. Just ahead sat a small cabin. I started toward it, and my eyes flicked to something on the ground near the door.
A body.
I recognized Vinny, the werewolf from Bo’s that Idrissa had knocked out my first day in town. My chest tightened, but when I got close, I saw the rise and fall of his chest. Alive.
Damn. Apparently, Vinny had a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Kai’s wolf gave me a look that said he knew what I was thinking. Then he ducked out of sight. I knew he’d stay close and keep watch to make sure we weren’t disturbed.
I crept up to the cabin, slipping inside quickly, mostly to escape the damned rain. Outside, thunder shook the walls, and I stood for a moment, dripping all over the dusty wooden floor while my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.
The cabin was empty except for a gas stove in the corner and a single chair against the back wall. Tied to the chair and gagged with a gross-looking rag was the hexerei.
He stared back at me with wary curiosity, eyes swollen but open.
His clothes were dirtier than I’d last seen. More stained with blood. As was the rest of him. His face and arms were covered in cuts, some fresh, some scabbing already. My heart ached at what they’d done to him. I took a step forward, and the man growled at me through his gag.
I stopped and cleared my throat. “My name’s Ash. I only came here to talk. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
I waited, and when he didn’t make another sound, I took another step.
No growl.
Progress.
I stepped up to the man and reached out, pulling down the gag with as little contact as possible. Drool, dirt, blood. The thing was disgusting. The moment his mouth was freed, the man sucked in raspy breaths then started coughing.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Water,” he said quietly.
