Page 73 of Cursed
Garek is the first to realize the glowing body is a female Rogue and yells, “Rogue!”
All four rescuers make a move toward Aylin, intending to kill the Rogue Wolf.
Hearing Garek’s shout, Aylin whips her head around to face them with her glowing, golden eyes and growls a low warning. The shift begins the moment her growl ends andis over in less than a second. Aylin’s shift is so effortless and graceful; it’s like a waterfall cascading over Nori. The three riders and Bade are stunned at what they’ve just witnessed.
It’s Ryland’s turn to whisper to Bade. “What did we just see? Her shift is magical.”
Nori’s hand is up and out in front of her before the shift from wolf to human fully ends. Using as much Influence as she can muster, Nori screams at the riding party. “STOP! PLEASE WAIT! DO NOT KILL THIS ROGUE!”
Adele, Garek, and Zayne all fall back from the push of Nori’s Influence. Zayne, still shocked, says, “Did you see her shift? It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before!”
Aylin's astonishment buzzes through Nori. “He came for us, Nori!”
“Aylin, he will always come for us,” Nori tells her.
Bade lets out a low huffing sound and ambles over to the dead male on the ground and sniffs him. “This is not the male who took her. But he is dead.”
Ryland replies, “Check on Nori, but try not to scare her.”
As Bade lumbers over to Nori, she panics, holding her hands out to stop him. “Bade! Bade! Please don’t kill her! She’s my mother, Bade. Please!”
Bade ducks his head under her hands and runs his nose all over her body, sniffing for injuries. Realizing he is not going to harm her mother, Nori falls to her knees. Bade growls, lowering his head to her chest.
“I’m all right,” she says, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Nori smiles at the giant beast. “You are fucking ferocious, Bade!” A rumbling noise erupts from his chest at her praise. Nori rests her head on his, running her hands over his ears and plunging them into the thick fur on his neck. Letting his scent fill her lungs, she whispers, “Thank you for coming to find me!”
She sits up, holds his head up with both of her hands, and looks deeply into his eyes. “I need to speak to Ryland now, please, Bade.”
He backs away from her; the air distorts around him, and he shifts back to his human form. Ryland’s breathing is labored, recovering from the shift. “Nori! Nori! Are you all right? I was out of my mind!”
He moves in front of her, reaching to embrace her, but she stops him, placing a hand on his chest. Ryland’s confusion evaporates when his senses are bombarded with a wave of warm emotions from her.
Nori cups his face in her hands and gives him her most dazzling, teary-eyed smile. “I, Norina Valcrest, Alpha Daughter, formerly of the Starfall Pack, accept you, Ryland Drakemoor, Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack and Prince of All Wolves, as my one true Fated Mate for now and all eternity.”
As soon as the words leave her mouth, Ryland’s eyes grow wide, then roll back into his head. His entire bodyseizes, muscles locking, as he falls to the ground in front of her. Writhing in agony, the air around him ripples. He shifts uncontrollably between human and wolf. His shouts of pain ring out through the forest.
Adele panics, screaming, “RYLAND!”
Garek and Zayne turn their horses toward Nori, and again, she uses her Influence and growls at them. “Wait!”
The three instantly obey. She blows out a breath and smiles. “He’ll be fine. His curse is broken.”
Nori watches the riders sit back in their saddles. She leans over on her hip and reaches over to Ryland. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she tries to provide some comfort as he continues to groan and howl in pain.
She can feel her strength waning. She looks at the three riders and says, “I don’t have much time, so short version. Rogue Wolves are actually regular wolf shifters who have been cursed by Draven. This Rogue female behind me...” She glances back. “Well, what was a Rogue female, is my mother.”
Nori takes in their stunned expressions and gives them a moment to shout over each other.
“Bullshit!”
“How is this possible?”
“How do you know?”
Waving her hand to quiet them, Nori takes a steadying breath. “I’ve got no time for that! Aylin and I used ourcombined powers on the female Rogue. I know you were close enough to see it. Now, the Rogue is busy transforming back into my mother. I hope.”
Her vision blurs, and with tears in her eyes, she whispers, “I’m begging you. Please. Please don’t kill her. Take care of her.”
