Page 4 of Wounded Mate
The human inside cringes at theor else. I shut my eyes. Whatever happens, I don’t want to see it coming.
“Last chance.”
Behind my eyelids, images from my life pass by in a whirl.
Racingthrough the snow as a pup, the wind whipping through my fur, on the way home to shift and gorge myself on solstice dinner.
Mother just before she died, radiant in her simple green tunic, belly round with child, red hair spilling down her shoulders, laughing at something my father whispers in her ear. Little did we know…
Father, inconsolable in his grief, losing both baby and mother and somehow forgetting he hadn’t lost me.
That last night before he left, when he told me to do him proud but didn’t say good-bye.
Losing myself. Going feral. Not polite enough for men nor wild enough for beasts. Not fit for company of any sort.
The pretty witch, scowling as she hurled curses my way, angry at me for raiding her chicken coup, but I didn’t mean to. I was young. I was scared.
I was starving.
“Have it your way.”The alpha’s voice is harsh, but not the harshest I’ve known. I’m sad it’ll be the last one I ever hear. “Gouge him. Leave him to die.”
I have a split second to tense, anticipating agony.
It comes in the form of lethally sharp claws raking down my flank, burrowing into the flesh, and tearing. The squeal that flies out of me bursts from my core.
Laughter from the alpha.
Snorting from the wolves.
Footfalls fading as they amble away.
I try to move, but it’s useless. I can’t. Through the pain, I listen for my mother’s voice, the gentle lullaby she used to sing to me when I was small. As the notes filter into my mind and the blood wets my fur, I drift off.
When darkness comes for me, I welcome it.
Chapter Three
Valius
There’sno use trying to sleep anymore. After tossing and turning for hours, I give up. Something feels wrong, and ignoring it isn’t helping.
So I climb out of bed, dress in simple, flowing silk pants, a matching blue tunic, and slippers, then head out the door to find company.
It’s early morning, and the brothel is closed. Customers have either gone home by now or are privately ensconced in the room of their chosen companion, meaning I’m free to loiter at the guard station and talk Leonas’s head off.
He’s smart. And he’s seen a few things if his stories are anything to go by. Maybe he’ll know what the hell happened to me earlier tonight.
As I make my way down the hall, my side twinges. I hold it, applying pressure. Why? I don’t know. It’s just my skin. But the ache is more bearable this way. I pass through our inner antechamber into the outer lobby, where, depending on their tastes, customers choose between The Twig and Berries or ThePeach and Pearl. Then through an enchanted doorway that leads to a small guard’s station slash wine cellar. Leonas’s domain. He’s a panther shifter and in charge of our security.
Only it’s not Leonas who greets me, but his mate, a young vampire called Jeno.
“Morning, Valius.” With one look at me, his smile fades.
“Morning.”
He hops off his stool and approaches. “Everything all right?”
I blow out a frustrated sigh. “Sort of? I don’t know. Can’t sleep.”
