Page 68 of The Mating Frenzy
There was magick in thisworld.
There wasfantasy.
Opening her eyes, she saw Adrian had turned into a large, black wolf. Others gathered around him. Gray timber wolves, some large and dominating, otherssmaller.
Next to her Kieran shifted into his jaguar form. He sat on his haunches, panting, looking at her. Such a magnificent beast. He got up, nudged her closer to the blackwolf.
Ella felt no fear, though she was nude and surrounded by animals that could shred her to ribbons. She squatted down and touched the black wolf’s head. He looked at hersteadily.
She felt a funny sensation in her tummy, as if she were on a roller coaster and descending a steep hill. Then Kieran nuzzled his face against her left hand. Anchoring her. She knewhim.
Everything seemed to explode, her nerves screaming with pleasure/pain as she gasped, trying to fightit.
Several wolves gathered around her, rubbing against her, whining, as if urging her to jointhem.
And then she surrendered, willing herself to the night. Ella stretched out her arms, letting the magick rush throughher.
All her senses rushed like a roaring river. The sharp, brief pain became pleasure and then suddenly, she was aware ofeverything.
She opened her mouth to scream and a low howl cameout.
Several others howled withher.
“Hey, what happened to me?” She glanced down. Four legs, fur, and all her senses on overdrive as if someone had pumped her full ofadrenalin.
The large black wolf standing before her snapped up his head. Growled. Then Adrian shifted back into his Skin form. Nude, he stood before her, hands fisted, expressiondangerous.
“You can talk in Lupine form. No normal Lupine can do that. Only a Lupine from the Dark Kingdom. I do not tolerate Others with that magick near my people. I will not allow you to harmthem.”
A growl rumbled from his throat. Yeah, she might be a wolf, and he was in his human form, but Adrian was alpha, pure steel and power, and nothing to mess with in either form. Ella took two steps backward, not lowering her gaze, but not being stupid,either.
Suddenly Kieran bounded up to her, his big, muscled body tense. Blocking her view of Adrian, the jaguar snarled at the Lupine packleader.
Adrian did not budge. “Impressive, cat. I can take you on, but tonight is not for fighting. You did not tell me she was a Lupine from the DarkKingdom.”
Kieran shifted into his human form. Ella blinked, her wolf scenting him still, but feeling out of sorts and confused. She growled at both of them. And then Kieran dropped beside her, stroking her fur. “It’s okay, Ella. I’m here to protect you. Against threats…and…”
He looked at Adrian and growled. “Those who pose athreat.”
“She is dangerous, cat. I will not risk dark magick in my pack. Dark wolves are dangerous and too inclined to turn to evil in this world. They are tempted to display their magick whenever they please. I have young Lupines and fragile elders who cannot defendthemselves.”
The alpha glared at Kieran. “I will defend my people to the death. I vowed to never allow a dark creature nearthem.”
“Ella is no threat to you, wolf. I swear upon my family’s graves she is not from the Dark Kingdom. She has powers meant to protect our kind. She may even save your sorry ass in the future.” Kieran placed a hand on her head, tunneling his fingers through her fur. “I claim her, both the right to mate with her, before your pack, and the right to protect her on yourterritory.”
Several gasps ensued from the other Lupines gathered around their alpha. Ella blinked, uncertain what it meant. But judging from their reaction, it wasserious.
Adrian gave a slow nod. “Very well. Keep her away from the other males. She will prove quite tempting to them. I trust you, Kieran of the Winter Kingdom, to keep yourword.”
Nostrils flaring, he lifted his face to the wind. “Oh, Darcy? Darling, get ready for the chase. Here Icome.”
After shifting back into a wolf, he raced off toward thewoods.
Kieran sat beside her. He waited. Miserable and slightly scared, she willed herself to human formagain.
Nude, she sat next to him. Cool air brushed over her bareskin.
“I don’t know why I’m like this,” she whispered, hugging her knees. “Everything is so confusing. None of this isreal.”
