Page 56 of The Mating Need
Jenny swept her hand over thecrowd.
Murmurs and slight laughter greeted her words. Aiden stood patiently at the podium, but disbelief filled hisexpression.
“Death head skull?” Sitting on the stage next to Aiden, Darius snorted. “That sounds like a parlor trick one of the wizards would perform. Perry is aSkin.”
“You must believe me. Perry must die before he can unleash harm upon you and your land,” Jennydroned.
“Right,” someone called out. “How do youknow?”
“How can we trust you?” This from Ellison, a longtime pack member. “You just got here. Some of us have been living here foryears.”
“Believe me. I’ve seen evil and it must be vanquished.” Her voice deepened as she turned to face theassembly.
Troy’s stomach clenched. He knew what was coming. Couldn’t stop it, didn’t even know if he should. He turned in his seat to gauge the crowd and someonescreamed.
“Look at her eyes,” someoneyelled.
Oh crap. Troy turned. Sure enough, as they had in that night in the alley, Jenny’s eyes turned pure white. She blazed withpower.
Unnatural power other Lupines lacked. The first time he’d seen it, he knew she wasdifferent.
Different was bad. These Lupines didn’t know Jenny’s kind heart or her honestnature.
They didn’t understand her. What they didn’t understand, many feared. This pack proved noexception.
“She’s a freak,” Ellisonyelled.
“Drive her away,” shouted anotherLupine.
A mob mentality was building. Even Aiden, who ruled with an iron hand, couldn’t calm the fears. He barked orders, but Lupines were standing, yelling at her and the smell of fear increased. Tensionaccelerated.
An object whistled through the air, striking her on the temple. Troy saw red, but before he could blink, Jenny shifted into wolf. She leapt over the Lupines sitting nearby and crashed through the window. Glass shattered, not from her breaking it with her body, but herpowers.
Screamsfollowed.
So did the pack, some in Skin form, picking up stones as they ran outside, throwing them at the retreating Jenny. Some shifted into wolves, the intention to take her down quiteclear.
Not on mywatch.
Troy ran. Not as wolf, for he didn’t need his magick to outpace the others. He ran on two legs, his speed making the othersgasp.
Now you know my secret, Aiden. I can outran any one of you, even as aSkin.
The gift the Fae had endowed in him charged through his cells, making him as swift as a breath of wind. No one could catchhim.
He caught up to Jenny, who had vanished into the woods and now cowered behind some trees. Troy dropped to the ground beside her as she shifted into Skin. Naked, shivering, she huggedherself.
Poor thing was so terrified, she forgot her magick. He shrugged out of his jacket, draped it around her nakedshoulders.
Jenny took a deep breath and clothed herself by magick, handing him back his jacket. “This isyours.”
Distant voices sounded. The pack was losing the will to pursue, and some had shifted back intoSkin.
“We don’t need you around!” someone shouted. “Get away from ourland!”
Troy wiped a streak of blood away from Jenny’s temple. “They hurtyou.”
He slammed a fist against his thigh. “Why did you do it, Jenny? I told you, it wasn’t the right forum or the right time. They could have killed you! Lupines don’t like different, even in this pack, not thatdifferent!”
