Page 88 of Mated to the Werewolves
Carter lunges for it and opens it. His claws are emerging, testifying to his fraying control. He curses and crumples the paper, dropping the little ball at his feet.
“What does it say?” I demand.
He looks at me, his eyes shining golden. “Catch me if you can.”
CARTER
She fuckingran.
Our mate, our wife, is giving us the best wedding present, showing us just how well she knows us.
I claw at my tie and manage to yank it off without strangling myself. A shirt button flies off as I work the top of my shirt open, then tear it off me in one sharp tug. Troy is doing the same, kicking off his shoes, wrestling with his belt buckle, but Sebastian just stands there, gaping, his eyes glassy.
“Did she really…?” he chokes out.
He’s hard already, I can see that much, but he’s clearly glitching, because he should bemoving, godsdamnit.
“Take off your clothes,” I bark, barely resisting the urge to add a layer of alpha command.
He scrambles to obey, while I stomp to the window and sniff. Yeah, she went through here, sneaking out like a thief in the night. Wicked little human. We’ll catch her soon enough and give her the punishment she deserves.
“Have all the guests left?” I demand, motioning at Troy to check.
He stomps to the living room and hollers, “All the cars are gone. We’re alone.”
That’s what I’ve been waiting for. Kicking off my dress pants and underwear, I let my instinct take over and transform. Fur sprouts all over my back, arms, and legs, my fangs grow out of my jaws, and my tail breaks free, swishing this way and that.
Sebastian is jumping on one foot, trying to take off a sock, then topples over onto the bed with a yelp. Frustrated, he lets his claws punch out, shreds the sock, and shifts to his half form. “Ready,” he announces, nose already in the air, sniffing for Emma’s trail.
I glance at the window, debating jumping straight out and following her that way, but we’d likely scuff up the windowsill if not break half the damn window, and then Troy would have my ass. Instead, I jog back to where we came from and join Troy on the porch. Sebastian follows us as we round the house and find Emma’s trail under the bedroom window.
“The scent’s still fresh,” Troy growls. “She can’t have gone far.”
Sebastian whines, hunching over to take a good whiff. “She took off her amulet, guys. Does that mean what I think it does?”
My body shudders with pent-up tension. “Yeah. It does. Emma is ready to have our babies.”
At that, Sebastian shifts into his full wolf form, puts his snout to the ground for a moment, then takes off, running at full speed.
“Asshole!” Troy laughs, then shifts, launching himself after him.
I let myself fold into my four-legged form, too. We’re faster like this and better trackers. Emma doesn’t stand a chance.
I lift my snout to the sky and let out a long howl, warning her. Then I kick off the chase, running after my mates.
EMMA
I run, laughing breathlessly as I dodge bushes and duck under branches. The footpath I’m following could barely be called that, a faint trail through the dark woods. The beam of my flashlight dances wildly, illuminating patches of dirt. My sneakers are quiet on the forest floor, but I know my mates will be able to hear my footsteps, so I must reach the place I set up before they catch me.
It all depends on how long it took them to notice I was missing.
From the way their heartbeats spiked a moment ago, I would bet that they’ll be on me within minutes.
Then a howl pierces the night air, eerily beautiful, and goose bumps break out all over my body.
I’m still too far away from the clearing.
I changed into my running shorts and a tank top before getting away, but I’m already sweating. I took up running to be able to keep up with the guys when we go exploring in the woods, but maybe I’m too excited for my own good because my breaths are coming faster and faster, my heart beating wildly against my ribs.
