Page 49 of Undying
Something about him is different from a normal animal.
He’s something more.
Something special.
I tilt my head, looking at the pure white wolf a little closer, his green eyes mesmerizing. Even after the too warm shower, the scent of ice and snow swirls around me, and I feel a pull toward the creature. “Castle?”
A low grumble comes from the beast, one that I take as agreement. I blindly grab a towel, then creep close, dropping to my knees in front of him, and hesitantly reach out, unable to resist the urge to touch the fluffy fur. My fingers sink deep into his pelt, and I marvel at the soft texture, instantly enchanted by the majestic creature.
A tiny smile tilts my lips, and I’m once again struck by his sheer size. As a human, he towers over me. His wolf isn’t much different, the top of his head nearly coming up to my shoulders. He is a fearsome beast, one that should strike terror in my heart, but my brain is stuck on one thought—so fluffy!
The heat he throws off sinks into my bones, and I can’t resist cuddling closer, feeling safe for the first time in a long time. After ten minutes, I sigh and pull back. “I suppose I should get dressed.”
The last thing I want is to be caught naked and vulnerable if we’re attacked.
Just as I pull back, getting ready to stand, the wolf growls, then lunges forward and sinks his fangs deep into my arm.
“Son of a bitch!” I yelp, gasping as pain sears along my nerve endings. I rear back, nearly losing my grip on my towel, and the wolf growls, digging his fangs deeper. Inhaling sharply through my nose, I hold as still as possible…then I swallow hard when the beast slowly rises to his feet and towers over me.
Well, fuck me, that can’t be good.
I will my fangs and claws to lengthen, but it’s like I’m completely out of steam. I’ve been starved for so long that I’ve already burned through the blood they’ve given me.
Or maybe my subconscious knows that I don’t really want to harm him.
It also makes me realize I don’t want to die yet either, not when I just met Tobias, Castle, Milo, and, I grudgingly admit, even Stanton.
I speak softly, not wanting to startle the wolf and risk having him go for my throat. “How about you be a good doggie and release me?”
A whimper escapes the hound, the vibration sending another wave of pain shooting up my arm, and I grit my teeth. Just when I’m about ready to yank my arm free, he lets go, then licks the wound, a small whine catching in the back of his throat.
I shove the big lug away, laughing when he pushes into me harder, like an overexuberant puppy seeking attention. Just as I tip backward, light sparks under his skin and his form twists. Right when I would’ve smacked against the tile, he reaches out and catches the back of my head with his large hand.
I blink at him, stunned to find Castle leaning over me. I mean, I guessed it was him under the fur, but it’s completely different to see the change itself. While part of my brain is overwhelmed, some part of me is fascinated by the unexpected twists my life has taken.
I always wanted more out of my boring life, but I was thinking more along the lines of living in a house in the country with a nice fence and a dog.
Not a vampire mansion and a couple of wolves.
With Castle so close, I’m very conscious that I’m buck naked, except for a tiny towel that barely covers my bits and bobs.
And if the large expanse of skin that is on display is any indication, he’s wearing even less. Bright green eyes glow down at me, and I remain totally still. While he might be in human form, his wolf remains in complete control.
The smell of ice and snow seeps into my pores, the chilly sensations cooling my skin. I wait for numbness to invade my body, but the cold actually makes every inch of me tingle with awareness.
The bite mark on my arm burns in contrast. Heat spreads through my veins, warmth heating my insides, and I moan when it feels like my body has been set on fire. The only thing that helps is his cooling touch.
I arch into him, needing more, and scowl when the once soft towel feels scratchy and rough against my skin. I reach out to touch him, desperate to feel his skin under my fingers, but my gaze catches on the tiny rivulets of blood trickling down my arm.
Common sense tries to reassert itself, and I frown up at him. “You bit me.”
If I expected him to deny it, I’d be sorely disappointed.
He grins, his fangs fully on display, making his smile look very wolfish with my blood still coating his lips. He growls low in his chest, then his eyes spark dangerously. “Mine.”
ChapterSixteen
JOLIE
