Page 87 of Howling
His fur is so thick that it’s fluffy, and I’m absolutely delighted, my fingers twitching to sink into the ruff of his neck. The beast instantly stills at the touch of my lips, as if afraid to scare me away.
Silly beast.
I pull back only slightly, giving in to the temptation to scratch him lightly behind the ear. “Good boy.”
I’m a shifter, I know there is a human resting beneath the fur and claws, but that’s not who I’m talking to right now. His bright blue eyes are all beast, the man nowhere to be seen. The wolf lunges forward, his haunches flexing, and his front paws land on the counter. Before I have time to pull back, he swipes his tongue across my face, then flashes me a cheeky, very toothy grin.
Hands clamp down on my hips, ready to yank me back, but I refuse to budge. I sputter and laugh at the rough texture of his tongue, pulling away long enough to swipe the slobber with my shoulder.
“Sneaky beast,” I mumble, my mock glare only lasting for a second before a big grin takes over my face. “Are you ready to fuck some shit up?”
His teeth snap together twice, his snout pulled back with menacing glee, and his tail wags adorably. The hands on my hips slowly tug me backward, and I glance over my shoulder to see Tyler staring at Garth with wide eyes, his expression grim.
He doesn’t stop dragging me until I’m pressed against his chest, facing the opposite direction.
I bit my lip to hold back my amusement at their dramatics.
The rest of the shifters slowly emerge from the basement tunnel, already in their animal forms, their eyes wide at the slaughter. Instead of being wary of the carnage, tension leaves them as they witness the gore painting the shop, a few of them appearing eager to cause mischief.
A couple of the other supernaturals aren’t so enthusiastic, but two of them specifically eye the slaughter askance, tiptoeing away from the puddles of gore. I narrow my eyes on the two fae, confused and a little suspicious at their reaction to a little blood after everything they endured.
The fae are normally fastidious creatures, but they don’t hesitate to get bloody or seek retribution when they take offense at something. The only other fae in the group is slumped between two wizards, but even he side-eyes the other fae.
I wish I could say that it’s a trauma response, but the way they edge away from the rest of the group, like we carry a stench, is very telling. A young witch joins them, her nose stuck in the air, as though she’s too good to involve herself in the matters of lesser beings.
The three are so self-important that they won’t hesitate to sacrifice anyone else if it means they will survive. None of them are as run-down as the rest of the group, and I wouldn’t put it past them to betray the others if it meant they would be spared.
My hands curl into fists, and it’s only Tyler’s grip on me that prevents me from confronting them.
Dante strides toward the back of the building, cracks the door, then searches the alley. After a moment, he pulls back and nods the all clear. The paranormals are silent as they shuffle into position. It’s not long before they depart two by two.
Though he doesn’t shift, Bellamy joins the other shifters on their mission. My insides twist at letting him out of my sight. While he hasn’t done anything overt to threaten me, I don’t trust him yet.
He’s Orion.
After everything I’ve endured, I doubt I’ll ever be able to let go of my fears.
He glances at me, a muscle jumping in his jaw, then his eyes narrow, as if warning me not to run, a silent vow that he will hunt me down.
Then he’s gone, disappearing out the door as silently as a ghost.
I nearly call him back, my hands clenching and unclenching with the need to keep him at my side. I even take a step after him when my eyes land on the injured prisoners, and my shoulders slump in defeat. If I leave, our carefully placed plan will fail, and people will die.
Adulting sucks.
I want to be selfish for once in my life, and I turn away from the door to keep from following.
Dante is the last to leave, waiting for Garth to join him. Only the beast plants his ass at my feet and turns in the opposite direction, pretending like he can’t see anything. I nudge him, tipping my head toward the door, but the infuriating animal only lifts his head, and I swear to the gods, he raises an imperious brow that says,make me.
Tyler sighs, then releases his hold on me before stepping away. Even as I turn, he’s reaching over his shoulder and drawing his shirt over his head. Against my will, my eyes drop to the exposed skin, and I can’t look away.
The many freckles that trail across his body look like swirls of different galaxies, and I desperately ache to step close and trace the pattern with my fingers. He doesn’t hesitate to shuck his pants, and my eyes widen when I notice that the freckles cover his whole body.
Maybe I should turn away and offer him some privacy, but I can’t make myself move.
He’s fucking stunning.
I’m not aware that he pauses, allowing me to look my fill, even turning, and I bite my cheek to keep a moan from crawling past my lips. He has the best ass, strong legs. Muscles ripple along his back. Even covered in dirt and bruises, he’s gorgeous.
