Page 56 of Wild Wolves

“Damn it. Maybe one of us should stay here so we can tell the others to come aboard. If they’re sleeping, we can all take them out and just leave. Do you know how to drive a yacht? I have no boating experience.” Evander peers around the cockpit, staring at all the buttons and levers. I spot a radio, and rush to it.

He locks his fingers to my shoulder and stops me before I have a chance to look at it.

“They could have other boats around here. I wouldn’t try to call for help just yet.” Again, I realize Evander is far more strategic than I am. My dad would be fucking ashamed. He had drilled it into my head that I have to think first before acting, especially in moments that I need to fight for survival. Oh well. Shit has changed. I’m not dealing with people...sort of.

“I can pilot this bad girl. I think. If not me, I think Tristan knows how. He’s done a lot of traveling. I think he can even fly a plane. You should ask the asshole sometime. He was a nature photographer.” It’s one of the few things I really know about anyone here is what they were doing before.

“All right. Let’s hurry up. I don’t like how quiet it is. But if they haven’t heard us by now, then we might be okay. The staterooms are on the opposite side, I believe.” Evander motions for me to follow him, and we head back toward the stairs.

Holding my breath, I listen to the world around us, half-expecting to hear howls and fighting or some shit. I don’t like how eerily quiet it is.

Evander heads to the stairs, and I remain right behind him.

Neither of us spots the wolf waiting in the salon. The beast doesn’t growl or warn us or anything. It might have been stalking us this entire time.

Evander shouts, swinging the sword at the wolf. It darts around him, dodging out of the way. I kick my leg, managing to strike it in the side, but I’m not strong enough to send it sprawling.

“Run! Run to the others!” I shout, tensing and preparing to be devoured.

Evander doesn’t hesitate, using me as a distraction to head toward the pathway leading to the swimming platform.

The wolf paces and releases a growl that strikes me in the gut.

“Change back into a fucking man and face me. You’re only in wolf form because you know that I’ll kick your ass otherwise.” Am I stupid for this kind of threat? Maybe. I just need him to hesitate to buy time. I know if he bites me, shit will get even more real. I don’t think I’m strong enough to survive this crap.

My words must dig under the werewolf’s skin, because the man shifts, standing before me completely naked.

“Put your weapon down,” he says, his deep voice still sounding a bit animalistic. “You’re not going anywhere, so there’s no point in fighting me. Even if you take this boat, you will never be free of Shadow Moon Island. That I promise you.”

Anger rushes through me. The edges of my vision shadow with my rage, and I rush the man. I’m not going to give him the time to strategize how to overpower me.

He surprises me, transforming into a wolf as I tighten my arms around him. I don’t get a chance to restrain him completely. Whipping his head, he locks his teeth to my shoulder.

I see stars from the pain.

Fuck. I’m a dead man.

Punching the wolf in the snout, I get him to release me. I jab my knife, stabbing him in the side. He screeches and transforms back into a man. I don’t stay to fight though. Fuck that noise. His groans are enough to know that if he catches me, he’ll destroy me. Fuck me up. Ensure I feel the same pain I caused him. Spinning, I rush toward the pathway leading out. Another wolf growls in the walkway, blocking my path. Fuck me.

“Adam, jump!” Eliana screams from somewhere in the water. “Jump!”

I swivel and grab onto the metal-rung barrier, looking over the side. Shit. It’s still a good drop to the water. If I didn’t see Eliana treading by herself, I would consider fighting the wolf.

“Hurry!” she calls, baring her teeth. “There’s another boat coming.”

The wolf charges toward me, understanding Eliana, and I suck up my fear and summon my courage to throw myself over the side. I squeeze my eyes shut as the world blurs around me and my stomach flies into my throat.

I hit the water and sink under. I kick to the surface only to have Eliana throw her arms around me and squeeze me fiercely. I realize it’s because she’s swimming. I don’t know how this beautiful bombshell of a woman knows to keep going even after being bitten, but here she is, trying to save my ass.

“The others are still on the boat. Evander needed help. He said that you were following behind him, so here I am. They told me to go.” Eliana gasps a breath, kicking only one of her legs, but she now wears a life vest stolen from the boat. “I don’t think we should leave though. We should fight.”

I kick my legs, trying my best not to use her too much as a floaty, but I need her support. “You’re right. I don’t have anything to lose. I was fucking bit.”

“What?” Eliana asks, her voice ringing through the air.

“Yeah, a fucker on the boat. I guess we’ll find out if I’m worthy of the damn change or not.” I grind my teeth and roll my shoulder, showing her the teeth marks on my skin, the blood washing away in the water.

Fuck. I hope I don’t attract sharks or something.

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