Page 58 of Julian

“This is bad.” Julian’s pulse raced as the realization hit him. The hellhound had once been wolf. Part of a pack or rogue, it was one of their brethren.

“This wolf will be buried as wolf,” Logan told them, his expression somber.

Julian’s heart tightened in his chest, anger rising within him. “Someone is cursing wolves. And turning them into hellhounds. What kind of sick monster did this?”

* * *

“You sure you’re okay? Today was intense.” Julian sat in a leather wingback chair, watching Cassia weave her thick hair into a braid.

“This is my fault.” She stared at herself in the mirror and then glanced to Julian. “You know it’s true. I called it here. That wolf. Its death weighs on me. Had I not dreamt of it … I don’t know … it might still be alive.”

“What it would still be is a hellhound. You didn’t condemn it to death. Whoever turned it to a hellhound … that is who’s responsible for its death.”

Cassia wore a serious expression. “I have to save them.”

“What? No. That’s not our responsibility.”

“If we find one alive ...” Cassia’s eyes widened like a sad puppy dog as she pleaded with him. “There has got to be a way to save them.”

Julian sighed, carefully choosing his words. It was his duty to protect all wolves, innocent wolves. If they turned them back, there was a chance they’d bond, they’d become pack. His pack. “We need to approach this situation with caution. I understand why you want to turn them. I do. I really do. But it may have been a coincidence that it transformed. If we call on a live hellhound and it doesn’t change … it’s not going to be good.”

“So we find the vessel. And afterwards, I try to communicate. Or maybe we’ll find out how to use it to change them. If there’s a way to change them, we’ve got to try. They’re shifters. Wolves.”

“There’s no guarantee all those shifters are wolves. Or innocent. I’ll change them if it turns out this Aroya thing helps do it. And if it doesn’t we can consult the witch to see if we can get a spell. But we can’t just call a pack of hellhounds and hope they turn. It’s not safe. Let’s get more information before we do anything, okay?”

A cautious smile bloomed on her face.

“But just know we could be opening up a can of worms. Good intentions and all that. If we spawn wolves, someone’s gotta lead them. It’d be our responsibility. At least for a while anyway.”

“You’d be willing to do it? I thought you didn’t have a pack.”

“I don’t have a pack. I never thought I’d have one. No,” He held up a finger. “I couldn’t have one. But now that I’m out in the open …” He shrugged. “I don’t know. This thing with us … and Rafe … it changes things. Just been thinking. Might be time to set up some roots.”

“Build a team?” Cassia wore a broad smile, her eyes lit with excitement.

“Maybe. Something like that.” Julian shook his head, a warmth blooming in his chest.

“All right then. Let’s find this thing and build us a team.” Cassia lifted her hand in celebration to high five him.

As his fingers captured hers, Julian wrapped his arms around her and held Cassia close in his embrace. “When this is done … we’ll do this properly. I want to know everything about you. I want to stay out all night laughing and dancing and making love.”

“I—"

Julian captured her mouth, silencing her words, drinking in his mate. His tongue swept against hers, the sweet twinge of pain as she nibbled at his lip. His cock stiffened against her and he fought the temptation. As he tore his mouth from hers, their eyes locked with an intense bond that nearly took his breath away.

This creature would kill him and he’d love every second.

6

Cassia nervously played with the fob on her zipper. It had taken nearly forty-five minutes to get back to the Crescent City. She stared out the window, praying Samantha’s spell still worked to cloak them from the hellhounds and whatever or whoever else was after them. The chill of death chased them…evil. She could feel it in her bones.

She glanced at Dominique who drove the Escalade like she was born to drive in the Grand Prix. The vampire exuded confidence, not missing a single sharp turn. Yet Cassia’s instinct sensed the pain beneath the façade and she suspected something far worse than a trip to Hell had fractured her soul. Unlike shifters, Dominique had once lived among humans, perhaps lost friends and family, leaving her with a deep sense of loss that vampiric magick could never replace.

Julian, who sat next to Dominque in the front seat, glanced back to her and winked. Butterflies flew in her stomach and she begged them to quell their antics. Now was not the time for feelings. Icky, inconvenient feelings that made her lose control. She bit her lip. Pain. That’s it. Stop thinking about sex. Stop thinking about Julian. Oh Goddess. Focus. Cass.

Rafe, seated behind her, appeared indifferent to the danger they were about to face. Wearing headphones, he shook his leg in beat with his music.

She stole a glance at Greyson who sat next to her. He twirled a gold coin attached to a red and white string.

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