Page 150 of Mated to the Wolves

Kirk wipes my face off with something cool and damp. “I can’t tell who’s friend or foe, but for now, we’ve reached a truce with Alpha. At least, while we face the same enemy.”

Fell pulls to the side of the road. The others appear besides us. Climbing in, they fire off questions I try my best to answer.

“The minute we arrive home, we’re sealing this bond officially,” Cadoc whispers. “All of us need to bite you so we can mingle our essences, Brat. We’ve waited too long as it is.”

“And then we’re going to hunt these bastards down and make them regret every laying a finger on you.” Kirk’s voice is deadly. The agreement of the others is a solemn oath.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Magic surges inside me like a wave lapping the shore. Saliva floods my mouth and my stomach rolls.

Coldness sweeps over me, and my teeth chatter.

“Ylva?”

“Stop the car.”

I rip off the seatbelt and escape the confining interior of the car. I take off in a run as the strange feeling builds inside me.

Desperate to find a safe space to unleash everything I’m holding back, I hurry between trees, leap over logs, and let the nagging feeling in my gut guide me.

The ticking bomb detonates inside of me. Back arched, I lift off the ground. A brilliant streak of light bursts from my chest.

My bones shift violently. My muscles rearrange themselves in a way that’s foreign to me. My hand becomes a massive paw.

I try to stop the shift, becoming stuck in a half form. Pain runs through my body and I twitch as I phase from human to wolf.

My she-wolf rushes to the surface, shoving me into the backseat. I fall onto all fours, caught in the thrall of primal energy. Throwing my head back, I howl.

The haunting sound bounces off the tall trees surrounding me. My mates arrive, rubbing against me to offer comfort. I realize how much I’ve grown.

Twice my normal size, I’m proportionate to the four behemoths staring at the oval circle that pulses in the thick tree of the oak.

I immediately recognize Fenrir’s energy. Whining, I gesture toward the portal with my head. Cadoc barks. The others yip in response, allowing him to take the lead. A tall, curved wooden doorway appears in the forest ahead. It opens, revealing a glimpse of the island I’m coming to know well.

I speed up, nudging Cadoc toward the portal. He growls. I bump his body with mine.

It’s finally time for them to join me on Lyngvi. Taking off, I leap through the strange opening, knowing they’ll follow.

I’m sucked through a restrictive, dark space that smells of death and beings older than time. Dumped out onto the volcanic rock, I land on my side. Rising, I shake my head, to clear it as the others arrive.

Staggering like drunkards, they struggle to stabilize themselves. Despite the dire situation, the she-wolf and I share amusement. Awake and active, we share goals. We’ve found a space where woman and wolf can co-exist peacefully.

Until now, I never understood what I missed out on during her silence. I wanted a life removed from who I was, and in return, she gave me the cold shoulder.

The clanks of metal can be heard in the background. Lightning streaks across the sky, illuminating heavy clouds.

A cold breeze ruffles my fur. Heat radiates from the stones below. Steam drifts up in warning. I dance away from the wispy streams.

“You have a debt to make good on.” The gruff voice vibrates with dark power.

Fenrir appears out of nothingness. Eyes blazing, he blows steam from his nostrils. His barely-controlled rage is profound. Heat kisses my skin. His breath ruffles my fur.

A wave of power forces our bodies to morph. Seconds later, we’re seated for an audience with the great wolf. None of my mates look surprised.

I turn to Cadoc. “What did you do?”

“They invoked my name and asked me to help rescue you. I agreed for a fair exchange.” His massive head turns toward my mates. “Did you think to deceive me? To escape without upholding your end of the bargain.”

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