Page 62 of Cursed Wolf

I didn’t know what had happened or how I got here, but I knew one thing for certain—Tryn was protecting me.

And from the way he fought to maintain his balance on three good legs, his breaths coming in ragged pants through his clenched jaws, he wouldn’t last much longer.

“Oh God…” I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep from calling out his name. The last thing he needed was to become distracted and allow that monster to land a killing blow on him.

After circling each other for a few tense seconds, they lunged at each other. I couldn’t bring myself to look away as Tryn stopped short, using his hind legs to jump up toward the other creature’s throat. It would have been a good move if his injuries weren’t slowing him down. His opponent saw it coming and dodged out of the way. Then he casually, almost lazily, raked that huge, clawed hand down Tryn’s side.

Tryn fell hard, his fresh wound coating more of his fur and the ground in blood. It was heartbreakingly clear he didn’t have much fight left in him. I couldn’t just watch, but what could I do?

Save him! The voice in my head called out. Our mate needs us, help him!

How? I screamed inside my mind. I can’t fight that thing any better than he can!

Let me out! The stampeding sensation became so strong, it nearly brought me to my knees. I could physically feel pushing on my ribs, my back, my stomach, like a wild animal frantically trying to escape its cage.

My big, beautiful wolf got back on his feet, determined as ever. I couldn’t let him die for me. He had to be in so much pain already. Knowing he was suffering for me, even after I reacted to him with fear and told him to leave, just about broke me.

“Tryn, stop,” I whispered. “Just stop. Save yourself.”

But he lunged again, catching the blackened skin of the creature’s forearm and biting down savagely. As his opponent tried to shake him off, Tryn used the momentum to swing his back legs forward, raking his claws down the monster’s torso.

“Ah, fucking dog!” The red-eyed creature lifted a foot and kicked Tryn squarely in the stomach, finally dislodging his teeth from his forearm.

Tryn had bitten down to the bone and ripped a good chunk of flesh away, but before my eyes, the bloody wound seemed to knit itself back together. I recalled Tryn healing quickly, but nowhere near this fast.

My wolf had rolled a few feet away after being kicked but was up again in the blink of an eye, although even more unsteady than before. Jesus, he just would not quit.

“You’re boring me, werewolf,” his opponent said. He was panting and still bleeding in some places but was nowhere near in the same condition as Tryn. “So I’m going to end you now and bring your mate back to my club as a snack for my men.”

No! I screamed internally, frozen where I stood. No, leave him alone!

Tryn didn’t seem fazed. He just lowered his head, golden eyes glaring with murderous intent, hackles raised in a spiky ridge along his back, and teeth bared. Badly injured as he was, he was still a terrifying sight to behold. Monstrous, even.

But he was my monster, and he was doing this for me. I felt none of the fear and confusion that had overwhelmed me when he shifted in my apartment. Without a single doubt, I knew that Tryn would never turn this aggression onto me, only those who would seek to harm me, like this red-eyed demon.

This time, the demon lunged first, aiming low. Tryn sprang forward, once again for the creature’s throat.

“No!” I cried out this time, realizing his error too late.

He had exposed his belly to those claws. Instead of raking them down, the creature stabbed, embedding those curving talons deep into Tryn’s flesh.

Time seemed to stop. The two of them were perfectly still for a beat, almost as if neither one knew what had happened.

Then the demon grinned, his eyes alight with victory, and he violently wrenched his claws from my werewolf’s body.

Blood and flesh filled the air before raining to the ground.

Chapter 22

Emmaline

Iwas running before becoming aware of traveling any distance. It was some miracle I was able to keep my feet under me. This other presence inside me was clawing, howling, stamping, running. It didn’t entirely feel like I had control of my own body. But somehow, I made it to Tryn’s side.

He lay motionless on the blood-soaked ground, and I slid a few inches when I dropped to my knees. My motions were on autopilot, ripping off my coat and shirt to press against the jagged, bleeding wounds on his abdomen. I wasn’t treating him like an animal but someone I loved and desperately wanted to save.

“I’m here, I’m here.” I leaned over and kissed the side of his face, petting his ears and stroking his fur with my free hand. “I’m so sorry, Tryn. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you to leave.”

A pained groan rolled out of his throat and he wearily lifted his head, the wolf’s golden eyes visibly widening in shock when they landed on me.

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