Page 128 of The Hunt of Night

A whimper bursts from my throat, the phantom pain lingering in my bones as he stares down at me with wide eyes.

My mouth falls slack, but even when I will his name to my lips, nothing happens.

Cassian gulps, his shoulders relaxing as the corner of his mouth tips up, and a moment later, he shifts. One moment, a man, another a wolf. So beautiful, so mysterious, so mesmerizing.

He inches closer, nuzzling his face into mine, and I lean into the touch, basking in the sensation until I freeze, realization dawning on me. I jolt back, blinking at the wolf before me, but when I look down at the floor, the paws that I see don’t match the color of his fur.

They’re white.

Whiter than white.

A huge contrast to the black fur that covers his body.

Lifting my hand, the paw moves and I jump back in shock.

It’s me.

I’m…I’mthe wolf with the white paws.

Me.

A wolf.

My wolf.

Cassian is quick to cut the distance I created, resting his forehead against mine as we stare into each other’s eyes. His presence, his close proximity, is calming; it keeps me grounded as my mind whirls at high speed.

“I am yours, and you are mine. Now, forever, and always.”

My eyes widen as my breath lurches.

He just fucking said that…in my head.

“How are you doing that?”

“The same way you are.” I can hear the amusement in his voice, but it’s laced with awe too.

“I don’t know how I am.”

“It’s natural in our wolf form.”

Inourwolf form.

Holy fuck.

“What now?” I think, the thought drifting between us as he takes a small step back.

“Now, we take the kingdom and fuck up their plans along the way.”

My chest rises and falls in heavy breaths as I nod, enraptured by his words when the door slams behind him.

The calmness that clung to my limbs moments ago is gone, lost in the wicked smile that taints Kenner’s features.

I take a step back, heart in my mouth as I start to panic. I may be a wolf, but it’s not familiar to me. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing and I feel defenseless.

“Excellent,” he says, beaming from ear to ear as Cassian moves to stand in front of me, blocking me the best he can fromhis father’s direct view, but Kenner makes no move to come closer. “You did the job I wanted of you without even trying, son. And you, Adrianna, I knew you would seek out your wolf the moment you were told not to, just as I planned.”

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