Page 51 of Wild Fated

“You think?” I clutched the book to my chest.

“You now hold the weight of our pack, but you also have abilities. Gifts that come with your new role."

I frowned. "Abilities?"

The warrior on the left stepped forward. "You can move between shadow and light. Between this realm and the world you know."

I blinked. "What do you mean?"

He motioned to the shadows at the edge of the clearing. "Watch." He stepped into the darkness, and I gasped as he disappeared. My heart pounded, and I took a step forward, but the middle warrior held up a hand.

"Wait."

I stopped, my breath coming in shallow bursts. Then, as if nothing had happened, the warrior reappeared on the opposite side of the clearing.

I stared, my mind struggling to comprehend what I'd just seen. "How did he . . . ?"

"You have the same ability. You can move between worlds, Lana." The middle warrior’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

I swallowed hard, a mix of awe and fear churning in my gut. "But I don't know how to do that."

The warrior smiled, his expression softening. "You will learn. We will help you."

I nodded, but my thoughts were already spiraling. If I could move between worlds, that meant I could go back. Back to the real world. Back to Destin.

I turned to the warriors. "Show me how."

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Destin

The stone behind me lit up like a damn LED light, blinding in the darkening twilight. I didn’t question it. As James turned, I took full advantage of the distraction and flew forward, my wolf taking over. Claws ripped from my fingers, my jaw cracked, and I tore out of my skin, fur bursting from my pores. I landed on all fours, then streaked forward like a missile.

I hip-checked Kael out of the way, then dove straight for the stalkers. Their claws were like needles tearing through my fur, and the stench of rot hit me like a brick wall. I went for their necks, but they were too fast. They jumped back, then lunged, snapping around my throat.

I tore at the one on my right, but the other one clamped down on my shoulder, tearing skin and muscle. I howled, then shoved the one on my left back, snapping my jaws over its head.

The two other alphas shifted next to me, diving into the fray, but I didn't have any help. Kael and the others were still bound. I fought with a wild ferocity, my claws tearing through fur andflesh. They slashed at me. My blood sprayed, they howled and thrashed as I lashed out.

Pain shot through my body as they bit back, their teeth sinking into my flank. I yanked free, tearing skin and muscle, then lunged again. My jaws clamped down on one of their necks, and I felt the satisfying crunch of bone. I shook my head, ripping it free, then threw the limp body to the side. I didn’t know who it was, there was only the enemy.

The other stalker lunged for my throat, but I was ready. I thrashed, pulling it off balance, then slammed it into the ground. I didn't give it a chance to recover. I tore into its flesh, ripping it apart until it was nothing but a pile of gore and bone.

It would regenerate, but I hope it would give me a little time. I turned, ready to face the other stalker, but one of the alphas was already on me. His claws sank into my back, and I howled in pain. I twisted, trying to shake it off, but it held on. I drove my body backward, slamming it against a tree. The impact knocked the wind out of me, but it also forced the Stalker to release its grip.

I spun, my vision red, my breath wheezing. My fur was slick with blood, my legs unsteady, but I didn't care. I would protect them. I was?—

"Enough!" James' voice cut through the night like a knife. The bone stalkers froze, their eyes locking onto him. The other alphas, who had been shifting and growling at the edge of the clearing, dropped their heads. Their shoulders hunched, just as a weight landed on my back.What the hell?

"Stop," James said again, his voice soft as the weight crushed me, forcing me down on my front paws.

Then a figure stepped out of the shadows. My wolf whined, urging me forward, but I couldn’t move. I could barely lift my eyes to see that it was her. Lana. The book clutched in her arms.

The glow from the stone bathed her in light, making her appear almost ethereal. No, not ethereal. She was there. Solid. More vivid than the shadows that fell around her. Like she was in hyper focus while the rest of the world blurred around her.

My muscles twitched to life. I pushed against the weight of James’s power, my frustration growing as I realized I couldn't push past it. I couldn't shift. Couldn't even think straight.

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