Page 20 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

A muffled scream filtered through the wall of light. Cara had shifted—well, partway. Claws tipped the ends of gnarled, furry fingers, and wolfen ears and an incomplete snout had formed. Her body quivered as she raked her hand down her face, leaving cuts that welled with blood.

We were out of time. I shucked my jacket and kicked off my shoes. I demanded everyone give me space and then backed up several yards so I could gain extra speed. Summoning all my strength, I propelled myself forward and slammed into the high-voltage beam, shoulder first.

A bolt fired through me, bouncing me off the wall with an explosion of light, and I caught myself in a low crouch.

A sizzling noise popped in my ears, steam rising off my body as the drizzle of rain hit the angry red skin of my arm.

With a roar, I charged again. Searing pain exploded behind my temples, and I was afraid to check and see if my skin was being flayed from my bones or if it just felt like it.

No matter.

I dug in my feet, my claws shooting out to help me stand my ground. My snout elongated and my muscles roiled under myskin until I’d become the crude fusion of both beast and man. I tore at the surface with my teeth and claws, biting back the yelp that wanted to come out as blisters erupted and burst across my hide.

The revolting odors of charred hair and hide invaded my nostrils, and I steeled myself, gritting my teeth and forcing myself forward.

One inch. Another.

A howl of agony ripped from my throat. My body turned from flesh, fur, and bones to a vessel of torturous pain as I threw the last of my strength behind my momentum.

The outlines of my pack members took shape. Then light burst, so bright the world went completely white.

In the next instant, I was on all fours on the ground, Cara, Betty, and David in front of me. No more green light. Just voltage and crispified skin and the faint glow of the moon.

I pushed to my feet, gathered them in my arms, and walked out of the charred circle.

People rushed forward to check on Cara, Betty, and David, and distantly I heard them thanking me.

I lumbered over to a nearby stump and parked myself there. No reason to ever move again. I shook my head, sure the voltage in my teeth and bones could recharge a battery. Ugh, my ears rang, too, the high-pitched squeal leaving me twitchy.

“Conall,” a garbled voice said, and I searched for the source.

Whoa. When had Nissa, Tyrese, and Elias shown up?

“Are you okay?” Nissa asked, dropping to her knees in front of me.

Depressing a finger to my ear, I wiggled the fleshy triangle part around, experimenting whether or not that stopped the buzzing—it didn’t. “I’m fine.”

“Phew, he’s healing,” said Elias. “I was worried he’d need to see the vet, and that would not go well at all.”

The vet. The sexy, pillow-lipped vet with the fierce attitude and a distressing lack of fear regarding werewolves. I definitely wanted to see her.

I couldn’t, though. The reason eluded me right now, and then I was glancing at the blackened area conspiracy theorists would call a crop circle.

“I hate things that don’t fit.” How could we exploit our enemies’ weaknesses if we couldn’t pinpoint the source? If we couldn’t predict the attacks. It’d take that much longer to get under control, and too many of my people had been hurt already.

“Well, if that isn’t the understatement of the year.” Relief flooded Nissa’s features as Tyrese used her outstretched hand to pull her to her feet.

“How are Cara, David, and Betty?”

“Shaken up,” Tyrese said. “But they’ll be fine.”

“Are they healing?”

Tyrese and Nissa glanced at each other, which meant no.

“Damn it.” I stood. “We’d better clear out and get them to the compound.”

We started toward the tree line, and I bent and scooped up my shoes and jacket, not bothering to put them on.

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