Page 110 of Wolf's Mark

Even love.

The sight of Jax as he dropped onto all fours, his spine bending just as I’d seen with the monster was terrifying yet beautiful.

“Jax,” I whispered. I would know him anywhere by his rich and exotic scent. It wasn’t overpowered by an animal smell. Inside his luminescent silver eyes was still a man.

There was also at least a hint of humanity.

The entire earth vibrated as Jax completed his shift. I was in utter awe. There was no fear of him or what he might do. He was here to save my life.

All the anger and horrid feeling of frustration fell away. He was huge, much bigger than a gray wolf, but so similar to the creature who’d saved my life on the cold winter’s day.

He was also majestic and utterly beautiful.

He crept closer while the monster instantly sensed his presence. Every movement the beast issued was awkward, the continued transformation making it difficult for him to perform normally.

Jax used that to his advantage, racing toward the horrible monster, leaping through the air.

A gasp left my mouth before I could stop it, a scream following when the beast managed to throw a brutal punch. Jax’s wolf yelped as his body was pitched backward, but he rushed the inhuman being once again, issuing a savage series of growls as he attacked.

I backed away, my mind screaming that I needed to help him, but it was as if Jax was demanding I get out of the way. He insisted I obey him. My feet didn’t want to work and I almost fell on my face.

The creature was getting stronger and faster, the fight becoming bloody. They made lunge after lunge at each other, the howls and other guttural sounds something that would remain with me for a long time.

The stench of blood permeated the air, the wind carrying it directly toward me. I was terrified for the man I already cared about far more than I knew I should. The beast toppled Jax to the ground, the strength of the once dead man unbelievable to see and experience.

But Jax fought back, driving him away and pitching his fully extended body forward. As he bit down on the monster’s neck, the cry became unfathomable.

With every mutated cry, every bite and brutal action, I felt in my heart Jax was losing the battle. That couldn’t happen. When hewas tossed back fifteen feet, I sensed the beast was moving in for the kill. No. No.

“No!” Without thinking, I rushed forward, lifting the limb as high into the air was possible. As I brought it down across the back of the monster’s head not once but twice, another realization hit me.

Werewolf.

The creature now stood at least seven feet tall, canines and claws highlighted in the twinkling lights. He reared back, trying to strike Jax again.

“No!” This time, I couldn’t recognize my voice. There was a deep rumble to it, a low and husky growl. I brought the limb down one more time, the piece of wood finally snapping into two pieces.

I felt her.

Oh, dear God, I felt her. A wolf.

My wolf.

It wasn’t possible. I couldn’t…

Another even lower growl grabbed my attention.

Jax was down.

He wasn’t moving.

Oh, God. Was he even breathing?

As the werewolf turned in my direction, I could see the red in his eyes. There was no sense of humanity. There was nothing to indicate any aspect of his former human self.

He was a killing machine, ready to slaughter me.

I backed away, tears sliding down both cheeks. “Jax. Get up. Please get up.” My cry went unheeded.

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