Page 70 of Wolf Marked

As she came up to the riverbank, she called to her wolf. Like always, the prickling sensation built at the base of her spine, but instead of the power shooting throughout her body, it only pulsed there three times before fading out to nothing more than a dull, grinding ache.

Confused, she tried again. The power throbbed and pushed but couldn’t move beyond that point. It stayed put before dying out completely.

Dread seized her. Something wasn’t right. Her inner animal was locked in place.

But night had fallen. Her wolf was awake. Astrid could feel it sitting beyond her subconscious, waiting to be released, but for some reason, the shift wouldn’t come.

She peered up at the sky again to see the glowing blue color beginning to creepacross the moon’s surface. Another wave of fear washed over her. Could she not shift because of the coming Blue Moon? Was it hindering her power somehow? She had never heard of this happening before, but no one she knew had ever waited until their very last Blue Moon to try and break the curse.

Oh no…

Without her wolf, how was she going to cross the river? She drew in a deep breath. She didn’t have time to ponder this. She was going to have to try and jump it as a human. If she didn’t reach Erec, she was dead anyway, so she had to take the risk.

She swallowed roughly. She had to do it and do it fast.

Just like hopping the stones with Filip that one time…but without the rocks. And a wider distance.Oh, and her brother wasn’t here to catch her if she fell.

Astrid blew out a breath and closed her eyes. No time. She had to get to Erec.

Maybe if she got a running start… But the moment she lifted her leg to take a step back, every muscle clenched tight and millions of hot pinpricks scattered throughout her body. The shock of it sent her onto her knees, throwing her spear out of her hands and into the snow feet in front of her.

Her heartbeat was a thundering boom in her ears, and she could do nothing but stay still as the strange feeling raked throughout every limb. She knew she was breathing, but she couldn’t feel her chest moving, couldn’t feel the air filling and leaving her lungs. Even her fingers were oddly numb and tingly.

Terror like she had never felt before stole every thought in her head. It was as if frostbite was taking over every inch of her. All sensation was lost. She wasn’t really touching the coldness of the snow underneath her palms. It was there and she could see it under her blue-marked hands, but she couldn’t feel a thing.

What is happening?This was bad. Really bad.

She tried to heave herself back up, but even though her mind saidmove, her body didn’t react to the command. The fizzling pain continued to ricochet across every nerve, forcing her to stay put.

Tears stung in her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not when she had to get to Erec.

Her head was like a hundred-pound boulder on her neck, making it impossible for her to lift her chin to check how far along the Blue Moon was, but she could see the ominous sapphire color reflecting off the whiteness around her.

Get up! You have to get up!

Before she could do anything more, a buzzing energy shot across her hands, and the swirling blue marks around her fingers and wrists began to glow. Even with the numbness, she threw herself backward and landed on her bottom, horrified at what she was seeing. She blinked repeatedly to make sure it wasn’t a hallucination. The blue lines branding her skin were emitting their own light.

The curse—it was starting to take hold. Her inability to shift, the loss of feeling, and now this? It had to be the curse. There was no other explanation…

Her wolf whimpered in acknowledgment. It knew it, too. This was it. Her body was dying; that had to be why she’d lost all sensation. And that meant she wasn’t going to make it to Erec in time. She was too late.

Chapter Twenty-Three

The sharp sound of branches snapping to her right drew her attention across the river. In between the trees, the shadowy figure of a man appeared and stumbled through the brush, his steps labored and full of resistance. When he reached the streaming blue moonlight, Astrid gaped. “Erec?”

His expression was one of determination and extreme agony. Even with a vest covering most of his chest, the exposed blue tattoos on his right shoulder gleamed like hers.

“Erec!” she yelled his name as loud as her phantom lungs would allow. Although her legs were like jelly, she was able to climb to her feet, but the sudden movement made her head spin.

Erec’s storm-colored eyes found her. “Astrid…” His voice was a croaked whisper, but it was the sweetest sound she’d ever heard. “Astrid!” He tumbled into the river, struggling to close the distance between them. The water was up to his hips, but he didn’t seem to notice the depth or the temperature. With his desperate gaze locked on her, he pushed against the current.

The glow of the moon bathed everything in sapphire light. In Astrid’s ears, her heartbeat echoed, having slowed down from its fearful race to a singularthump…thump…thump… She swayed forward, but Erec was there suddenly, snatching her wrist and pulling her against him. They collided, falling into each other’s arms and collapsing in a heap on the ground.

They didn’t know what to do besides clasp onto each other tightly. Neither of them dared move. The moon’s painted light encased them entirely, and somewhere in the distance thunder rumbled. Pressed against Erec’s chest, Astrid counted each breath he drew in, afraid that one would be his last. She listened to his dying heart under her ear. Like hers, its beat was weak and too scarce. She closed her eyes, praying it would neverstop.

A gust of wind blew past them, tossing up Astrid’s hair and making goose bumps rise with the chill. It smelled of rain. With the freezing temperatures of winter, they hadn’t had rain in months. Only snow. But there was no doubting it. A storm was coming. The air was changing.

Another blast shot around their huddled figures. As it gathered in power and speed, whirling around them like a tornado, Astrid cracked one eyelid open. What she saw made her jerk back in disbelief. The swirls on Erec’s shoulder were lifting off his skin and floating in the space between them.

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