Page 53 of Her Feral Beasts

“How do you hide yourself?”he asks, quietly, his eyes fixed on my chest, myirregularly beating heart, as he blows out blue smoke. He shakes his head as if he can’t quite believe it. “It’s a real shame you have to die, Regina.” He pushes himself off the roof.

All I can do is run.

Invisible, I fucking bolt for my life, darting right for the loading dock so I can get into the school fast.

I don’t hear Scythe’s feet land or dare look behind me as I kick off my flip-flops and pass the truck, bolt past the two confused bears, up the ramp and through the open roller-doors. There are boxes and guards crammed in here and I bump into one, who lets out a shout of alarm.

But they have no idea what’s happened and the other guards just stare at him like he’s nuts. Does Scythe know these guards? How is he just walking around here?

I’m running so fast that Henry is forced to dig his tiny claws into my shoulder, but he manages to stay with me as I swerve into a narrow entrance that leads into the school proper. I pass the kitchens, bolting down the long corridor as fast as I can. My bare feet pound against the floorboards and I have no idea if anyone is pursuing me or not. Everyone’s at lunch, so I luckily don’t bump into any more people. This is the exact wing where Minnie and I mopped all that blood on Monday night, so I know the way to the outside.

I take a left, then a right, then another left and shove a door open.

Sunlight bursts upon my face as I make it outside and continue running across the pavement. I’ve come out with the unmated female dorm right in front of me, where the same four guards stand as they always do.

It’s then that Henry loses his grip and tumbles off my shoulder. Frantically, I skid to a halt, the hot concrete painfully scraping my bare feet. I hiss as Henry recovers, catches himself before he hits the ground, and levitates back up to me, his shiny black eyes wide with fear.

Then, faster than I think is possible, an impossibly strong hand slaps over my mouth. Another snakes around my waist andyanks.

Chapter23

Aurelia

I’m pulled into the shadows between the tall buildings. My back is crushed against a tall, hard body.

“Your breathing,” Savage breath tickles my ear. “Your breathing gives you away.”

He whirls me around by the waist, his large palm still covering my mouth, and pulls me into his body. I’m so shocked that he’s caught me unawares that I’m wheezing as I try to drag in air.

Savage’s hazel eyes are blazing as they search the air in front of him to try and see me. He lets out a slow exhale, his lips parted.

His eyes flick out past the mouth of the alleyway. “Those guards are not ours, regina. We have to be quiet.”

It’s the first time he’s called meregina, and it shakes me to my core. My blood pounds in my head as I pant through my nose.

“Can’t smell you,” he says, hazel eyes trying to focus on my invisible face. “Can’t see you, but I know it’s you.” His hand slides down the curve of my back, and down lower to grip the full round of my ass. “Yep.” As if this confirms it.

A pulse of desire tears through me, and I let out a squeak of indignation. I buck, trying to break out of his grip, but his hold on me is like steel.

The hand covering my mouth moves to cup my cheek and his thumb gently sweeps across my lips. He brings his face so close to mine as if he’s fixated on the feel of it. “Yep,” he whispers.

I buck again but he just crushes me harder against him. I feel every inch of his fighter’s frame and something languid and smooth inside of me responds to it in the worst, traitorous way.

The lids over his hazel eyes stutter as if he’s fighting something inside of himself, too.

“Just once,” he says, as if to himself. “I need to do it once.”

My anima grips me in place as he leans forward and brushes his lips against mine. I stiffen. Heat flares through my body. His lips. By the Wild Goddess, his lips are soft and warm on mine. Even through my shields, his masculine, fresh pine scent drifts into my nose and hits me right between the legs.

My anima keens. This wolf is mine. Has been mine for weeks.

The primal sound that escapes up my throat isthoroughlyunbidden. But it’s a sound of pure need.

And my mate responds.

A rumbling growl vibrates through his chest to mine.

I part my lips.

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