Page 68 of Wolf Bitten

Vomit churned hard in my belly and burned my throat. I wanted to cry out. Instead, I focused on taking one step at a time.

My back bunched and cringed, radiating stinging pain. I couldn’t imagine a pain level higher than this. I focused on Raffe’s desperation and used it to urge myself forward.

Paw steps sounded—multiple sets—but with all my concentration on moving forward and the pain weakening me like someone wringing out a wet rag, I wasn’t sure how many.

My blood jolted … and a wolf stepped out of the forest in front of me.

Its dark fur blended in with the shadows, or maybe that was just my eyesight because the world began to spin.

The wolf snarled, and I knew it was over. I didn’t have any fight left in me, and my animal protectors wouldn’t get here in time to save me.

My legs gave out, and I heard a shout. “Wait!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The wolf froze and jerked his head to the left just as the most alluring smell in the entire world hit my nose.

Musky sandalwood and amber.

Raffe.

Home.

Understanding slammed into me like a truck when I realized the wolf in front of me was Keith.

Heavy footsteps pounded from a few trees away, and when Raffe stepped out of the firs, my eyes burned with unshed tears.

He was here.

Finally.

Raffe’s brows furrowed, and he blinked at me like the people back in my old town used to do.

Like I was a weirdo.

My heart broke, and I whimpered. I didn’t know how to speak to him like this. I growled, and my blood jolted in frustration, especially since I didn’t have the energy to stand up.

Then Raffe ran toward me. His irises turned dark, and his panic slammed into me.

Skylar?His words popped into my head like they’d been doing but this time loud and clear.What happened? How is this possible?

When he dropped beside me, his forehead creased with worry as he scanned my back. Then he noticed my hind leg.

Three wolves attacked me,I said, hoping that the way I’d communicated with the animals worked with him.

But when he didn’t respond and gently touched my back, causing me to yelp, I realized he must not have heard me.

What the hell?

“Fuck,” he snarled then turned toward my face. “Babe, what happened? Link with me, and tell me everything.”

I pawed at the mulch with my front paws, frustrated. I didn’t know what to do, but I needed to communicate with him and get him or his pack to find the unconscious wolves. I jerked my head the way I’d come from, hoping he or Keith would understand.

Raffe turned to Keith. “Link with Adam, Lucy, and Josie, and follow her scent—see what you can find. There’s got to be something back there she wants us to see,” he commanded. “I’m staying with Skylar. I’m not leaving her fucking side ever again. I don’t care if I have to quit the team.” Determination and love emanated from him.

My fear of him not wanting to be with me disappeared. I never should have doubted his intentionsagain. When was I going to learn? Clearly, this was baggage I carried from a lifetime spent as an outcast. It had more to do with me and less with how Raffe had treated me when I’d arrived at EEU.

Branches cracked not far from us, and I growled, wanting whoever was coming to know that I would kill them if they even looked at my mate wrong.

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