Page 91 of Wolf Bitten

As my body contorted into animal form, I gritted my teeth. The shift still didn’t feel natural or comfortable. After what was only seconds but felt like minutes, I connected,I’m in animal form. All is well.Even though King Jovian was out there in less-than-ideal circumstances, being in full wolf form felt nice.

“You can see for yourself.” Raffe sounded assured.

“Oh, I can’t wait. I heard your friends approaching just before this happened. You do realize I’ll know it’s not her when whoever it is comes out.”

When I trotted from behind the tree, King Jovian’s smug grin fell. He walked toward me, but Raffe grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“Stay right here. I don’t trust you near her,” Raffe snarled.

King Jovian scowled. “This can’t be real. I need to get closer to her. This has to be an illusion.”

Not wanting to give him a reason to say we’d manipulated him, I trotted to him, my blood fizzing. The power within it wasn’t funneling into the ground yet, so I hoped like hell that meant I wasn’t calling the forest animals to me. If King Jovian had a hard time grasping that I’d shifted, I didn’t need him freaking out even more over a horde of animals rushing to me.

The closer I stepped toward him, the wider King Jovian’s eyes became.

When I was ten feet away, Raffe linked,Don’t come any closer. I don’t trust him.He hadn’t taken his gaze off his father.

Humans can’t be turned.King Jovian sniffed, trying like hell to find proof that I wasn’t real.Something is very wrong with her.

Pain sucker punched me. Once again, I stood before someone who thought I was abnormal and didn’t fit in. Even as a true supernatural, people wouldn’t accept me as one of their own.

Nothing is wrong with her.Raffe bared his teeth.She’s a wolf shifter, so you have no reason to have her killed.

King Jovian winced.Son, this isn’t natural. Nothing about her is natural.

The rejection I’d felt all my life swirled throughout me, and my blood hummed.Raffe, my power.It churned inside me like when I’d called the animals.I need you.I froze as fear weighed down my legs.

Something like awe spiraled into me as Raffe stepped to my side. He linked,I can feel it coming off you through our bond and sense how it unsettles you.

He threaded his fingers through the fur on the back of my neck, our bond buzzing and easing the hum. My lungs expanded more easily.

“Your mother wanted me to come here and make things better between the three of us, but do you know the impact she could have?” King Jovian lifted his hands. “Son, you’ve got to put your people first—”

“If you and the pack won’t accept my mate, then I don’t need any of you.” Raffe’s face twisted in disgust. “She’sthe best person I’ve ever met with the kindest heart, despite people likeustreating her like shit and fearing her. But not me. Not anymore. She’s my fated mate, my claimed mate, and the woman I’ll die protecting from you or whoever you send our way.”

King Jovian rubbed a hand over his face, and he pried his focus away from me to his son. “Raffe, you’re my only heir. I need you to see things for what they are. Your mother and I were chosen mates, and we’re happy.”

I snarled, my wolf surging forward. I wanted to rip out his father’s throat at the mere mention of Raffe with someone else.

“And that confirms everything.” Raffe sneered and linked to me, Keith, Adam, Josie, and Lucy,Sky, Shift back to human form while I handle my father. I don’t want to risk us getting separated. I want to get out of the woods in case a witch is on standby to harm you. The rest of you, keep a lookout for anything strange. If Sky gets hurt, you’ll all have hell to pay.

I hated to leave his side, but there was no point in talking with his father. He wouldn’t accept me, just like my dad probably would never fully accept Raffe. I trotted back behind the tree.

“You did hint for Aldric to place a hit on her, didn’t you?” Raffe pushed.

After a moment of silence, his dad sighed. “I … I don’t know if he misunderstood me. Either way, Skylar may be the best person in the world, but she’s not fit to be queen. She wasn’t raised our way, and—”

“We’veclaimedeach other, and even if we hadn’t, it wouldn’t change a damn thing.” Raffe’s determination and resentment strengthened.

The sensations radiating from him were just as strong as his wolf power, stealing my breath. My blood activated again, but I pushed away my concern, needing to get back into human form. Using what Raffe had suggested earlier, I tugged at my mind and asked my wolf to retreat. Just like before, she listened. The transition eased my blood, and my body shifted back into human form.

“If you want me to remain your heir and part of the pack, it will be with Skylar at my side. There’s no room for negotiation. This isn’t a business decision or a strategy on my end. It’s simple. She’s my entire fucking world, whether you like it or not. When I said I’d leave the pack, I meant it, and if one hair on her head or strand of fur on her wolf gets injured due to your influence, accidental or not, I won’t be your son anymore. I’ll be your enemy.”

Butterflies took flight within me, and I hurried back into my clothes and shoes. The magnitude of his love astounded me, but I also didn’t want him to give up his future over me. My blood returned to a hum, and I needed Raffe’s calming touch.

“Is this how you want things to be between us?” his dad whispered.

When I rejoined them, King Jovian’s shoulders were hunched, and he didn’t look like the commanding man I’d come to know.

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