Page 23 of Wolf Bitten

Some of the fog in my brain cleared. “What? No. Only vampires and witches are part of that group.”

“When they thought I was unconscious, I heard them mention that some wolves loyal to them were out patrolling.” He yanked me harder then released me and clutched his chest, wincing. “They wouldn’t have told you about them because of your connection to Raffe. Think about it. Now move. I can’t drag you, and I refuse to leave you behind.”

Wolf shifters were part of the Veiled Circle? My heart pounded as determination fueled me. The spot in my chest warmed to scorching hot, adding to the warmth surging through my body.

If what Slade had said was true, I had to move and survive so I could warn Raffe. I struggled out from under the brush as Slade moved to the tree closest to us. He gestured and said, “Come on. Climb.”

That strange presence inside me tried to surge forward. It seemed wild and feral, like nothing I’d experienced before. I pushed it down and rushed to the tree. Clutching the trunk, I tried to climb up, but I struggled to grasp any handholds, and my feet slid down, unable to find traction.

Fear settled in my chest, mixing with the heat and the strange presence.

There was no way I could climb.

Strange tingles spread across my skin, and I froze. We were being watched.

“Sky, hurry,” Slade rasped.

There was no point. We shouldn’t have left the brush. “They’re here.”

That strange presence grew stronger, but my blood remained calm. It hadn’t been acting normally since the vampires had drunk from me, but no matter what, I was determined to die with dignity.

I turned around, ready to glare down my killer and fight with everything I had left in me.

CHAPTER EIGHT

My feet almost tangled underneath me, but when I turned, familiar crystal-blue eyes reflected back at me.

That strange presence in my chest inched forward, and my eyes burned as tears fell down my cheeks.

Raffe.

He raced from his spot in the center of the group, heading toward me, his dark fur ruffling with each stroke of his muscles.

“Sky, come on,” Slade said urgently, tugging me away from my mate.

“No.” I yanked away, enough energy coming back that my feet tangled, and I fell forward.

I tensed, bracing for impact, but Raffe reached me and broke my fall. My chest landed on his back, and electricity sparked between us. The presence in my chest churned harder. Between the spark of our connection, his warmth, and his sandalwood-and-amber scent, my body became uncomfortably warm, but there was no way I’d give up touching him. I’d been without him for so long.

He whimpered and lowered himself to the ground, then gently rolled so that my back hit the ground.

No.I needed to touch him. The presence in my chest tightened, making me more desperate to be with him. The strange emotions that didn’t seem like my own surged with relief and happiness, contrasting with my devastation as Raffe moved away.

I reached out a hand, wanting him to come back to me. I wasn’t above begging, but I still couldn’t move well.

Four wolves emerged from between two thick firs, but I could see onlyhim.

“Sky,” Slade warned, the tension in his voice palpable.

I looked at the four coming toward us. Between their fur and eye color, I recognized them immediately. Adam and Keith stood in the center, with Lucy beside Adam and Josie at the other end. “These are our friends,” I rasped as I shuddered. The warm buzz from touching Raffe had made me feel cold again.

Lowering her caramel-brown-furred head, Lucy kept her haunting gray eyes on me. I could see warmth and concern in them, but then Raffe pawed at my leg.

I turned to find him hunkered down again. He jerked his head sideways, and I understood.

He wanted me to climb onto his back.

Everything inside me urged me to do that. I needed to be next to him, as close as I could get, but I didn’t want to burden him. “You don’t need to carry me.”

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