Page 33 of A Wolf's Wound
And trying to explain that to Mason?Oh, boy.I probably didn’t make a lot more sense to him than Ryder made to me.It was just a feeling I had, that this was where my future was.That in this city I’ll become the woman I was always meant to be.
My steps slow as I realize how closely my situation seems to parallel Ryder’s.We both wanted something so badly it was almost indescribable.And we’re both stubborn enough to think that if we keep pushing, we can make it happen.
Except that what Ryder wants is me.And I don’t want to get involved with a wolf.I know what that means; I saw it with my own eyes.My mom and Mason are happy, sure.And I love Mason and all of our pack.Even if they can be overbearing sometimes.
But being part of a pack is just that—beingpart ofsomething bigger than you.I’m not ready for that.I don’t know if I ever will be.Being able to carve out my own identity, not as anyone’s daughter or pack member, has been exhilarating.
I know my mother wants that for me too.She was my biggest cheerleader when it came to my desire to get away from our family and figure out my own life.I can just imagine the look on her face if I told her I was involved not just with a wolf but a wolf from the Stone pack.
What’s the best word to describe the combination of worried, pissed off, and angry?Is there one in English?Maybe I’ll have to make one up.Maybe Shadow can teach me one in his language.But that’s what my mother would look like, all at once.
I turn onto my block and see my apartment building at the end of the street.I’ve been so in my own head that I didn’t realize how close to home I am.
A hand grabs my shoulder, and I yelp.It’s Ryder.I just know it.I swing around, mouth already open, ready to let loose on him.
But Ryder’s handsome face isn’t looking back at me.It’s not his dark eyes staring at me or his unfortunately kissable lips parting to speak to me.
This creature has a human face…mostly.Human eyes, ears, and cheeks.But my attention is focused on the huge, drooling wolf muzzle that’s inches from my mouth.Its dank breath makes my skin crawl.Its huge fangs are as white as a skeleton and sharper than any knife I’ve ever seen.
I should run.I should punch or kick or do something.But even as those thoughts race through my mind, I can’t move.
All I can do is scream.
Chapter 19
Ryder
Ilungeforwardandgrab the wolf by the collar.He turns around and I take a step back, baffled to see that while he has the snout of a wolf, the rest of his face is human.What the hell is this creature?
Whatever it is, it takes a swing at me.I duck reflexively and then straighten up and land a punch on its jaw.The creature stumbles backward, and I lose my grip.I look quickly at Hannah, who’s taken several steps away from it and looks horrified.
The creature rushes me low, driving its head into my stomach.I gasp and bring my hands down on its shoulders, grabbing its shirt and pushing down at the same time I bring my knee up.Thecrackthat echoes when my knee connects with its face is incredibly satisfying.
The thing stumbles backward, and I lose my grip again.It raises its face, blood streaming from a cut under its eye.I aim another punch, but it jerks to the side and I only connect with air.The creature and I circle each other, each of us looking for the advantage.We’re both breathing hard.
It lunges forward, and I block its punch before returning one of my own that lands with a solid thud in the center of its chest.The creature gasps and goes down, and I jump on top of it, raining blows on its face and torso until it stops moving.
“Are you okay?”I ask Hannah as I slowly stand up, keeping one eye on the still form on the sidewalk.
“Yeah.Are you?”
I nod, even though my knee aches and I can already feel how sore I’ll be tomorrow.I fumble for my phone.“There are patrols out all over the city tonight.Let me call for backup.”
Hannah nods as I make the call.Within seconds a team of enforcers shows up.They handcuff the unconscious creature and haul him back to the compound.I imagine Gavin will be up all night questioning this thing.
“Whatwasthat?”Hannah asks after they’ve left.“I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“Me neither,” I admit.“I thought it was a man at first.”
“So did I.But that face…” she trails off and then shudders.“I’ve seen some fucked-up things during my training, but that beats them all.”She looks at me.“I’m not happy you were following me, Ryder.Still, thank you for what you did.”
“You’re welcome.And at the risk of pressing my luck, I’d like you to stay at the compound tonight.”
“With you?”she asks.
“Me and the rest of my family,” I quickly add.“It’ll be safer than staying in your apartment tonight.”
“Not if I lock the doors and refuse to open them for anyone,” she replies.“Which is what I’d prefer to do.”
