Page 76 of Wolf Unleashed
Rafe placed his hand on her head and sucked in a breath. Something wasn’t right.
A growl rose from Alyssa as her eyes finally opened and focused on Rafe.
“That’s a good sign. Her eyes are back to normal,” Tiernan said.
“No, not normal,” Rafe said. “They’re no longer hazel. They’re amber.”
Alyssa snarled at them, flashing teeth. Long, sharp teeth. Bones shifted and fur sprouted all over Alyssa’s body. Her clothing ripped and fell off as her wolf emerged. Beautiful bands of gold, brown, and black fur covered her wolf with slender legs and a narrow chest.
“I don’t sense a bond with her,” Rafe said. “For a minute there, I thought I did, but there’s nothing now.”
“Me neither,” Maddox said, then raised an eyebrow to Tiernan.
“I think she’s blocking us. I felt a flash of confusion and fear and then nothing.”
Rafe tried stroking her fur, but Alyssa’s wolf whipped her head around and bared her teeth.
“I guess she doesn’t recognize you as her alpha,” Maddox chuckled.
“Worse.” Rafe stepped back. “I don’t think she recognizes me as her mate.”
When Maddox approached, her wolf rose and stretched a long, elegant body.
“She’s gorgeous,” Tiernan remarked.
“Did you have any doubt she would be?” Maddox said before he shifted and circled her.
Alyssa’s wolf scented the air, and gradually Maddox’s wolf approached. She sniffed along his muzzle, and then his neck, and licked his ear.
“At least she’s accepted Maddox,” Rafe said.
“Maybe it’s your human form. Shift,” Tiernan suggested.
Rafe shifted, followed by Tiernan. Alyssa circled Tiernan, who remained perfectly still, allowing her wolf to approach him. As with Maddox, Alyssa’s wolf scented and licked at his muzzle, then pawed at his chest, inviting him to play.
Rafe stood off to the side, watching his female play with Maddox and Tiernan. She didn’t approach Rafe even after he shifted. In all, he was quite fortunate. He’d retained his shifter strength, and his sight, hearing, and sense of smell were unaffected by the blood-bond. But the bond between him and Alyssa remained closed. She’d rejected him.
Rafe growled, gaining their attention. It was time to leave, to head away from the WSSO. He’d saved his female and lost her at the same time. It was time to be an alpha, and not let his feelings interfere with the mission. Saving his pack.
* * *
ALYSSA
Alyssa felt warm and safe,much as she did when she lay in the arms of Rafe, Maddox, and Tiernan. Except this was not the same. Another presence had taken charge, and the forest looked immensely bigger than usual. The ground was closer, giving her a unique view of the bottoms of tree roots, twigs, dirt, and the wolves surrounding her. Three. A white wolf and two silver wolves, so close that she could smell and identify each scent. Her three loves. Maddox bumped into her from the side every now and then, the flirt, while Tiernan playfully nipped at her backside. Make that two flirts.
Inside, Alyssa laughed and couldn’t wait to shift back, to tell them each how much she loved them. First, she’d have to figure outhowto shift, as she didn’t recall shifting to wolf form.
Right now, her wolf was in control, telling her not to worry, that she’d take care of everything. It was easy to sit back and let her be free, to feel her joy each time her paws struck the ground or she experienced a new scent.
They ran as a pack, long strides that felt glorious to stiff, under-used muscles. Wind flowed through her fur, tickling her skin. So refreshing and amazingly in tune with nature.
Rafe never approached, though he often turned his head to check on her. That’s when Alyssa felt her wolf’s fear. She feared Rafe, but why? He’d blood-bonded her, to save her. Alyssa had heard his every word during the blood-bonding and approved, but her wolf kept her distance from him.
Alyssa looked inward to the bond that connected her to Rafe. She found the bond to Tiernan, thrumming with joy. Even Maddox, her scowling shifter, sent happiness across the bond that she hadn’t felt from him in quite some time. But the bond to Rafe… She couldn’t find it. It was as if it didn’t exist, but she was sure it did.
Don’t worry.Her wolf sent her the thought.
Whether it was instinct or some distant memory, Alyssa realized what her wolf had done. She’d closed the bond to Rafe.
