Page 49 of The Reluctant Wolf and His Fated Mate
Alex turned, dropped her into the snow, and laughed. Another surge of violence roared through Damon that it took all of his self-control not to rush the shifter.
He glanced at Sophie. She didn’t appear to be hurt. “Are you all right?” Although he yearned to care for her, he first had to neutralize this threat.
She pulled herself to her feet and brushed off the snow. “Yes.” She walked toward him.
He didn’t dare take his eyes off the threat. “Why did you take her?” Damon spat at the Alex. “Why are you trespassing on our lands?”
“To get you here.” He sneered and parried before Damon. “And have my revenge.”
He adjusted to a defensive stance, noting that Sophie was now behind him. “Our packs are dealing with this disagreement,” Damon spat.
Alex’s glare turned fierce. “This is no longer pack business, it’s personal.” He beckoned with a sharp wave. “Let’s go.”
He shifted into wolf form and lunged at Damon.
Sophie
Sophie couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The stranger who had kidnapped her had shifted into a white wolf with bright blue eyes and a vicious growl. She swore it was the same one she’d seen last week.
Damon was naked. He ran at the white wolf. When he lunged, he transformed into an enormous gray wolf with amber eyes. The two wolves met in the air, a furious clash of fangs, claws, and fur. Vicious howls pierced the otherwise tranquil mountain.
Each landed back on four paws in the snow. They circled each other, eyes intent to kill.
Her eyes widened as she started moving farther behind Damon. Two deadly predators assessed each other as if intent to kill. The white wolf barked, drool lashing at the snow. The gray growled a warning. It was like they were speaking some secret language, which she supposed they were.
The white one lunged at the gray one. Sophie shrieked. It wasn’t just a wolf, it was Damon.
“Damon, be careful,” she cried.
Her words were useless. The two wolves were embroiled in what appeared to be a fatal embrace. Streaks of red slashed across the white snow. Snarls and howls echoed in the air. With the way they lashed at each other with fangs and claws, she was certain that only one would survive.
That meant Damon could be killed.
Killed!
No. She ached for him with all her being. That couldn’t happen. Not this extraordinary man who’d made her feel like the most adored woman in the world. He was so considerate and protective, and he’d cared for her like nobody had before.
Her pulse shot up to panic mode. Dear God, he was here to protect her, same as last week. He’d done nothing but protect and care for her. Maybe she didn’t understand everything about what he was, but she knew in her heart he was willing to sacrifice his life for her. That was clear as day right before her eyes.
And she’d pushed him away.
He couldn’t die!
She’d been falling in love with this man. No, he was beyond a man, and far more extraordinary.
She was a fool, overreacting because he’d kept a secret from her until he was sure he could trust her. The reason was clear before her—he was part wolf! No wonder he didn’t tell her. Confiding in the wrong person could endanger his way of life here on the mountain.
The wolves feral growls thundered in her ears. A shiver of icy fear trickled over her spine.
His world was so different from hers. It was more than just the natural, serene beauty, but also a wild struggle to survive in the animal kingdom. The duality of the environment was as vast and complicated as the man himself.
If they both survived this fight, could she learn to understand his dual nature?
And all she wanted to do was help him. But how? She was human, weak compared to those massive predators intent on destroying each other.
The white wolf gained the upper hand, pinning Damon down. As fangs aimed for the vulnerable flesh of Damon’s throat, she squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to see that fatal blow.
The sounds of more growling made her snap them open. Damon evaded that mortal blow and grappled with the white wolf, scattering snow far enough that it reached her.
