Page 38 of The Vampire's Thirst
Thorn shifted to human to better understand the scene playing out in front of him. The attackers wore Arisen Dawn black uniforms with an insignia on a shoulder patch, two mountains with a red sun between them. Each gripped the female’s arm. She resisted, twisting and kicking. No way could she shake off a berserker and demon. Thorn recognized their breeds by their unmistakable auras.
Why would two Aeternals hassle a human female?
Thorn debated. Attack as a naked humanoid? Not his favorite. Attack as the wolf? Okay but probably not successful against a berserker and a demon. His best bet was to charge into the fray as a partially shifted wolf, bigger, upright, clawed, and fanged. The half-formed beast might traumatize the female, but it could stop the two males for sure.
Thorn shifted, releasing part of his animal. He barreled out of his cover. Leaping, he wrapped his jaws around the demon’s neck, cracking bone and tearing flesh.
The first Aeternal didn’t stand a chance against Thorn’s surprise attack. The male fell to the forest floor, blood gushing from his neck. With its claws, the near-wolf ripped off the demon’s head and tossed it aside.
Surprised, the berserker dropped his hold on the female, lumbered toward the enraged shifter, and halted, his legs spread in an aggressive stance.
Thorn spared a quick glance at the female. Injured, she fell onto the ground, her eyes wide and her mouth open in a silent scream. She scuttled backward against a tree.
The berserker was a big mutherfucker. About seven feet of solid muscle, making Thorn wish he spent more time in the gym, beefing up and absorbing a few tricks for fighting giant-ass behemoths.
Excitement sparked in the big guy’s eyes, as if he was enjoying what was about to come. Thorn’s feral half-wolf grinned back, the claw marks from his childhood drawing tight on his jaw. He showed no fear since that was food for a berserker, and he didn’t need the guy well nourished.
Thorn, claws out and canines bared, dropped into a crouch while he circled the crazed giant. Lunging swiftly and digging his nails deep into the male’s gut, Thorn took advantage of the giant’s slow-moving size. The stunned berserker glanced down and clutched a hand to his gored stomach. The shifter would need to do more damage to drop this male.
Then the guy’s legs crumpled as he sank to the ground. In his place stood the human female with an iron skillet in her hand. She dropped the makeshift weapon to steady her palms on her wobbly knees.
Thorn, though surprised, took advantage of the help to grab the berserker by the neck. He twisted off the male’s head, letting it fall beside the body.
Collapsing onto her hands and knees, the human upchucked.
As Thorn shifted to his human form, he glanced at the two fallen males. Pretty gruesome. Two headless Aeternals. Blood and guts everywhere. Good news, they weren’t going to resurrect. She should be grateful. Of course, she’d probably never seen a half-shifted wolf before. He might have some explaining to do. A vampire who could erase memories would be handy right about now.
The distressed damsel wore hiking boots and dark pants. In her current position, she showed off a nicely rounded ass.
When she stumbled to her feet, she pivoted toward him, her gaze doing a slow roll up Thorn’s naked body. Her wide shoulders tapered to a trim waist, but between the two were luscious, well-proportioned breasts. As she paused at his groin, he realized he was fully aroused. Well, he did love a good fight. And there was nothing better than a beautifully fit female giving him the once-over.
Thorn lifted a finger. “Hold it a sec, darlin’. Wait here.” He sprinted for his clothes at the base of the tree, slipped into his pants, and returned to the campsite. He glanced around to memorize the area so he could return later for the bodies.
The female was in the same spot where he’d left her, lit by the camp lantern and a bright moon.
Her pants were torn, exposing one deeply cut but shapely thigh. Despite her hand pressing on her upper arm, another wound leaked blood. Thorn passed a fist across his chin. Lacerations, likely from the sloth demon.Not good.She’d go night-night soon.
“What are you?” she asked, her attention plastered to his bare chest.
With her unwavering gaze on him, he adjusted his pants. He was usually aroused after a fight, but the female’s stares didn’t help. “A rancher.”
“Bullshit.”
When she swayed, Thorn rushed forward, swooping her into his arms. “Steady, darlin’. The demon sedated you. Claws from a sloth demon mean lights out.”
The contact with the female sent an electric jolt through his body while the wolf prowled just under Thorn’s skin, clawing to get free. Man and beast struggled for control. They wanted to bite her. To mark her. And wouldn’t you know, blood sped to his already swollen dick. Talk about harder than rock. Even his balls were on fire. Only one thing did that to a male shifter.
The wordmateroared in his ears.
Hell no. Not now.
A mate was responsibility. He wasn’t sure he was ready for more weight on his shoulders. Unfortunately, when a wolf met its mate, it didn’t care. And the male would want her no matter what.
“Huh? Demon?” Her lids fluttered open and closed as her head lolled against his arm. Her hand reached out to stroke his scarred jaw.
“So pretty,” she slurred as she crumpled against his chest.
When the smooth deep bronze skin of her cheek brushed against him and her tight black curls tickled his pecs, he knew. He would always protect this female, his mate. Life just got more complicated.
