Page 15 of Married to the Wolf

He shook his head. “We can’t mate with humans. It’s unnatural.”

“You’re telling me.”

“When I take you out, I’m going to be rewarded big time.” He raised his hand, and she almost threw up seeing it change in the moonlight. At first he had a normal stout hand, and the fingers seemed to grow longer and darken. In the dull lighting, she realized he’d sprouted hair, and it wasn’t his fingers that were growing but his nails—hard, razor sharp claws.

She gasped and stumbled backward. A tree blocked her escape, and she edged around it, keeping her eyes on the man. “Y-you don’t want to do this. I know you guys have different ways, but you still have to obey the laws of the land.”

She sounded like an idiot. How would an argument about law sway him?

While she spoke, she slipped her other shoe off her foot. Maybe she could outrun him before he changed. In high school, she’d been on the track team, so there was a chance.

High school, Sophia, and forty pounds ago.

“Let’s think about this, uh, sir. I mean Sebastian’s pretty tough, and you don’t want to get on his bad side. You might not believe we’re mated, but he does love me. You don’t want to play with your life.”

He inched toward her as if he liked the delay, knowing it frightened her more. The scent of fear must be rolling off her at that point, egging him on. “They sent me because I’m the right man for the job. I know how to wait for the right time. Just like I said, sweet and stupid.”

He leaped at her, and she screamed while putting the tree between them. His clawed fingers hit the tree instead of her, ripping bark like it was tissue paper. She spun on her heel and ran full tilt. Twigs and rocks pricked the bottoms of her feet, but she didn’t care as long as she got away.

The man moved like he had already shifted. He was on her in seconds and grabbed her arm. She screamed again and dropped to the ground. The sudden move took him off guard, and she sprang up, catching him in the chin with the top of her head. His head snapped back, and he stumbled but didn’t fall. Neither did his grip loosen. She balled her fist up ready to punch him in the eye, but he suddenly rose off his feet into the air.

Sebastian had arrived, and he held the little man by his neck. The growls her attacker had been emitting, scaring the crap out of her, turned to gasps for air. Sebastian’s growls were deeper and far scarier.

“You dare put your filthy hands on my wife?” Sebastian shook the man so hard his head bobbled on his neck.

She grabbed his arm, realizing she was trembling. “Sebastian, you’re choking him. He’s just some weak wannabe. Let him go.”

A moment ago she was scared out of her head, and she was defending this bastard? Regardless, seeing him struggle was too much to deal with. Sebastian acted like he didn’t hear her. He squeezed harder. The moon went behind a cloud, sparing her from having to see the man’s face.

“I’m going to be sick,” she moaned.

“Take her to the house.” Sebastian gave the curt order, but she didn’t see anyone else around until after he said it. Tom appeared in front of her and gestured for her to walk ahead of him. She wanted to argue, but she didn’t have the energy. Her limbs hardly held her up as she stumbled along.

They reached the mansion, and Tom insisted on seeing her up to her bedroom. She slumped onto the bed for a minute and then stripped to take a shower. Staring at the shower floor, she watched the dirt and bits of grass that had clung to her feet wash down the drain. Her feet still ached, but it was a dull pain. She cleaned them, dried off, and climbed into bed.

Hoping to doze, she stared at the ceiling for a long time. “Sebastian’s probably…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it or even think it. This was the life she married into.

The door opene

d, and Sebastian walked in. She clutched the covers to her throat as he approached the bed. He dropped down on one knee and stroked her cheek. Compassion and love reflected in his gaze. She looked away.

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore, Sophia.”

“You…” She swallowed.

“Shh. It’s all right. Concentrate on calming down.” He removed his clothes and climbed into bed next to her. She considered fighting him, but from the moment he encircled her in his arms, the shaking eased. Even the warm shower hadn’t stopped it.

Sebastian tucked her head against his bare chest, and she touched his warm skin. She’d always loved the tautness and the color, tanned but nowhere near as dark as her shade of cocoa. He stroked her hair and whispered something she couldn’t understand. She thought it might be another language, but fatigue kept her from listening for individual words.

“I should have been there sooner, my love. I’m so sorry.”

She looked up at him. “Did you let him come after me to prove how dangerous things can be?”

“No! I wouldn’t risk your life like that. I wanted to give you a little space so you could think things through. I was going to follow right after you. It was my mistake in thinking security was tight enough. This is why you have to have Guard, Sophia, and why they must be the best.”

She shuddered, and he tightened his embrace. For a few long moments, she luxuriated in his strength and the warmth of his body. From the first day she met him Sebastian had meant safety and protection, a feeling she didn’t know was missing from her life. Her dad was never abusive, but he was awful with money. When she left home it was following a childhood of wondering where their next meal was going to come from. Probably why she ate food like it was going out of style.

“Sebastian?”

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