Page 67 of Hybrid Moon Rising

Flora’s earsrang with the beat of her erratic heart, muffling the growls of the snapping shadow beasts.

Wolves.

Monsters.

Whatever the hell they were.

Their dark gray eyes were hollow. She’d almost say lifeless except for the fact they were very much alive and trying to rip her throat apart. They were larger than any wolf she’d seen, and their shadows flickered across their skin like flames in a raging fire. But it wasn’t heat that came from them; instead an intense cold wafted in her direction, leaving the urge to shirk back and wrap her arms around herself.

Flora’s eyes darted around the clearing. She had no idea where the hell she was. The last thing she remembered was seeing the cave and knowing in her gut they were in the right place. Then she’d blinked and suddenly there was a snout in her face, accompanied by rows of razor sharp teeth clutching the chain of the moonstone between them.

The shadow beast ripped it from her neck with a growl. It snapped at her, black sludge dripping from its jowls.

Draven appeared out of thin air in the space behind the wolf, and Flora could have cried when she saw his face. She’d eat her damn words. Every single last one of them in which she complained about him saving her. She’d never been so happy to see him.

And then, a heartbeat later, she had never been more terrified. All the wolves except the one holding the moonstone turned on him and stalked in his direction. Draven’s gaze flitted between her and the wolves, and she tried to calm her features to show she was fine.

Well mostly. All it would take was one bite from any of the wolves and she would be far from okay.

The light of the full moon highlighted Draven’s face, twisted in pain. Her eyes drifted down his body to where his muscles pulsed under his skin. She sucked in a gasp when fur began to sprout on his arms, and her jaw dropped when his back contorted and his vertebrae cracked. With each sickening crunch, his legs shortened to match his arms, and his features shifted from man to wolf. Fur black as night shook free and by the time his transition was complete, the only part of him that remained of the man who’d stood before her was his deep emerald eyes.

Draven’s wolf was a sight to behold, beautiful and deadly, with teeth that gleamed through his snarl. He stood taller than the shadow wolves by a few inches and held himself with such grace that Flora couldn’t help but be mesmerized.

He tipped back his head and let out a long howl that made her core tremble. It was plain to see it was a plea, a cry to the moon Goddess, though Flora wasn’t sure if it was a melody of homecoming or desperation.

All but the one shadow wolf holding her hostage crept toward Draven, circling him like he was prey to be slaughtered.

Four against one. Shadow versus hybrid.

She sent up a silent prayer of her own to any god or goddess who would listen to protect Draven. He may be half vampire, which came with a level of dominance and agility, but his opponent was an unknown; one wrong move and they’d both be dead.

Flora quickly surveyed the forest around her, looking for any way she could help. There was no doubt in her mind she wasn’t in British Columbia any more. The moon was full in this place, and the trees towered twice in size compared to the pines they’d left behind. Their branches were weighted down by needles that glowed a deep purple in the moonlight and at their base was soft grass from which bright blue flowers bloomed, looking almost bioluminescent.

It was like something out of a dream. Well, more like a nightmare.

She craned her neck to see what was behind her, hoping against all odds there was something she could use to help Draven. She found nothing of use except a path that led to an old-looking cabin about a hundred yards up the way, which did her no good unless they could get there. And even if they did, there was no way of knowing that the wolves couldn’t get inside.

A loud snarl pulled her back to where the largest shadow wolf lunged at Draven, going for his neck and barely missing as his black wolf dodged the attack. The rest of the shadow wolves closed around them, yipping and growling as they tightened the circle in which they stalked.

Flora shrieked and shifted forward onto her hands and knees, feeling helpless to do anything.

Draven’s wolf whipped his head to where she sat, and her hands flew up and covered her mouth.

Shit.

Her outburst had given the large shadow wolf the distraction he needed, and he took full advantage. He reared on his hind legs and leapt onto Draven’s back, his teeth sinking into Draven’s flesh right behind his shoulder blades.

Draven didn’t so much as yelp as he was taken down to the ground, the other wolves pouncing in unison with their leader.

Flora’s chest constricted.

No.

No, no, no.

This wasn’t happening. She held her breath, waiting for Draven to surface from the pile of snaps and growls.

The pack needed him. The world needed a hybrid Alpha to set it straight. And though she didn’t want to admit it, she wasn’t ready to let him go either. She wouldn’t stand in his way, but knowing he was alive and making a difference was enough for her.

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