Page 84 of Hybrid Moon Rising

The only way she’d be turned is if she asked Callum. Or maybe she could ask Kade. At least if she was a wolf she could tack on another couple hundred years.

Not that it would be enough. No amount of time would be.

When she’d sufficiently stuffed her emotions back in the depths of her heart, she turned back around and faced her mate.

Draven had crossed the shore between them and knelt beside the rock she sat on.

“I don’t mean to hurt you, Flora. I understand your need to extend your life, I just can’t chance losing you.”

She nodded, unable to trust her voice not to betray the hurt and sadness she felt. She didn’t know how to make him understand.

Draven took her hands in his and ran his thumbs over her palms. “To make a wolf, it must be under a full moon. Just as a bite makes a mate, a bite will make a wolf if it is paired with a slice to the heart made with the blood of the wolf who aims to claim them as family. It’s a sacrifice to the Goddess. An outward sign that the human would die for her and be resurrected as a wolf under her name.”

“A slice to the heart?” Flora’s mouth dropped open. For vampires it was just a little blood and venom then a quick snap of the neck; this was…barbaric if not a bit excessive. “How does anyone survive a slice to the heart?”

“Most don’t. That’s why it’s a rarity to make a wolf. It is said that if the Goddess accepts you, she will heal you in your transformation. I’ve never seen a turning, nor do I want to. It’s not something I’d wish upon anyone.”

She could absolutely cross becoming a wolf off her list. There was no way she was going to survive a chest wound. Which meant either she needed to convince Draven to make her a vampire or she’d have to go against him and visit the castle.

The latter of the two left a bad taste in her mouth.

Draven reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek. She met his gaze, the window to his soul and saw nothing but sadness there. “I know you want me to change you, but that’s just not something I’m willing to do. However, I’ve been thinking about how you want to be able to protect yourself and what you asked Kade. My offer to train you still stands.”

“Really?” Flora perked up. It wasn’t what she wanted exactly, but it was a step in the right direction. At least she could help keep herself alive while she was still human.

“Absolutely. While I plan to always be at your side, I can’t wait to see the look on Mateo’s face when we return and you kick his ass to the ground.”

Flora let out a laugh, picturing the giant wolf falling to the dirt in surprise. “I like the sound of that.”

“Also it will help your standing with the wolves. The females don’t take kindly to weakness.”

“I’m not weak,” Flora scoffed, though even she knew it was a lie. She may know a few scrappy moves to get her by, but growing up in the castle hadn’t exactly afforded her lessons in hand-to-hand combat.

“Far from it, Bubbles. You are the strongest female I’ve ever met. You’ve got to be if the Goddess mated you to me.”

“No shit.”

Draven tipped his head back and laughed. It was a good look on him. “I will never get used to curses coming out of your prim and proper mouth.”

“So when do we start?”

“Right now, if you’d like.”

She leapt off the rock and into his arms, pushing him down onto the soft shore. “Looks like it’s you who needs a bit of practice if I can get the jump on you.”

Draven rolled them so he was on top and pressed her hips into the sand, grinding his growing length against her core. “That was your one freebie.” He leaned down and growled in her ear. “The next time you take me to the ground, I’m going to reward you by worshiping your warrior pussy with my tongue. I’ll even do that thing that drives you wild.”

He nipped her ear with his fang, rolled off of her and started back in the direction of the cabin, leaving Flora a panting mess in the sand.

Oh, it was on.

---