Page 25 of Wild Wolves

He dangles a bag from his fingers. “I brought you some things. For you and your group. I hope you’ll accept them as an apology for everything you’ve been through already.”

I stroll toward him, remaining guarded and clenching my fingers into fists. I wish I would’ve brought one of the spears, but I didn’t even think about it.

Kellan unzips the bag and pulls out some sort of fabric. “I hope these necessities will suffice. I’m sure you were uncomfortable with not having everything you’re used to from the human world.” He says it as if we’re no longer there.

I open and close my mouth, a dozen questions swirling through my mind. What does he even mean by that? Fuck. I’m overthinking things. It’s impossible we’re anywhere else but on some remote island in the middle of...maybe the Pacific Ocean. No one can tell for sure. There are different plants here that shouldn’t grow together. Different fish too.

I automatically take the bag from him and clutch it against my chest. A part of me wants to dig through it immediately to see what he brought, but another part of me knows this might be my only chance to interrogate him about everything happening.

I don’t get a chance to do either because Kellan drops his shorts and releases a strange growl. Arching his back, he transforms in front of my eyes.

I startle at the sight of the grey wolf. The wolf I thought was Kellan’s pet.

I cover my mouth, trying not to scream.

Wiggling to its belly, the wolf whimpers and crawls forward to me. It’s the first time that I’ve seen it submissive and not threatening.

“Kellan...” My voice squeaks. If I talk, I might say something loud enough for the others to hear. This is insane. How will I ever explain it to them?

As quickly as Kellan transforms into a wolf, he turns back into a human man. He remains on his knees, his naked body close to mine. I take a step back. I can’t help myself.

“Please don’t be afraid of me, Eliana. I would never hurt you. I just thought this was the best way to explain things. Actions are far easier for me than words. You’d never have believed me had I just told you I’m a lykoswulf.” Lykoswulf? I repeat the term over and over again, but it only sounds partially familiar. He stretches out his arms, wiggling his fingers while he silently begs me to hold his hand. “I want to explain everything to you. I wish I could’ve done it sooner, but my pack wasn’t ready.”

I gape in confusion. I don’t know how to react or what to think. He’s a wolf. He’s a man who shifts into a wolf. My first instinct is to scream my head off and run. But then another part of me—a deep-seated, strangely powerful piece of me wants to close the space to him. To touch him. To see if this is real or not.

“It is real,” he says, responding to my thoughts.

“Shit.” I shake my head as if the gesture could keep him out. “This is too much. You—you’re a wolf. You’re with the men who kidnapped me. Are they...?” They have to be. It explains the attacks and the threats about our survival.

“Take a breath. I know it’s a lot to think about.” Kellan shifts closer on his knees, taking my hands.

I recoil and jerk back, stumbling and falling to the ground. “Don’t touch me. I don’t know who or what the fuck you are. I don’t know what you want with me. I just—I have to go.”

Kellan scrambles to his feet and grabs onto me. Spinning me around, he locks me to him, his naked body pressing to mine. He covers my mouth with his hand, stopping me from screaming for help. A low growl rumbles near my ear, the vibration crawling down my throat, striking me in the heart.

Kellan sucks in a breath. “Eliana, please. Don’t—”

I swing my hips back, surprising him by bumping my ass against his cock. It gives me the chance to bite his fingers, sinking my teeth into his flesh. He growls again but instinctively yanks his hand away.

I scream, my mind and body battling against each other over what to do. “Let me go!”

“Damn it, Eliana. Give me a chance. Come with me before the others get here.” Kellan tries to snatch me again.

I jerk my leg up, kicking his shin. He doesn’t falter, unfazed by my efforts.

My breathing quickens in fear. “Stay away! I need to think. I need space. Just go.”

“Eliana! Eliana, say something again. We can’t see you,” Tristan hollers, snapping branches as he heads in my direction.

Kellan charges me, scooping me off my feet. He throws me over his shoulder and runs. I hit his back and thrash, but he doesn’t let me go. He carries me away.

Chapter nine

Eliana

Lykoswulf

IGRINDMYteethacross the soft fabric Kellan stuffed in my mouth. I should be terrified that he kidnapped me, but I’m pissed off. This is too much. He should’ve left me alone to try to process things. The others should know that we were brought here by wolf men...wolf shifters. For what? I’m about to find out. I’m just nervous about the answers. I don’t know Kellan well enough to read him, but I do know he won’t tell me everything.

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