Page 69 of Wolf Bonded (Rejected Moons 2)

And I can see right away that something isn’t right.

Here are two wolves fighting off a single man. But the man isn’t one ofmymen. I almost stop dead in my tracks trying to figure out what’s going on, but I see the one thing that gives it away.

The stranger has a sigil carved into his face.

Moon Drinker!

The wolf who raised the alarm said that Moon Casters were here. I just assumed they weremyMoon Casters.

But, of course, the wolves don’t know about Moon Drinkers. They don’t distinguish between the two. To them, anyone who does magic is a Moon Caster, and all Moon Casters are enemies.

Panic jolts through me. I was sure my mates were here. I was sure they were the ones signaling me with that rock. But what if it was never them? What if it was Moon Drinkers who sent me that signal?

I know for a fact that Moon Drinkers are out to get hybrids.

I should get the fuck out of here while I can.

I turn and run from the wolves and the Moon Drinker.

I’m about halfway back to the tree where I was chained up when I’m cut off again. A line of wolves comes sprinting past. They must have been somewhere else and been summoned back by the howls of alarm. They’re here to join the fight.

There’s a horrible moment when one of them—the one in the lead—looks at the tree. I see him take in the pile of chains in the dirt.

Then he looks at me, standing by myself, not heading toward the fight but away from it.

His eyes meet mine, and my body responds. The human in me starts to rise, beating back the wolf, knowing that if she can just reach the surface, she’ll be naked and ready for him at last, and he won’t be able to resist me, because he’s never been able to resist me, that’s always been the conflict between us—

And then Victor breaks eye contact and runs away.

He’s too busy with the fight to engage with me.

Say all you want about Victor, and there’s plenty I could say, but he won’t let his pack stand undefended just so that he can pursue revenge against me.

And I know he knows that it’s me. The fact that I’m no longer chained to the tree is enough of a clue, but I’m sure he felt the same thing I felt when he looked into my eyes. There’s no way he can doubt who I am.

I just have to get out of here before he has the chance to double back and change his mind.

I run for the tree line. If I can only make it that far, I can lose myself in the woods. Then I can strike out back for the city. If I can get back to Giuseppe’s, it’s possible that my mates will know where to come looking for me. It’s the best chance I’ve got.

But before I reach the trees, someone bursts forth from them.

He’s human, and he’s running so fast that even though I would recognize him—that build, that hair, that furious expression—anywhere, it’s a moment before I’m able to take him in.

And then I do, and my heart leaps into my throat.

Nate.

I can’t keep my human self-contained anymore. She springs to the surface and I leap into Nate’s arms.

He catches me. I wrap my arms and legs around him, grateful for the feel of him. I’m aware of more bodies behind me, and I hear the familiar voices of Milo and Wilder.

“We have to get out of here,” I say.

“Yeah,” Wilder agrees. “You’ve got her?”

Nate is already running with me, and though I want to be put down, to move under my own steam, I also want to hang on to him. I never want to let him go.

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