Page 79 of Wolf Bonded (Rejected Moons 2)

Victor and Emlyn circle each other slowly. She moves gracefully, surefooted and powerful, but I just can’t help seeing how small she is. I’m aching to put my body between her and danger.

If I moved, though, I might make things worse. I would provoke Victor into attacking, and injured as I am, he would almost definitely just kill me quickly. And then what?

I can’t imagine it would help Emlyn.

He advances on her.

She darts backward.

He lunges.

She dodges.

She’s defending herself well. But she won’t win this fight purely by playing defense. She’s going to have to attack him.

What if she can’t do it? What if she’s still too wild with need for her alpha mate to slit his throat?

That’s exactly what Wilder wants her to prove, I know. He thinks shecando it.

But what if he’s wrong?

Victor darts forward again, lashing out with a claw, slashing her shoulder. Milo cries out and tries to leap to his feet, but his legs won’t support him, and he collapses beside me. I brace him before he hits the ground.

Emlyn staggers back several steps.

And then, to my utter horror, she shifts.

She couldn’t possibly be more vulnerable than she is now, standing naked and human before this rabid wolf.

She stands there, legs in a wide stance, back arched slightly, wildly enticing.

Is she offering herself to him?

The wind gusts suddenly from behind her. The scent of her is on the air, and it’s amazing.

She closes her eyes.

The next few heartbeats seem to last an interminable amount of time.

Then, abruptly, Victor shifts too.

The expression on his face is like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s hatred and desire all rolled into one. He’s obviously aroused, and yet his lips are peeled back from his teeth in a snarl, his hands clenching and unclenching.

“I’m going to kill you,” he breathes.

She doesn’t respond. She doesn’t so much as move. She breathes steadily—I can see her breasts rising and falling in the moonlight. Her eyes are closed. She looks powerful and calm and steady, and I have no idea what to make of it, but suddenly I’m in complete awe of her.

Maybe she’s been the strongest of us all along.

Victor should be afraid. If I were him right now, I would be terrified.

He starts toward her.

Emlyn throws her head back and lifts her hands to the sky.

A cloud swirls into being overhead. Rain begins to pour down, soaking us all.

The wolves and Victor look up, startled. Only Wilder doesn’t seem surprised.

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