Page 104 of Marked Wolf

He whimpered and the sound sliced into her like a knife.

Tamaska stroked his neck slowly, hoping it would give him comfort, somehow alleviate the pain.

She didn’t dare look up from him as the sounds of fighting swelled around her. She couldn’t. And she’d fight anyone who tried to drag her away from the dying wolf.

Please don’t die,she thought at him,please.

She really wanted him to survive his wounds and be there for the pack. It was an understanding born from her intuition. The pack needed Olcan to survive.

I wanted to see how strong you were…stuttered Olcan, his works entered her mind, and she recoiled.

How is this even possible?She shook her head. It was as if she were changing too the longer she was with Kodiak and the pack.

I wanted to be sure you were worthy…being a member… you…are. Olcan’s words broke into her mind, soft and barely audible.

Tamaska understood what he was trying to say to her. They all needed each other, and that included her. Even though she’d made a mess of things, she could see that this was where she needed to be.

Around her the sounds faded and she tried to let Olcan know through touch and her thoughts that he was loved and needed and respected.

Members of a wolf pack were cogs, parts of a whole that fit and worked together. And she didn’t want to ever come in the way and split them. If it came to it, she’d leave so Kodiak could stay. And she wordlessly promised Olcan that, too.

Something pressed against her arm, and she jumped in alarm. Glancing to her left, she breathed out a sigh of relief.

Kodiak was by her side. His beautiful wolf form was bloodied but unbroken. And as she finally looked about, it was just her and the pack members in the room.

Ash and Kodiak.

Olcan.

The other two turned their snouts to the broken and dying wolf.

“I’m sorry, I…I can’t do anything…”

Kodiak nudged her with his nose and padded closer, moving to Olcan.

Ash limped up to them and touched noses with Olcan, sadness in her eyes.

Tamaska’s chest tightened as her breathing became shallower.

Kodiak pressed his nose against Ash’s, as if speaking a secret language.

Looking up from Ash and Olcan, Kodiak gently pushed against her. Automatically, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head into his soft fur.

He leaned into her as if returning the embrace. She sighed heavily. They couldn’t stay like that for long. Although Cory was dead, any moment another vampire could come and start yet another fight.

Above them came a crashing sound.

Kodiak nuzzled her neck, and then in a flash, he was out the door.

Ash moved to stand in front of Tamaska and Olcan, protecting them from any potential opponents. But no more vampires appeared, and the constant flow of violence was hopefully at an end.

Tamaska remained still, stroking Olcan as his breathing became more laboured as the sounds of a fight echoed from the other side of the door and above them.

Fucking vampires. A surge of hate suddenly ran through Tamaska. Her life would have been normal if they’d never taken the Blood Opal. But then again, she would never have met Kodiak.

She sighed heavily. Olcan nuzzled his nose into her palm reassuringly.

“I’m supposed to be reassuring you,” she said softly.

---