Page 81 of Rogue Wolf

The thing wanted her to. It was in her head, pushing her thoughts into death and blood and destruction, making her want to take its hand.

But now she’d found the weird link, went both ways. It tried to force her but she could also see its fear.

And Kodiak.

In pain, fur matted, whimpering.

Her heart broke and seeing him gave her strength to step back.

“Vampires!” She screamed it as loud as she could. “Vampires! Hurry! They have Kodiak!”

It stared at her, not moving.

She wanted to grab it, fight it down but it would take her, it wanted her to put hands in it. So she took a big step back.

“Come now.”

"With you? You’ll never let him go. Negotiate? That’s what we’ll do.”

But inside she was a mass of panic. The vampires had Kodiak. They wanted to trade him for her. It would mean… What, that she would end up as an out-of-control wolf on a killing spree? She’d rather end up as a vampire.

Her breath caught. Had her dream been some sort of warning? And why wasn’t it moving.

To her horror it stepped close and she found out why. It brought its hand up to its neck and drew a line and she found herself bending her neck for it.

“Now, just let me sample your fine blood, and I’ll be on my way.”

“Like fucking hell, you will.” Tamaska stepped back again.

The vampire was quick, and she was still groggy from her dream. He rushed her before she had time to react.

Then a shadow appeared from nowhere, pushing the vampire to the ground with a growl. As the wolf ripped the vampire apart, Tamaska put her hand over her mouth to stifle a scream.

When it was over, the wolf changed back into human form. Channing hurried over to her.

“Are you all right? I saw you on the security monitor, but it took me a moment to realize you were talking to a vampire.”

“I screamed. No one came.”

He shook his head. I heard you talking but not scream.

Tamaska started to shake. It stole her voice, did something…but it didn’t matter. Only Kodiak did.

“Channing! They’ve got Kodiak. They want me, and that’s the only way they’ll release him.” Tamaska suppressed a sob.?

“I heard. Come on, we need to go and tell Onai.” Channing held her shoulder and guided her back toward the clubhouse.

Before they ever set foot inside the building, Tamaska knew what she had do. No matter what they decided, she’d exchange her life for Kodiak’s.

It was the only way.

CHAPTER 21

Kodiak

At least I kept Tamaska safe.

The thought soothed Kodiak despite the pain of the silver chain around his wrists. He was again in human form, naked, vulnerable, unable to defend himself.