“Be quiet you ignorant girl. This is a great honor,” Aunt Gerda says.
“The last of a great clan, she deserves a chance to keep her family alive. And the gods have seen fit to commune with her. She was blessed with an encounter with Fenrir.”
He’s twisting everything that’s happened. I fight against Fell’s hold.
“I choose Cadoc Bergstrom, Kirk Nielson, Bo Jensen, and Fell Pederson.”
Fell’s eyes round, and his jaw drops. He didn’t know. I shouldn’t be relieved, yet I am.
Yells of protest, looks of disgust and anger bombard my senses. Anger snaps me out of my anxiety spiral. I don’t want this, and yet they look ready to stone me. I’m trapped. The world shrinks in around me.
Holding my breath, I force my muscles to relax. Fell’s grip loosens.
Run.
The she-wolf’s voice explodes inside my head. I fall back off the log, rolling as I gain my feet, and shift.
The seamless transition is unlike any other time before. There’s no hesitation or struggle to tap into my wolf.
My legs and arms lengthen and my nails turn to claws. I drop onto all fours. Power surges through me and I’m one with the land as my paws pound over the ground.
Our gift comes from magic. It’s leftover from the blood of the gods that continues to run through our veins.
I jump over roots, tree trunks, and people who are frozen with shock.
“Prove your worthiness to your mate.” Alpha demands, voice guttural and unhinged.
The glee in his tone, shows he views my escape attempts as something for sport. I don’t have to look over my shoulder to know the four men are transforming to give chase.
My she-wolf is excited by the pheromones they give off as they shift. Picking up speed I let the her take over. The yips behind me warning me to stop fuel my passion for freedom. The sounds of multiple paws hitting the ground ratchets up my anxiety
Ignoring them I move erratically. I won’t be an easy target.
I smell the heavy mating hormones. A wild urge to present myself and take them, startles me. I’d never been in tune with my wolf like this. Frightened, I increase my speed.
A hard snout slams into my hind, spinning me. I tumble to the ground and roll onto my side. The large gray wolf nips at my back legs. I yelp when his sharp teeth graze me.
A familiar tan, white, and gray markings like eyebrows, wolf knocks him to the side. Fell.
Blocking the snapping wolf from me he lowers his body and they tussle, nipping at each other. I take advantage of the disruption and continue forward.
A large black wolf with piercing yellow eyes, blocks my path. I dart to the right and find an even bigger gray wolf with black marks under its eyes that look like eyeliner.
It’s blazing yellow eyes are full of silent alpha energy that locks me into place. My heart and my soul don’t agree.
In the midst of confusion, my body is bound. I mentally thrash to regain the will being stripped away.
They keep me between them, closing in ranks. Panicked I look for an opening. I backpedal. I hit the tree, panting as the wolves growl and bark a warning.
Eyeliner, Cadoc, turns to the black wolf, who bows his head and lowers his belly to the ground in deference, establishing pack hierarchy. He lunges forward and catches me by the throat.
His sharp teeth press into my skin, but they don’t draw blood. I refuse to yield, meeting his gaze. The black wolf yips. The mouth around my neck tightens slowly.
The pressure becomes unbearable. I yield, whimpering. His jaw opens and I sink to the ground, shaking.
I’ve submitted, in the eyes of our people they’ve all proved their worth for the mating match. The fear subsides, I transform.
“Always hard-headed.” Cadoc growls, cupping my face.
“You could’ve stopped.”
“We both know that’s not true,” his voice sounds tired and sad. “So stubborn.” He clucks
his tongue.
Is that admiration glinting in the depths of his eyes?
“What are you going to do?” Winded, I catch my breath.
“Right now?” He arches a thick black brow. “Bring you back to complete the ritual.”
“Please.” I don’t know what I’m asking him for.
Releasing my face, he holds out his hand. I grab them and he helps me rise.
“Uncle Cadoc.” I try to appeal to his sentimentality.
“I think we’d both feel better if you drop the uncle off.” His icy eyes bore into me.
