Page 46 of Rabid
Dusk’s descent has curled all around us, hugging the land with gray twilight as a fog threatens to roll in from the hills. I’ve been gone for hours, practically battered the poor goat’s body beyond immediate recognition with the drag, but when we look into Tyran’s eyes, it’s with the pride of one and a half violet irises...and a jagged glacial blue dissecting the eye on the right.
I feel the rest of the pack watching this exchange as we stand there before him, waiting to see what he’ll do, both of us looking out through our eyes at the male my wolf chose.
After what feels like an hour of agonizing wait, Tyran’s lips curl into a smile. “There’sthe wolf I claimed.”
Pride lifts our chest, and then my wolf settles down while my spirit rises up. I shift, with the taste of mountain goat still in my mouth and its blood caking my chin and chest. Crimson war paint to signal the battle that was fought and won over the sharp rocks of a steep mountain, all to save the jagged shards of my soul.
His deep brown eyes drag over my nudity with heat sparking in their depths. I know I look a mess with scratches, mud stains, and wind-blown hair, but he says, “Savage looks sexy on you, Vicious.”
I stomp down on the tentative smile that wants to creep across my face. I don’t want him to see just yet what his words, his approval, means to me. I’m not quite ready to hand over those powerful reins just yet. There are things to work out before we’re there.
He steps forward, his intense brown eyes drinking me down, but then he smacks the back of my asshard. I hold back the yelp of pain—barely. His smirk widens as he soothes the spot while pushing me toward the deck stairs.
“That hurt, asshole.”
“You’re lucky it was just one. Every time I turn around, you’re naked in front of the whole fucking pack,” he counters before leading me to the front door. “Now go get your red ass cleaned up and dressed—in clothes that the other females havemadebut not worn—and then come back. It’s nearly time for the reckoning.”
He practically shoves me into the house, his large body guarding my back and keeping his pack’s eyes off my flesh. The door closes hard behind me, and when I look up and see that I’m alone, I finally release the smile I feel twinkling in my soul. My wolf wags her tail and we both saunter up the stairs.
We did it.
I rub my ass cheek as I head for the bathroom, all kinds of intriguing thoughts filtering through a dirty mind that’s once again filled with Tyran’s scent. My wolf thinks he’s worthy, and although I’m not disagreeing with her instincts or assessment, I think it’s time to see whatIthink about this male without the blindfold of anger. I want to find out just howworthyhe can be.
* * *
Ilook in the mirror and sigh. Hehasto be doing this on purpose. I don’t know Tyran well, but I feel it’s safe to say that he has a thing for pirate pilgrims. I adjust the neckline of the cream-colored shirt I’m wearing to try and make it fit normal, but then it just falls off both my shoulders.
With a huff, I pull it back over so only one half of my chest, upper arm, and shoulder is exposed. I leave the two ties at the neck open because putting them in a bow just makes everything look worse. That probably has something to do with the fact that the bow sits eye level with my boobs like it’s some game show model just asking people tocheck out these prizes.
Once again, I embrace the Musketeer vibe and tuck the front of the big shirt into suede pants that just so happen to be the exact color of Tyran’s wolf—like that’s a coincidence. My gaze lands on the door that leads to his room. I haven’t had to set foot in it yet, since these clothes were thankfully piled on the bathroom counter.
I’m feeling less volatile about the alpha’s past now. Even though I haven’t finished the claim by biting him back, he bitus, and as far as my wolf is concerned, that makes him ours.
Rationally, I know that Tyran had a sex life before I entered the picture—I did too—so I’m blaming that freak out on the bites both of my shoulders now carry. Newly claimed wolves have done worse things, so I’m giving myself a pass on this one. Still, I have no intention of ever setting foot in that bedroom again. Guess I’ll find out how he feels about that soon.
Running my fingers through my hair, I ignore the fact that my top is still a little too see-through, and give myself a small approving nod before dropping my game face in place. It’s time to go meet the Ruin Falls pack, and that means I need to radiate nothing but strength and dominance. I can’t let myself be thrown by anything that happens tonight. I’m mentally preparing for the worst based on this pack’s heinous reputation, but also trying to go into this with an open mind, despite the rumors.
If I want a place here, it’s time to show these wolves that I’m worthy of it, no matter what gets tossed my way. Because the truth is, I don’t want to live as a lone wolf with humans. Now that I have my other half, I know I could never fit in without a pack, that I’d go just as crazy as Tyran said I would. So I want this to work. For my wolfandfor myself.
I inhale evenly and turn to leave the bathroom, with my shoulders back and head held high. My bare feet are silent on the stairs as I make my way down. The large house is completely empty, and I see through the large windows that dusk and night are fighting for control over the sky. Speckles of stars watch the battle, twinkling their cheers as night gains the upper hand more and more with each passing minute.
I open the door, expecting to find Ruin Falls all gathered together, but the grounds are empty, and only the chirp of crickets greets me as I step out into the cool kiss of twilight. Before I’ve made it three steps across the raised deck, I suddenly smell a wolf creeping up behind me. With a snarl, I spin around, ready to fight off whoever is sneaking up on my back.
The male holds his hands up placatingly. I immediately recognize the blond with wavy hair just past his shoulders and deep brown eyes. He was the one I initially thought was this pack’s alpha as he stood with Tyran the first time I saw him.
He immediately lifts his chin as I take him in, tilting his head to the side to offer me his neck in a show of respect and submission. My eyes widen at the gesture of the stranger, and we both just stand there for a moment, me staring in surprise, and him waiting to see if I’ll accept his action and calm the fuck down.
I straighten up, soothing my wolf and allowing her to settle in my chest as I push away the need to shift, to destroy and defend ourselves.
“I’m sorry, Luna. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was coming to get you to take you to Tyran,” he explains, and I try not to let my mouth drop open at the title of respect we both know I haven’t earned yet.
“I’m not your luna,” I correct, ignoring the goose bumps that crawled up my arms when he used the term.
“Yet,” he corrects, his gaze assessing and certain.
Feeling awkward, I shake my head, but he simply steps around me and gestures for me to follow. Fires burn low in the scattered pits spread out in front of the houses, and with no idea how to respond to this wolf’s confidence in me, I follow him.
“What’s your name?” I ask as we approach the treeline that borders the houses.
