front of Emma Kayla let off what sounded like a 'come and get it' growl endingwith a distinct snap of her teeth. The mottled gray wolf was pacing back and forth
looking for an opening to get past Kayla to Emma. A second wolf, this one a
sandy brown joined the gray. Emma doubted Kayla could hold them both off her
for long. The back door was only ten feet away from her on the wall she was
pressed against. But that ten feet might as well have been ten miles, there was
no way she could make it there before they descended on her.
Kayla turned her head and bit down hard on the outside of Emma's wrist.
She looked down at her hand, a thick river of blood running down her fingers
onto the porch. It didn't even hurt yet. Why was Kayla biting her? They were
friends. Then Kayla gave a little yip, and Emma knew. She wasn't trying to hurt
Emma, Kayla was trying to turn her so she had a shot at making it out of this
alive. Hoping this was finally her moment, tears slipped unchecked down her
cheeks. Thats when she felt it. Acid boiling in her blood, coursing through her
body. Every nerve was screaming, every single cell sizzling. She didn't feel a wolf
inside like she should though. Her body felt full of fire. Knowing it wasn't working
she crumpled to her knees. Kian was going to lose her. He couldn't keep fighting
if she died. He wouldn't make it. That was not acceptable, damn it! Getting really
pissed off at fate, Emma dragged enough air past the burning lava inside to
scream as she died.
Her scream ended abruptly with a howl as a russet colored wolf broke free
of Emma's skin. Shocked Emma shook her new body out. It worked? Hell yeah! It
worked. Seeing that Kayla had managed to push the two attacking wolves back
off the porch Emma jumped with her new body down next to her and growled.Damn, it felt good to be making that noise. These asshole's had tried to kill her,
they needed to be stopped. So she did, ripping the throat of the mottled one, who
smelled like Cathy to her newly enhanced senses, before it even knew what to
make of her.
Kayla was shaking the limp body of the sandy brown wolf before tossing it
aside. With a brush along Kayla's side as a thank you Emma took off for her
mate. Kian was in the thick of it battling it out with three big males. A light colored
one was biting into Kian's shoulder, and Emma latched her teeth onto his back
and yanked her head to the side ripping the enemy off her mate. The wolf leapt
up immediately lanching himself at her, using it's momentum she knocked it up
and over her. Not giving it another chance to attack she bit into its soft under
belly.
All the snarling and snapping ended abruptly, and Emma looked around.
There were only six wolves still standing including her. Kian looked beautiful,
golden wolf with silver eyes blazing. Lifting his head he let out a victorious howl.
The sound of his howl echoed through the yard and woods, reverberating off the
house back to them. It washed over her in comforting waves. The others tipped
their heads back and joined in. Helpless to stop herself Emma let the howl ring
up through her throat. It felt glorious.
Chapter 18
As the sound of the howling faded off into the trees, Kian looked at Emma,
really looked at her for the first time since the fighting began. He knew she had
been turned, had felt the fire through their bond. Her fur a rich russet color, face
lightening to a golden cream color. Like the rest of them her eyes were glowing
silver. And she had blood on her muzzle. Such a fierce mate. Newly turned and
she had fought with more experienced wolves, and won. Kian knew that he was
a lucky man, to have the love and loyalty of a woman such as Emma.
This was the pack now gathered around him. Not many were left. The
Decker siblings, Lex, Emma and Kian's crew member Jase. Nobody else had
stood for him. Kian knew that was thanks to the posion his uncle had spewed for
years. His pack may be small, but it was full of wolves that fought and bled
beside him. That didn't mean Kian wasn't feeling the loss of so many. Shifters
were a rarity, having to hide themselves from the world, and the inherent violence
of their lives kept their numbers slim. He wished today had gone differently, he
was hopeful it wouldn't have to end this way. These lives were more tragedies on
his uncle's list. Shifting back Kian ran his hands through his hair. The fight ended,
but there was still much to do today.
When everyone but Emma was standing on two legs again Kian walkedover to her. She was sitting there staring at her paws. Remembering how hard it
was to find your way back from being a wolf at first Kian knelt down in front of
her. "Imagine your wolf tucking back into you. Fingernails instead of claws, the
shape of your body, face instead of muzzle." When Emma whined softly at him
he shook his head understanding. "It won't hurt as much as turning did I promise.
Nothing will ever hurt as much as that." Kian waited patiently until the russet wolf
was his woman once again before standing up.
"Who turned you Emma?" He asked. When she shook her head instead of
answering him he turned to the others. "Who bit my mate?" This time pushing
power into the question.
Kayla angled her head down exposing her neck in a sign of submission. "I did
Alpha."
Taking the few steps over to his sister he said "Explain."
"I didn't see another option." Kayla answered eyes still downcast.
"There was a wolf trying to get to me Kian. While Kayla was fighting her a second
one came up cornering me. I couldn't get inside to safety." Emma said rushing
over to Kayla's side, gripping her hand.
"I knew I couldn't hold them off her forever. They weren't just going to bite her
Kian, they wanted to end her. Her chances were better
