The Alpha Dire Wolf

“You loved it,” I said, giving her a wink as I slung the bag over my shoulder, using my free hand to pull open the door. “Oh, hello.” I spun at the unexpected voice, dropping the bag so I had both hands free. “Uh, pardon me,” said a man dressed in the utility shorts and…

I chewed on my lower lip, looking at him. My answer was clear. I had no idea what our future held, where it led, or even what I was. But Lincoln didn’t care. He knew my deepest, darkest secret, and it didn’t bother him. He still wanted me. Perhaps wanted memore because of what I…

Our hips ground together after that. Lincoln’s heaving breath was hot and humid against my neck and my chest. The sun lit his face and his arms, streaming in from behind me to keep him awash in a yellow glow as he thrust against me. Over, and over, and over. I struggled to breathe. He…

Lincoln listened and nodded. “You’re right. I should trust you. Let’s go.” His face and arms sprouted fur and he changed right in front of me, assuming the form of his giant wolf. Tossing his snout behind him, he stared me down. The intent was clear. Get on. I leaped for his back. Sylvie The…

Searching deep, I summoned every last bit of mental energy and hit it again. Louder. Harder. Woodchips splintered from its body, flying off into the darkness. It resisted. Then it leaned forward, throwing one arm up as a shield, and began to advance. My magic-superscream continued to crack and splinter the tree-thing’s skin. Pitch-black blood…

I left those words hanging in the air as I shifted back to my wolf form, saving Sylvie from having to answer as she climbed on. Once she was settled on top, and my wolf was finally calmed, I set off at an intermediate pace. There was no need to move at breakneck speed now,…

No.” Linc grew angry every time I suggested it. “I’m not leaving you, Sylvie. You’re my mate.” “But your pack needs you!” “So do you. At least you want me here.” I shook my head. “I never said I want you.” “You didn’t have to,” he said, stepping closer and running a finger along my…

The tree-thing came through the doorway, smashing the flimsy drywall and framing aside. Bits of dust and debris scattered everywhere as it stalked toward me, eyeless and silent, made of darkened wood that looked constantly slick with wetness. I couldn’t back up fast enough. It grabbed hold of my ankle as I tried to crawl…

There was no warning. The last drumbeat in my head faded away with the end of the word, and then the darkness I was staring at faded, congealing into two circles. One yellow-orange. The other cold, furious blue. The wolf was on us. It snapped the tree-thing’s arm from its body, ripping its fingers from…

But so will we. More will die before it’s done. Dwelling on that now would only make it worse. I had to keep my wits about me, my brain working, thinking, acting. The Chained had to know it couldn’t succeed with a frontal assault. Not yet. Though it held many minor creatures within its thrall,…