Broken Bond - Callie Rose Page 0,60

bottom and at a disadvantage with his sheer brute strength.

Lawson’s teeth break through the skin and fur at Ridge’s neck. Then Ridge bucks and shakes him off, leaping away and skidding to a stop in the rising dust. The sight of blood on Ridge’s auburn fur makes me cry out.

Terror runs cold through my veins as the two wolves clash together and break apart, over and over.

My heart beats so hard I think it might burst from my chest. I’m terrified that Ridge will die by his brother’s teeth and claws, and I can’t help.

I can’t do anything, because it will automatically forfeit Ridge’s claim.

Ridge dives toward Lawson, but his brother dodges the attack. Then Lawson pivots on his massive paws and leaps at Ridge, catching him in the side before he’s able to fully regain his balance. The two wolves hit the dirt, and Ridge’s head bounces off the ground. His pained yelp shatters me.

Adrenaline and fear surge through me, a tidal wave of emotion that makes me lightheaded. As if from far away and outside my body, I feel the magic awaken beneath my skin.

Fuck. No!

Fresh panic makes my stomach turn to water.

I try to breathe deeply like Archer taught me, try to force down the emotions rampaging through my body.

But it’s too late.

My scars begin to grow black, and a split second later, inky smoke pours from my fingertips. I watch it happening with the same wide-eyed horror I’ve felt as I’ve watched Ridge in his battle. And just like with him, I can’t stop this.

Behind me, someone screams. The sound cuts over the yips and growls of the two fighting wolves, piercing my ears like a blade.

I’ve been seen.

21

Sable

The crowd around me stumbles away, more screams and cries rising up.

Archer, Trystan, and Dare press closer as if they can shield me from view. They’re bigger and wider than I am, so maybe that would be possible if my secret wasn’t so publicly declaring itself to anyone with functional eyes.

I cross my arms, trying to hide the black marks from sight. But even shoving my hands inside my shirt sleeves to stem the flow of black smoke doesn’t work. Thick swirls of it float around me, dark and wispy and completely out of control. All those days with Archer in the barn on East Pack lands didn’t do me any good. I lost control of my emotions watching Ridge in danger, and as a result, I lost control of the magic.

It’s too late to pretend. To cover it up or lie. Everyone knows, and a ripple of horrified unease is moving through the spectators.

The two massive wolves are still battling it out, oblivious to what’s happening for just a moment longer before they sense the change in atmosphere. They break apart, their noses lifting to the air, and Ridge’s gaze lands on me. His eyes widen, a low whine escaping his throat.

Not a soul moves for a long time. I can feel the weight of a hundred gazes on me, and they burn through me. Nearby, Amora’s mouth is open in horror, and across the circle, Elder Jihoon looks as if he’s seen a ghost. Guess your magic sticks were wrong, weren’t they? I want to scream at him.

The magic won’t fade—it stays visible, burned into my skin, branding me as a witch.

I want to assure the shifters around me that I’m not their enemy. That I never wanted this, I didn’t ask for it. But what good would that do? Even Dare, who at one point had feelings for me, had a hard time coming to terms with me being a witch. So why would these people who don’t even know me trust that I mean them no harm?

Right now, Dare looks as horrified as the surrounding pack, but he doesn’t leave my side. He places a hand on my shoulder despite the black marks marring my skin, and I can’t help the small flicker of relief at the feel of his heavy palm. He still struggles with what I am, but that single gesture tells me that he’s on my side.

I see the moment Lawson decides to make his move.

Maybe he spies a way he can hurt Ridge even more than by taking the alpha spot away from him. I can almost sense his plan—make the girl collateral damage, and it will not only hurt Ridge, but make him a hero by defeating the witch who infiltrated their pack.

The big blond wolf leaps at me,