The Wolf's Surrender - By Kendra Leigh Castle Page 0,28

she was surrounded by those voices, men arguing over the best way to go about...something.

Need to go back and get the girl...

Full moon on Tuesday, going to be a problem if it doesn’t happen soon...

Don’t care if I have to kill twenty wolves to get to her, I will...

Then she was surrounded by another voice, one she knew all too well.

Mia. I can feel you. I’m coming back to get you, sweetheart. Nothing will keep me from you. I know where you are. The shadows are waiting. You’re the key...the key...the key...

A pair of red eyes opened in the darkness, not Jeff’s, but something far older, and infinitely more dangerous. When they fixed on her, she felt as though she’d been plunged into ice water.

“No!” She cried out as her body bowed upward, slamming back into reality with incredible force. It reminded her of the times she’d awakened from dreams when she’d felt like she was falling, except that this time was far more frightening, and she actually hit bottom.

Though her eyes had opened, it took Mia a few seconds to process what she was seeing. She was on her back on the floor, three very pale faces hovering over her. Something was gripping her hand so tightly that it was cutting off the circulation. And she was freezing.

Mia flexed her own hand gently, and Jenner’s grip relaxed, though not much. She began to shiver as warmth slowly returned.

“What happened?” he demanded. “Jesus, Mia, you’re like ice!”

Mia blinked, trying to organize her scattered thoughts and impressions into something coherent. Finally, she said, “I guess seeing him triggered...something. I heard Jeff. In my head.” She looked into Jenner’s eyes, and the anger she saw there steadied her. He had promised to keep her safe. In the midst of all the madness, she believed he would at least try his best to honor his word.

“More than one voice, though Jeff’s was the strongest. They were talking about looking for me, getting me before the full moon. And then there were red eyes...” She trailed off, shaking her head. “That was when I got cold.”

“Gaines had red eyes?” Kenyon asked, obviously confused.

“Son of a bitch,” Jenner said flatly. He turned an accusing look on Kenyon. “What kind of a picture did you show her?”

Kenyon glowered back. “This isn’t my fault. Her link to him is obviously strong. He’s out there thinking about her, she saw his face, and that’s all it took.”

Feeling slightly woozy, Mia sat up. As though he had only just realized he’d been hanging on to it, Jenner quickly withdrew his hand. Still, he stayed on one knee beside her, close enough that Mia could feel the warmth radiating from him. It was welcome...right now, she felt as though she would never be warm again.

“What is it? What just happened to me?” she asked.

It was Kenyon who answered her, getting to his feet and sparing Jenner a single, scathing glance before focusing back on her with eyes that warmed instantly with worry and compassion.

“A werewolf bite is a powerful thing, Mia. It links people together, just as the initiation ritual links the bitten to a pack. Usually both things happen at the same time, since we take pains to ensure those who join us are willing and understand the process. But Jeff Gaines only got halfway. You’re linked to him mentally, just as wolf packs are able to communicate telepathically...and through him, to others he’s bitten. But if he doesn’t finish what he started by the full moon, that bond will be broken.”

“I want it broken now,” Mia said with a shudder. “And whatever you mean about finishing what he started, I think you’re all still assuming he wants to keep me alive. He doesn’t. He just wants to be the one who kills me.”

“He won’t,” Jenner said flatly. “No matter what happens, and whether you’re right or not, you’ll be part of a pack by the full moon.”

“That’s when I’m supposed to, um, turn into a werewolf, right?” she asked, trying not to grimace at how odd the words felt rolling off of her tongue. “I understand why I have to join a pack, but not how. Is there some kind of ceremony?”

Mia looked at the three men surrounding her, saw the light blush on Kenyon’s cheeks and the way he suddenly refused to meet her eyes. Jenner still looked angry. And Bane...well, Bane’s handsome face was tinged with regret. That bothered her more than anything. Apparently, what she’d