“Whoa!” I’m on my feet and jumping back but she’s already lunging at me again.
I feint right, then left, amazed at her speed and agility. Most women wouldn’t have been able to get a weapon anywhere near me, but she’s managing to come within inches of my face every time she swings.
“Stop smiling, you egotistical psychopath!”
The venom in her tone has me smoothing my expression. I honestly hadn’t realized I’d been smiling at all, but considering the relief I feel at the feisty side of Brianna returning, I’m not surprised at my response.
“Can you put it down?” I ask calmly.
But she just swings more. “Why? So you can attack me again?”
She’s inching toward the door. With each swing she makes, she’s also taking a step. I know she intends to make another escape, except this time, I don’t think she’ll stop.
Another arc of the firewood has it careening toward me. Instead of jumping back, I grab it mid-air. The force of my interception makes her teeth chatter, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to wrestle it free.
But I don’t let go. Instead, I close the distance between us until my other arm wraps around her waist and brings her flush against me. “Let go.”
My quiet command doesn’t have any effect on her. Instead, she thrashes and kicks, landing more well-placed blows against my shins.
I grunt but hold onto her and call up the dominant power inside me. “Brianna!” My voice is firm and rings with magic, heady with alpha power. “Let. It. Go.”
Her body goes stock-still, and I curse that I called on my magic to command her. A part of me is surprised that it worked on a human, but since it works on all supernaturals, I know I shouldn’t be that shocked.
Whatever the case, I take the wooden stick from her and throw it back with the rest of the firewood. It makes a hollow thwack when it lands on the floor.
I wrap my other arm around her, holding her captive. She struggles again, trying to push against me, and the feel of her warm body pressed so intimately against mine makes something else stir inside me. Something I haven’t felt in a very long time.
I abruptly let her go.
That’s a mistake.
She runs for the door, my short hold on her with my dominant power dispelling. With a sigh, I give chase and feel hesitantly for the beast.
But he’s still curled up inside me, letting me know that he has no intention of making another appearance anytime soon. At least with this chase, I won’t have to worry about him resurfacing.
Chapter 8 – Brianna
What the hell was that?
Branches scratch my face as I sprint wildly through the trees. Not only did Collin’s psychotic wolf almost kill me, but he commanded me in a strange voice that brought goose bumps to my arms while electrifying my nerves. My entire body had gone still, my grip on the stick slipping. I’d wanted to hold onto the firewood, needed to if I wanted to keep fighting him, but it was as though my brain had other ideas. I’d let go, just as he commanded, and I’d been helpless to resist.
Fucking psycho! I don’t even want to know what kind of weird werewolf mojo he just used on me.
I breathe deeply, and the rhythmic feel of my legs pumping beneath me helps quell some of my panic, but then images of being attacked by his vicious wolf surface again. I’d felt certain I was going to die when his fangs latched onto my throat.
That memory fortifies me with speed.
I leap over a log and know what I have to do. Despite Collin claiming he’s going to take me home, I’m not falling for it. Even though he’s been acting like he cares about me and won’t hurt me, I know I can’t trust him. Because if he did care about me, he wouldn’t let that terrifying wolf of his try to murder me.
Besides, for all I know, he and his wolf carry the same conscience, and Collin’s just toying with me in some big fucked up cat-and-mouse game. He’s probably laughing at me right now.
But what about how he talks to himself? Memories of him in the car, carrying on conversations, as if he’s talking to his wolf, fill my mind.
Okay, so maybe they don’t share the same conscience.