whined in response to his deep, throaty one, but I didn’t have time for this. As I retreated along the front porch, he lowered his hand and I stared into midnight eyes so deep, I wondered what I’d find at the bottom. Broad cheekbones, square jawline, long stubble, and perfect, white teeth on show.
Wind swished through my hair, bathing me in his musky wolf and fresh woody notes.
Why did he smell so sexy?
Then, as if a truck had collided into me, Daan’s threat swirled on my mind. And in front of me stood a stranger with an unfamiliar scent. A wulfkin I didn’t recognize. He didn’t belong to this pack.
I studied him ... his furrowed brow, the way he watched me, and the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Dread gathered in the darkest corners of my mind as I stood face to face with danger. He wore a hoodie underneath a fitted winter coat and perfectly cut jeans. When I noticed the stranger’s duffel bag near his feet—black with the silver word Fetched printed just below a pair of antlers—I lost the ability to speak. That brand was Danish ... Daan’s favorite.
Every piece of the puzzle fell into place. The letter from Daan. The sudden appearance of a stranger. Me, caught. My mind sputtered, failing to formulate a thought. Daan had sent this wulfkin for us. Again. And by the looks of this one, I doubted I could win against him, but I’d fight until I couldn’t move to save my daughter.
I scanned the surroundings, expecting Daan to burst out from the woods any second. The sky was charcoal black from the building storm clouds, and the harbinger of gloom seemed to watch me.
Double damn. I’d been wrong to ignore my wolf’s warning earlier today. Her constant stirring and unease had been a premonition.
“Miss, are you all right?” He stepped closer with a hand outstretched toward me. A red bruise formed on his forehead.
“Don’t.” I reeled backward, gripping the shopping bags. “Who are you?”
He ran a hand through his dark blond hair and studied me in a nonchalant way as if the situation were somehow funny.
“What are you doing here?” The words scraped my throat raw. Like he would tell me now. No, he’d wait until he had Tianna; then Daan would call, gloating. I couldn’t let my guard down.
“Visiting? What’s your name? Do I know you?” I trembled.
The stranger stood there; his brown snow coat did zilch to conceal his muscles. I had no chance against this wulfkin. At least the last guy Daan sent hadn’t been built like a train. Run. Get Tianna and escape.
I recoiled near the verandah, shadows writhing amid the trees across from the building. Returning inside the store would draw Henri into my troubles. The problem wasn’t my safety, but Tianna’s.
“Stay away from me. Understand?” I hurried onto the road, snow crunching beneath my quickened footsteps. How could this have happened again? I’d been so careful, told no one where we’d settled. How had he tracked us? What if Daan had sent more than one wulfkin this time? My gut clenched so hard, I suppressed a whimper. What if the other guy was already after my daughter? Hunting her?
Behind me, the stranger hadn’t moved. He tilted his head, eyes narrowed, as he watched me.
No one was taking Tianna. My chest squeezed tight with anxiety.
Bags tucked under my arms and resolve strong enough to withstand a hurricane, I sped as fast as possible without attracting attention. My boots sloshing through the snow. I had to put distance between me and the center of town.
Tall, hulking birch trees flanked the narrow road as if they were guardians. I grasped for the flashlight from my handbag with a shaky hand. The beam penetrated the blackness, guiding me along the narrow path in the woods. I’d walked this passage for the past eight months and knew it better than the streets of Denmark. Though, tonight the journey felt treacherous, every shadow a promise of someone leaping out to attack me.
Strong winds whistled through the woods, and snow plummeted, claiming everything in its grasp. The sky rumbled and night tightened around me.
Uncontrollable shivering made it difficult to glance over my shoulder without appearing conspicuous, all the while expecting to see the strange wulfkin. Branches and trees swayed, some limbs almost touching the ground as the storm roared overhead.
My breaths hitched. For the moment, Tianna would be fine where she was. Anja wouldn’t let anyone take her. But we couldn’t stay here. Not now.
Go home, pack, and collect Tianna. We leave tonight.
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Find more Mila Young books.
Shadowlands
Shadowlands Sector, One
Shadowlands Sector, Two
Winter’s Thorn
To Seduce A Fae
To Tame A Fae
Wicked Heat Series
Wicked Heat #1
Wicked Heat #2
Wicked Heat #3
Elemental Series
Taking Breath #1
Taking Breath #2
Gods and Monsters
Apollo Is Mine
Poseidon Is Mine
Ares Is Mine
Hades Is Mine
Haven Realm Series
Hunted (Little Red Riding Hood Retelling)
Cursed (Beauty and the Beast Retelling)
Entangled (Rapunzel Retelling)
Broken Souls Series Co-write with C.R. Jane
School of Broken Souls
School of Broken Hearts
School of Broken Dreams
School of Broken Wings
Fallen World Series Co-write with C.R. Jane
Bound
Broken
Betrayed
Belong
Beautiful Beasts Academy Co-write with Kim Faulks
Manicures and Mayhem
Diamonds and Demons
Hexes and Hounds
Secrets and Shadows
Passions and Protectors
Ancients and Anarchy
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About Mila Young
Best-selling author, Mila Young tackles everything with the zeal and bravado of the fairytale heroes she grew up reading about. She slays monsters, real and imaginary, like there's no tomorrow. By day she rocks a keyboard as a marketing extraordinaire. At night she battles with her mighty pen-sword, creating fairytale retellings, and sexy ever after tales. In her spare time, she loves pretending she's a mighty warrior, walks on the beach with her dogs, cuddling up with her cats, and devouring every fantasy tale she can get her pinkies on.
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