Twice The Growl - Milly Taiden Page 0,31

jumped to the right and turned, kicking Keya’s wolf with her brand new hind legs. She kicked as hard as she could and it seemed to work. When she turned, she saw Keya’s animal sliding on the dusty clearing.

“You think you can beat me?” Keya spoke through some kind of animal link.

“I am not trying to beat you. You’re the one that doesn’t know how to understand that Connor and Theron don’t want you. Why don’t you stop? It doesn’t have to be this way.” She tried to reason with the other woman.

“No.” She growled and made a leap for Tally again. This time she managed to dig a claw right into Tally’s side.

“Fuck!” Pain shot all down her side, igniting the fury that pushed for her change.

The wolf within wanted to be in control. There was no other way. Tally allowed the beast free rein.

It was like watching a movie. She was doing things but no longer in control. The wolf in Tally was angry, hurting and not willing to give Keya another chance to back down. She didn’t try to push off the other wolf. She went right for her. Keya appeared shocked and was caught off guard when Tally clawed at her muzzle and snatched up one of her paws in her mouth. She crunched down, breaking something in the process.

Keya scratched back. She kicked and fought to push Tally off. Her angry efforts served for Tally to release the paw and dig her claws into Keya’s side. Tally bit down on Keya’s tail and yanked her back.

Keya howled in pain. Another round of gasps went around the clearing. Tally’s animal was bent on revenge. She eyed the other wolf as Keya tried to turn with a broken leg. Tally jumped on her back and bit down on the neck area her animal knew to go for. Keya was no longer in control. The tighter Tally squeezed her jaw on Keya’s neck, the louder Keya howled.

Death and killing was not in her. She might be a bitch, bitter and angry, but she wasn’t ready to take anyone’s life.

“Let her go, Tally,” Theron whispered softly in her mind.

“You don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to,” Connor added.

Tally released the injured wolf and took steps back until she stood between both Theron and Connor. The wolf inside her retreated at that point and her body took control once again. Limbs shifted. Connor and Theron helped her stand in front of the crowd.

Connor wrapped a blanket over her shoulders. “Sorry about your clothes, love. But it happens when you shift. You tear through things.”

She nodded. Her throat was dry and she needed a bath. A nice long hot one.

“This is our third,” Theron said, his voice steely. “The next person who wants to challenge her will deal with me directly.”

Aura stepped forward. “There is no need for any challenges. We have not seen a human take to the wolf so quickly and aggressively. Clearly she is the right one to help you lead.”

Tally cleared her throat. Keya was dragged from the site, still in her wolf body. Tally hadn’t thought someone would dislike her just because she hadn’t shown enough aggression. In her human life, she’d always been told she was too aggressive and bossy. Her life had changed to something so different she didn’t know if she would ever understand it fully.

The crowd glanced at her and her men. Then they tore through their clothes and shifted. The large number of wolves would have scared her at any other moment, but instead, made her curious.

“What are they doing?” she asked.

The wolves huddled close and one by one lowered their muzzles to her feet. When they were all done, they scampered into the woods.

“They were showing you their loyalty. For a wolf to lower its head, they have to feel you are the stronger party. You’re their Alpha now.”

It took her a moment to realize the extent of his words. She shook her head and decided she had way too much to adjust to before she thought about that.

“Show me to a shower.” She wrinkled her nose. “I ache and stink.”

“You got it, beautiful. After that performance you deserve anything you want.” Connor winked.

“Look at you, all blood thirsty. Who would’ve thought you had it in you.” She laughed.

Tally sat back on the picnic blanket and watched the sunset over the horizon. Theron lay to one side of her and Connor to the other. For the past