Forever by Rebecca Royce Page B

shrieked as her rescuer tore at its throat. She’d grown up hunting with her family in the woods. Violence did not frighten her, but this did. This fight with the Dragon was not akin to taking down prey in the woods. This time she was the prey and if the Wolf didn’t win, she’d be dead.
    The second Dragon swept down from the sky and the brown Wolf leaped up to meet it. Behind her, she could hear others howling. Help was on the way, but it wouldn’t get there fast enough. The scent of her rescuer swept past her. She whimpered. Gods, she knew what she smelled. It was Devin. He’d shifted!
    Devin wrestled with the second Dragon in the air. The green monster twisted midair, trying to drop Devin onto the ground, but he dug in, growling. Lena wasn’t certain how much time passed as she stared openmouthed at the scene.
    Finally, Devin got ahold of the creature’s throat.
    It screamed louder than the first one had as it dove for the ground, Devin still attached to its esophagus as he tore the skin from its body. Her heart beat fast against her ribs and elation poured through her veins. Devin fought magnificently.
    Seconds before he would be crushed by the momentum of the plunge to earth, he let go, jumping to the left to land on his feet instead of under the dead Dragon.
    The green beast let out one last groan as it hit the ground with a loud thud .
    Devin stood panting as he stared at the Dragons in front of them. She rushed forward and rubbed up against him. A deep whimper escaped from her throat as her tongue bathed his face. She could feel herself shaking.
    What he’d just done…It had been…She couldn’t form a coherent thought.
    Devin shifted, reaching down to stroke the top of her head.
    “It’s okay, little Wolf.” His voice sounded half man half Wolf. “You’re safe.
    Change back, Lena.”
    She tried and found she couldn’t. Her whole body shook, and she leaned down on the ground worried her knees would give out. He bent over, stroking her fur.
    “You can do it. I promise you can. It’s just the adrenaline. Fight it.”
    Like he’d ordered her, she forced the alteration. Her body struggled, breaking her bones until they reformed in her human shape. She came back into her body screaming.
    Devin’s arms were around her, scooping her up. “I’ve never been so afraid in my life as I was when I saw you get scooped up.”
    “I’m still pretty afraid.” She rolled until she could wrap her arms around his neck. “You did it, Devin.”
    “I did.” He carried her past the Wolves gathered around the dead Dragons.
    “Burn them.” He spoke to the group as he walked by. “They can smell their dead.
    Others might come looking for them.”
    “Aren’t you going to…?”
    Devin pinched her arm, making her yelp as he interrupted her. “The only thing
    I’m doing right now is bringing you back to my room.”
    “Devin, everyone is looking. You can’t just carry me into your house.”
    “Everyone,” he called out. “I’m taking my mate inside. If anyone has a problem with it, they can take it up with me tomorrow.”
    “Your mate?”
    “Quiet, Lena.” He ordered her and she hated to admit she liked the sound of his voice when he was being so dominant. “I’m on edge. I thought I was going to lose you.”
    He took the steps two at a time entering his house. She looked down. He hadn’t limped at all. “You’re fixed.”
    “The shift did it.”
    “How did you…?”
    “We’ll talk later.” He rounded the corner and almost collided with his father.
    “Hi, Dad. Lena’s my mate. We’ll see you in the morning.” He slammed the door to his room, letting it bang behind him.
    “You just let your father know what we’re going to do in here.” Horror lodged in her throat. Whether she liked it or not, she’d been raised to be old-fashioned.
    “He already knew. Trust me.”
    He dropped her down on the bed, looming over her. In two seconds, he’d ripped her shirt from her body. “Terrified. You