by Nora Ash
But when I look back up, he is still looking right at me, his cool, gray eyes seemingly boring into mine.
I am vaguely aware that my mouth hangs open and that tendrils of sensation are running down my arms until my fingertips buzz, but mainly, I’m just quietly freaking out. Why the hell is he staring at me? He looks… angry. His nostrils flare and a small frown makes its appearance on his forehead.
This makes no sense. I am certain he doesn’t know me personally, and I’ve never written anything remotely exciting enough for a man like Leod to take notice.
It seems to dawn on him that he was meant to be talking right now, because he jerks his gaze away, smoothing the small frown as he resumes his speech.
I breathe a shaky sigh of relief at the loss of his attention, but I can’t stop my hands from trembling. I don’t understand what just happened—I don’t understand why he was staring at me, and I certainly don’t understand why my body is… is doing whatever the hell it is it’s doing. The buzzing in my tailbone seems to intensify for every shuddered breath.
My bewildered thoughts come to an abrupt halt when my abdomen suddenly contracts in cramps. I manage to bite down on my yelp of surprise and pain, stifling it to a grunt.
The woman next to me gives me a puzzled look, but no one else seems to have noticed.
Sweat starts to trickle down my forehead, and my hands now shake worse than ever. Oh God, what is this? I frantically go through everything I’ve eaten all day to gage if it’s a really poorly timed food poisoning, but I’m interrupted by another cramp low in my belly. I bite my tongue hard to avoid crying out, clutching my pen and now crumbled-up notepad as hard as I can until it’s over.
I have to get out of here, before I barf on someone. Once it’s finally over I scramble to my feet, doing my best not to make so much noise I draw any attention, and I manage to get to the passage that runs between the seated reporters before I have the next attack.
Only this time, it feels different. Instead of pain, an intense heat blooms in my abdomen. It’s so strong I have to lean over and brace my hands against my knees while I gasp. And then, it’s like something snaps. Inside of me.
I cry out as fluids rush from deep in my very core, and for a moment I think I am hemorrhaging. But the liquid that floods my panties and soaks through my skirt to make a puddle on the floor beneath me isn’t red. It’s clear.
I stare at it in uncomprehending shock for two full seconds, gasping for breath. What the hell?
A deep growl makes me look up, confused and embarrassed beyond belief. Everyone’s staring at me, and apart from the unwavering growl, you can hear a pin drop.
I catch Leod’s eyes as I desperately try to get a grasp on the situation, and freeze to the spot. His eyes are no longer cool gray but deep black, and his nostrils are flared. But he’s not the one growling. Movement from closer by catches my attention in time to see the big alpha cameraman toss his equipment to the ground so it breaks into a thousand pieces.
I gape at him, briefly wondering what on earth he’s doing, until I catch sight of his face. His nostrils are as flared as Leod’s, and his eyes pure black. And he’s coming for me.
The second he lunges, all hell breaks loose.
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Also by Nora Ash
FERAL SERIES
Obsession
Despair
Torment
* * *
ALPHA SERIES
Taken
Masquerade
Mated
* * *
ANCIENT BLOOD SERIES
Origin
Wicked Soul
Debt of Bones*
* * *
DARKNESS SERIES
Into the Darkness
Hidden in Darkness
Shades of Darkness
Fires in the Darkness
* * *
DEMON’S MARK SERIES
Branded
Demon’s Mark
* * *
MADE & BROKEN SERIES
Dangerous
Monster
Trouble