Marked by the Wolf (A New Adult Urban Fantasy)

by Lee Mae

  42

  “Go! Find her!” Lori was screaming at Sam. Taryn’s scream still echoed in his head.

  Ryan was still fighting Bec and Lori, both covered in Ryan’s blood. Bec had finally gotten his knife, driving it repeatedly into Ryan’s throat. But Ryan was still incredibly strong.

  “Go…we’ve got this.” Bec was waving him off, twisting the knife. Sam took one last look and then turned, bolting down the stairs and out into the street.

  Taryn was gone and his heart stopped. Then he heard the faint sounds of a fight, a body hitting the ground and a sound that turned his blood cold. The sound of laughter.

  He knew exactly where she was and he took off at a dead run. The alley was there before he realized it and he skidded into the narrow opening.

  Taryn was on the ground, the creature standing over her. She wasn’t moving but Sam had no time to do anything but hit the creature with all his force. It took both of them down, Sam rolling over with the creature, its stench washing over him.

  There was nothing he could do for Taryn except kill this thing. With more strength than he thought possible he threw the thing off of him, jumping to a crouch. Instantly he went for its neck, digging his fingers into the matted fur, finding the wound inflicted so many years ago.

  He dug his fingers into the creature’s neck, twisting, feeling fresh blood spurt from the torn jugular vein. The thing made a horrible gurgling noise, twisting feebly beneath him, waves of blood running over the ground, covering everything in a scarlet sheen.

  It was over, more quickly than he’d thought possible. He sat back, looking down at the ruined creature beneath him. The matted fur was wet, with rain and blood. Its chest drew one last shallow breath and then was still.

  Sam stood up, casting one last look over the thing. And then he ran to Taryn. She was breathing, but barely. He gently turned her on to her back, easing her upright. Her eyes opened and she looked at him.

  “Sam…” Her voice was just a whisper. “I knew you’d find me.”

  “Shhh…don’t talk. We need to get you to a hospital.” He tried to pick her up but she shuddered in his arms, her eyes rolling back in her head.

  “No! Taryn…” He shook her gently. “Come back to me…come on, Taryn. Open your eyes.”

  Her eyelids fluttered, but remained closed. He suddenly heard Bec’s voice in the alley and then his brother was beside him.

  “She’s not going to make it Sam. You’ve got to blood her, now. You’ve got no choice, brother.”

  Sam looked at Bec, crouched next to him, soaked in Ryan’s blood. “I…I can’t.”

  He looked back at Taryn. Her eyes were open and she was looking at him, her eyes glazing over, her body going limp.

  “Sam. I’m ready. Take me…please.”

  Sam nodded, stroking her cheek. “Bec…brother, help me. Hold her steady.”

  Bec held her against him and Sam pulled open her jacket and shirt. He’d never contemplated biting someone before. The hunters he’d killed he’d just savaged. This was different. Very different.

  Gently he turned her head, exposing her neck. He bent toward her, his teeth grazing her soft, delicate skin. With as much care as he could, he bit into her warm flesh. The coppery taste of her blood filled his mouth and he held himself against her a moment, gently licking the wound.

  He sat back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Bec looked up at him, brows drawn together.

  “She should start healing.”

  Sam pulled off his jacket wrapping Taryn in it. She was cold to his touch, the rain hitting her face. He rocked her gently, waiting for some kind of sign; anything that would tell him biting her had worked.

  After what seemed an eternity she stirred in his arms, her eyes opening.

  “Taryn...” Sam ran a gentle hand down her cheek.

  “Sam… am I going to be okay?”

  “Yeah, baby, you’re going to be okay. How do you feel?” He brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

  “Better. Weak…but better.” She closed her eyes for a moment, then spoke without opening them. “Sam?”

  He smiled. “Yes?”

  “Can you take me home now?”

  “Home?”

  “Home…with you. Where I belong.”

  Epilogue

  The full moon was still several minutes away. Taryn had been pacing anxiously for the last hour, complaining that her bones hurt, her skin didn’t fit anymore…all the classic signs the moon was exerting its pull on her, starting the change in her body.

  “I know, Taryn. I know. There’s nothing you can do. But if you relax, it will be easier.”

  Sam longed to take the pain away, to make this an easier transition, but he knew that wasn’t possible. Every human who was blooded went through this, their first time. He still went through it, each full moon, but he’d grown accustomed to that moment of pain, when his body was held for that briefest second between human and wolf.

  “I want my clothes off.” She was pulling at her t-shirt, almost frantic to get it off her body. He took the hem, pulling it over her head. He’d explained she’d need to be naked and was surprised by her sudden modesty. She’d insisted on remaining clothed, telling him she’d brought extra clothes for…after.

  She tugged her jeans down her legs, kicking them away in frustration. Sam took off his shirt and pants, the tug and pull of the moon stronger now, the thrill of imminent change running through his own veins.

  “Oh, fuck, Sam. This is happening now. I don’t…I’m not sure…don’t leave me.” She was standing in front of him, every muscle taut, eyes wide. He reached out, grabbing her hands.

  “I’m right here, Taryn. Look at me, just keep looking at me. Listen to me. Okay? It’s going to be okay.”

  And then it started. He watched in amazement as her body began to shift, his own body mimicking hers, bones elongating, muscles stretching. He saw her fangs extend as he felt the pain of his own tearing through his gums.

  Her hands were changing, the fingers contracting, the palms growing larger against his, her soft skin turning into the pads of a wolf paw. Her nails clawed against him, raking over his own leathery-skinned paw.

  She was still looking at him, her eyes still Taryn, the last human part of her. She lifted her head, opened her mouth and a sound forced its way between her lips. It was somewhere between a scream and a bark, and then, as the scream was taken over by a pure howl, she dropped to her knees.

  His own pain intensified and Sam threw his head back, releasing his own howl. He dropped on all fours and lifted his head.

  Across from him, standing on the carpet was the most beautiful wolf he had ever seen, sable fur touched with fire, amber and ruby highlights winking in the soft light.

  ***

  The pain was unbearable and she thought she was going to pass out. She wanted to scream, cry out, do something, but nothing worked. The bones in her arms and legs, her spine, everything was pulling, shifting, becoming something else. The rushing sound in her head grew louder, blocking out Sam’s words, blocking out her own thoughts. The only thing she registered was pain, intense and all-consuming. She threw her head back, her throat working convulsively.

  There was a sound, sounds, screams and barks and then a howl. It grew louder and she was dimly aware it was coming from her own mouth. The pain was too much and she fell, dropping to the carpet, expecting…

  It was gone. The noise, the pain…the unendurable pain. Gone. She felt…amazing. There was no other word for it. There was a brief instant where she wondered if she had died, but she felt far too alive for that.

  She was looking at Sam’s room from a skewed perspective, shapes recognizable but different, somehow. Things were gray, but sharp and clear, clearer than they ever had been.

  Taryn drew in a breath and blinked in surprise. Everything smelled, the air even had a scent. She wrinkled her muzzle, trying to take it all in.

  There was a noise beside her and she turned. Sam. She recognized him
instantly, the silky black coat and those beautiful silver eyes. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but the only noise she heard were her own whimpers and whining. She shook her head again.

  But then he rubbed against her, his body warm, sleek and powerful. He led her down the stairs, through the darkened house and outside.

  And then, in the moonlight, everything was perfect. It was just them, the two of them. And beneath the moon, they ran.

  The End

  Thank you for reading Marked by the Wolf. If you’ve enjoyed it, I hope you’ll leave a review. As an Indie author, especially now that there are so many of us, it’s hard to find readers, and so your reviews mean everything.

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