by G. K. DeRosa
By the time we reached the exit, I was certain my zipper would burst open from the pressure. As much as it killed me, I had to sever this bond between us. It would bring nothing but continued suffering to us both.
Can we talk freely now? Sierra’s soft voice in my head startled me.
Let’s wait until we’re in the woods.
She nodded and I slid my hand from her arm to her lower back. She let out a shudder and I cursed internally. The mate bond was getting stronger by the day. The more time we spent together, the deeper it ran and the more difficult it would be to break. With the trials starting tomorrow, I couldn’t sever it now. I’d need our connection intact to protect her.
I hadn’t told Sierra yet, but Bea wouldn’t be the one breaking the bond. We’d have to travel deep into Maginaria to seek out a powerful high warlock. Severing the mate bond was not a simple procedure, and even a gifted witch like Bea wasn’t strong enough to complete the spell.
Sierra squirmed beneath my hand, and I could feel her wolf surging to the surface. She called mine, beckoning him to break free.
“Is it safe to run?” she asked, glancing up at me.
“I—Don’t you think we should talk first? About what happened in there?”
Her head whipped back and forth. “If I don’t run right now, I’m going to lose my mind, Hunter. I need to be free, to forget about everything. Even if it’s just for a little while.”
Invisible tethers tightened around my heart. She was going through hell because of me. The least I could do was protect her. Father already knew what she was, but still I didn’t think flaunting her wolf was the best idea. No one had been able to determine why she was purple or the reason for her odd glow.
Please, Hunter. Her wolf spoke in my mind, the beastly voice markedly different than Sierra’s. I couldn’t deny her.
“Follow me,” I muttered. “We have to stay deep in the forest. I don’t want anyone seeing you yet.”
“Fine.”
I quickened my pace, grabbing hold of Sierra’s hand. Excitement thrummed through the bond with our fingers interlaced. I refused to focus on how good her skin felt against mine, on how right she felt. She deserved more than I could give her, and I wouldn’t be selfish. I had to let her go.
Soon.
By the time we reached the deep woods, Sierra was breathless, her cheeks an irresistible shade of warm pink. My thoughts flashed back to the time we’d almost made love, before the curse kicked in and everything went to hell. She had been flustered, her cheeks the exact same rosy hue. Heat surged down to my lower half as memories of my thighs between hers filled my vision. For a moment everything had felt so right. I didn’t know how I’d found the strength to leave before claiming her as mine.
I shook off the thoughts, banishing them to the furthest corners of my mind. I could never have her like that, not without sealing the mate bond. And I refused to bind her to me, to a cursed man.
“Ready?” she asked. “I feel her. I think I can make myself shift this time.”
“Okay, let’s see.”
She lifted a brow, screwing her lips into a pout.
“Oh right, sorry.” I turned around to give her privacy but every single one of my senses went on high alert. The tug of fabric as she pulled the sundress over her head made me harden. I shifted uncomfortably, itching to remove my own clothes. At least with my back to her she wouldn’t see the proof of my overwhelming desire. Though I was certain she could feel it through our connection. Sometimes her lusty thoughts bled through the bond, driving me wild. I’d taken more cold showers since she’d moved to Moon Valley than I had my entire life.
Her scent filled the air, sweet magnolias and soothing lavender, and my nostrils flared. She was naked, and a hint of her excitement lingered in the breeze. Oh gods. I groaned, my hardness pressing against my tight jeans. “Ready?” I forced out.
“Almost.” Her voice held a jagged edge, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could fight my wolf from emerging.
From the corner of my eye, a faint glow caught my attention. I resisted the urge to spin around. “Sierra?”
Done. Her wolf echoed in my mind.
I whirled around and shed my clothes right in front of her. I wanted her to see me, which was just foolish. Her brilliant purple hue lit up the dark forest, her violet irises blazing as her wolfish gaze raked over me. I shifted in record time, my wolf so anxious to reach her. The moment I dropped on all fours, he raced toward her. My heart flared to life, pounding like mad within my wolf skin. These days I only felt alive when I was in this form. The curse had nearly killed me, deadened my emotions, stolen the joy in my heart, but somehow my wolf had been spared.
I nuzzled against Sierra’s white wolf, inhaling her heady scent. A soft rumble vibrated her entire body, and I leaned closer. If I hadn’t had such a strong hold over my wolf, he would’ve completed the mate bond by now. He longed for her so badly, it tore me up inside.
Sierra leapt up on her back legs and braced her front paws on my back. Come on, let’s run! She nudged me with her cold wet nose before jumping down and twirling in a circle, her tail wagging like mad. Come on, Hunter, I really need this.
Okay, but stay close. We can’t wander into pack lands. Not with you like that.
I promise. I’ll stick to you like a glowing, purple shadow.
My lips twitched. Let’s go.
To Be Continued in Wolfish: Curseborne releasing on August 3rd. Preorder it now! And don’t forget to join my Facebook group, GK DeRosa’s Supe Squad for your free prequel short story.
Also by G.K. DeRosa
Darkblood Prison (World of Azar)
Darkblood Prison: Demon On A Dime
Darkblood Prison: Demon Double-Agent
Darkblood Prison: Demon At Large
Darkblood Prison: Demon Dark Lord
Royally Hitched Series (World of Azar)
Royally Hitched: The Fae Prince
Royally Hitched: The Fae Twins
Royally Hitched: The Fae Princess
Darkblood Academy (World of Azar)
Darkblood Academy: Half-Blood
Darkblood Academy: Supernatural Slayer Squad
Darkblood Academy: Demons
Darkblood Academy: Prophecies
The Hitched Series (World of Azar)
Hitched: The Bachelorette
Hitched: The Top Ten
Hitched: The Final Five
Hitched: The One
The Vampire and Angel Wars (Stand Alone Series)
Wings & Destruction
Blood & Rebellion
Souls & Salvation
The Vampire Prophecy (Stand Alone Series)
Dark Fates
Dark Divide
Dark Oblivion
The Hybrid Trilogy (Spin Off of the Guardian Series)
Magic Bound
Immortal Magic
Beyond Magic
Magic Bound: The Hybrid Trilogy The Complete Collection
The Guardian Series
Wilder: The Guardian Series
Wilder Destiny
Wilder Revelation
Wilder Legacy
Wilder: The Guardian Series The Complete Collection
Acknowledgments
A huge and wholehearted thank you to my dedicated readers! I could not do this without you. I love hearing from you and your enthusiasm for the characters and story. You are the best!
A special thank you to my loving and supportive husband who always understood my need for escaping into a good book (or TV show!). He inspires me to try harder and push further every day. And of course my mother who is the guiding force behind everything I do and made me everything I am today. Without her, I literally could not write—because she’s also my part-time babysitter! To my father who will always live on in my dreams. And finally, my babies, Alexander and Stella, who bring an unimaginable amount of joy and adventure to my life everyday.
A big thank you to my talented graphic designer, Sanja Gombar, for creatin
g a beautiful book cover and to Samaiya Beaumont for the lovely Sierra wolf chapter headers. A special thank you to my dedicated beta readers/fellow authors Jena, Mary Ellen, and Lydia who have been my sounding board on everything from cover ideas, blurbs, and story details. And to all of my beta readers who gave me great ideas, caught spelling errors, and were all around amazing.
Thank you to all my family and friends, author and blogger friends who let me bounce ideas off of them and listened to my struggles as an author and self-publisher. I appreciate it more than you all will ever know.
~ G.K.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, G.K. De Rosa has always had a passion for all things fantasy and romance. Growing up, she loved to read, devouring books in a single sitting. She attended Catholic school where reading and writing were an intense part of the curriculum, and she credits her amazing teachers for instilling in her a love of storytelling. As an adult, her favorite books were always young adult novels, and she remains a self-proclaimed fifteen year-old at heart. When she’s not reading, writing or watching way too many TV shows, she’s traveling and eating around the world with her family. G.K. DeRosa currently lives in South Florida with her real life Prince Charming and their little royals.
www.gkderosa.com
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