Curves 'em Right(37)

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Blake said soothingly, trying to pacify Marcos’s agitation. “But she’s already accepted and we’ve already taken her as ours.”

“You— you what?” Marcos’s eyes widened. He swung at Kane, connecting with his jaw. The move was so unexpected that if she’d blinked she would have missed it. The sound of the hit was like a bullet being shot. A flurry of movement took place.

One of the men watching them jumped in, his body shifting into that of his wolf. He went for her brother. Oh, hell no!

She moved on instinct. The frustration Tom had fired up inside her escalated to a fever pitch. She growled and something new and strong moved under her skin. The sound of snarls, bones popping and a weird scream sounded so close to her she felt her stomach tighten. Her vision turned sharper. For a second it was as if life had slowed down while she tried to reach the shifter going for her brother. Her body ached and she swore she was going to fall flat on her face. But then she was moving faster. And things felt different. The air tasted crispier. She shoved at the wolf charging at her brother and she landed on the ground.

The wolf growled, turning his body to face Marcos again. It took her a moment to realize she was down on all fours now. Her instinct to fight the animal was calmed for a second when she glanced up at Marcos, Kane and Blake.

“What the fuck did you to her?” Marcos asked, his eyes wide with fear. “Oh, God, Dani. I’ll get you some help.”

She couldn’t figure out what the heck he was yelling about. Until she glanced down, that is. Furry brown paws had replaced her hands. She snarled. She’d changed. Dear God! She’d been able to take to the shift and had fur on her ass. There was no time to think about it now. Her focus returned to the shifter trying to get closer to Marcos.

“Liam!” Kane growled. “Stand down.”

But Liam didn’t stand down. He made another move for Marcos and she jumped the wolf. He tried to shake her off, but she dug her claws deep into his side.

Everyone yelled at the same time, but all she focused on was the jerk wanting to hurt her brother. She bit down on his ear, not sure why the taste of his blood didn’t disgust her or why she felt so much aggression.

“Stop, Dani. I need you to let Liam go.”

She heard Blake say the words clearly inside her head. As if he’d whispered them by her ear.

“No way. He’s just going to go for Marcos again.”

“He won’t. I promise. He’s one of our enforcers and he was only trying to protect Kane when Marcos hit him.” They continued their telepathic conversation while she bit down on the other wolf. There was a need to fight inside her. To show the other wolf that she was not going to allow him to hurt her family.

“Screw him. Doesn’t he know friends fight?” She continued to claw at the bigger wolf’s side.

He shook her off, finally getting her off him. She landed on her ass and got back up, ready to run for the animal again. He bared his teeth, waiting for her attack.

“Stand down, Dani. You’ve proven to them that you’re more than able to help us defend our pack.”

Defend the pack? What was he talking about? She’d been defending her brother. The wolf lowered his head, slowly creeping away from her.

“There. I’ve sent him away. Come back to us.”

She glanced up to where Marcos stood with a trench coat in hand, the front door thrown open behind him.

“I don’t know how to change back.”

“It’s easy, darling. Just tell the wolf you’re in charge and visualize your human body,” Kane said out loud.

She did that. Bones popped and fur receded. She glanced at her hands and she was back in her curvy body. A very naked curvy body. Kane helped her put on the trench coat so quickly she didn’t get a chance to feel embarrassed over being seen naked by so many people.

She glanced around and noticed the other people had gone, along with the wolf she’d been fighting. Tom lay on the ground, his eyes closed.

“What happened to him?” she asked, clearing her dry throat.

Marcos glared at Tom’s body. “He passed out when he saw you change.” He walked over to her slowly, his gaze studying her face with concern. “Are you okay?”

She could more than see his fear for her, she scented it. The amount of concern he had for her was dizzying. She smiled and threw her arms around his neck, hoping to soothe some of his anxiety. “I’m great, Marcos.”

“You’re sure?” His voice trembled with unease.

“Yes.” She moved back to stand between her men. “I’m happy.”

Marcos glared at both men and then sighed, his shoulders drooping. “If that’s the case then I’m happy for you. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”