River Wolf(90)
“Sense when the wolf is in distress?” Brett had heard Hatcher say it enough when he’d needed Brett to settle someone down after a grave injury. When the body went into shock, a wolf’s animal side could and sometimes did take over. A wounded animal was difficult for even a powerful healer to contain.
“Yes.” The kid bounced excitedly and they both looked at Colby.
Shock had dilated her eyes, but they were still perfectly amber. No gold sheen. Her wolf should be asleep…
“Even now?” Brett checked with the child. “You can feel her wolf is in distress?”
“Yes. It’s why I came. I—” He reddened down to the roots of his hair. “I know I’m not supposed to sneak away, but the Hunter was talking to my parents about the Call and they were arguing.” Shame rolled off him in waves.
Colby reached over and clasped Trent’s hand again and covered it with her own. Her need to comfort even suffering her own confusion and upset offered without any reservation filled him with pride and admiration. Unwilling to let the moment pass without acknowledging it, he covered their joined hands with his. The power surge hitting him and his wolf rocked him. He felt his eyes change and though his skin didn’t sprout fur, he could feel it rolling over him as though his wolf surfaced over the top of him and the animal looked at Colby.
Wolf gazes colliding, Brett understood what the wolf—no wolves—were about to do before he did. “Shift.” The word pressed past his clenched teeth and she screamed. The animal within fought to free itself. Back rigid, Colby threw her head backward as though every muscle in her body locked too tight. The spine splitting wrench pulled Trent with her and the boy’s eyes widened, but he didn’t let go. Brett’s hand seemed fused to the top of theirs as power pulled from his pack and from them filtered like wildfire. The summons even more powerful than what he’d sent out earlier.
An Alpha’s Call could not be ignored. Trent broke free and shifted on his own. Colby’s right arm twisted and Brett forced himself to release her. Riding the wave, he shoved the table out from behind him then cleared the furniture. The stone floor was a problem.
When she wrenched sideways, he seized her and carried her to the grass. Every second his hands were on her, electricity zinged through him with flashes of pain. Unwilling to hurt her any longer than necessary, he set her down. She continued to twist, writhing as her skin rippled. Throwing a glance to Trent who tried to ease forward with low sounds of distress escaping his throat, Brett dropped to one knee and ripped off her clothes. Getting them out of the way had to help.
A crunch of bone warned him and, though he understood the sounds, he flinched inside. Colby’s wolf wanted out and they’d given it the strength and shown her the way. Staying close, he fought the urge to hold her. Holding her wouldn’t help, but his wolf pushed forward. Throwing his head back, Brett joined his wolf and howled. The Call resonated, his pack answered.
From Pennsylvania through New York to New Jersey and Connecticut, his wolves answered. He’d shared his strength with them and they returned it threefold. When Colby looked at him with terrified eyes, he met her gaze and held him.
“I’m here,” he swore to her. “You can do it.” He wouldn’t abandon her. “Don’t fight each other.” Then it dawned on him, the right words. They’d been there the whole time. “Colby,” he whispered, leaning closer as she strained. “The wolf needs your help. Help each other.”
Something clicked inside him and her scent changed, redoubled and suddenly with a final cry, she changed. Her skin slid away and her bones and muscles reassembled themselves and fur sprouted. The horrible moment of indecision passed and her wolf stood under the starry sky for the first time.
The animal let out a low sound, and when Brett reached out to her—she bared her teeth and lunged for his throat. Catching her scruff, he narrowly avoided her teeth. Colby he would be gentle with, Colby he had patience for—the wolf however? Her, not so much.
Lifting her from the ground, he exerted his strength and locked gazes with her. She would yield. Another snap, but his wolf brooked none of it. When she ceased struggling, he lowered her to the ground. She stumbled a moment, then turned on Trent and snapped at him.
“No.” Brett’s power washed out and the wolf snarled. She paced away from him, then back. Every time her gaze collided with his, she lowered it. Lunging away suddenly, she raced toward the trees. Brett didn’t have to take a step. The wolves stepped forward. Every member of his pack in the area surrounded them—including Luc. A brute of a brown haired wolf with a noticeable limp. He’d gotten his wish to shift. The brute snapped at her, sending her back to Brett. No anger or malice marked the action, so Brett forgave it.