Darkest Wolf(10)

Do you think I’d be hanging around with a person who had as dark a soul as you claim to have?

He ignored his wolf, padding forward until he could bump Elizabeth with the top of his head. She jerked backward before righting herself. Her breathing picked up. Rex could hear the loud thump of her heart in her chest as her blood swooshed quickly through her veins. Rubbing against her, he willed her to relax. I’m not going to eat you.

“I should hope not.” Elizabeth gasped and covered her mouth for a moment. Finally, she pointed at him as if her finger could accuse him of all kinds of atrocities. “You spoke in my head.”

Yes. I did. He walked in a circle around her . It’s a mate thing.



“I don’t like it.”

Rex scratched at his ear. I don’t really care. How else could I communicate with you like this?

“It’s creepy.”

Actually, Rex kind of liked it. Pushing his thoughts into Elizabeth’s mind made him feel warm inside. Most of the time he wondered if he’d been born on the wrong planet.

But if he could be in her this way, then perhaps he wasn’t alone. Please pick up my clothes so we can get going.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she moved on quiet feet to pick up his discarded wardrobe. “Do I just climb on?”

He nodded. She walked toward him. “You’re huge. You’re aware of your size, aren’t you? Wolves are not supposed to be as big as you are. How do you ever blend in with the indigenous populations?”

The indigenous populations of wolves? He couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice.

“Don’t make fun of my word choice. You get what I’m trying to say.” He did but it seemed a really random question. People see what they want to see. In general, we try to avoid being around humans when we are running as wolves, unless they are part of our pack. But, my brother Tristan had to live for a time as a wolf in a zoo. No one questioned his size. To think he wasn’t what they thought he was would be too much for most people.

“That makes sense.” Elizabeth hoisted herself up, swinging one leg around his back as if to ride him like a horse. She shoved his clothes between herself and the fur, lodging it in so the clothes didn’t move. Rex grinned at her ingenuity. She liked to fix problems.

“I still don’t understand the whole ‘getting your wolf at puberty’ thing. Can you explain it some more?”

I’d really rather hear about your witch problem and the curse.

He took off running in the direction of the hospital. His nose could smell the chemicals, the cleaning products, and the distinct aromas of life and death even as far away as they were. In this case, his extra-heightened sense of smell would prove to be good for them. He didn’t have to wander around looking for help. His nose told him exactly where it was located.

Elizabeth sighed. “I’ve never been able to talk about it with anyone.” Talk about it with me. He wasn’t going to let up on this. She was, like it or not—

although he liked it more and more—his mate. He needed to protect her. Then he had to get her home so she could do whatever witches did and stop his father from being able to send his minions to the island at will. He hadn’t forgotten his mission and, for once, he wouldn’t fail.

“My mother was the head witch of our coven. A member of our family had always been in charge, starting about a hundred years ago.” She sighed louder this time. “I thought we were pretty well liked.”

What happened? Were covens hereditary? Did Elizabeth automatically take over after her mother? It was hard for Rex to imagine Elizabeth being in charge of a coven.

The woman’s magic seemed pretty miniscule. Unless she was simply less powerful than the rest of her family. He could certainly understand not quite living up to expectations.

“Some new witches moved to town.”

What town?



“I feel like I’m under some kind of investigation here. Are you going to let me tell the story or aren’t you?”

He growled, and she tugged at his fur, making him wince. Yes, she was on his back and she had fingernails which stung. Best not to forget. Continue. Please.

“My family has always lived in Key Biscayne. It’s off Miami.” Florida. Rex had always hated Florida. He was really better suited for cold weather.

The fur made heat almost unbearable and he had to shift at least once a day or he got twitchy. Okay. He couldn’t focus on heat at the moment because Elizabeth continued her story.

“The family who arrived was very powerful. My mother had always been about inclusion and she brought them into the fold immediately. Shortly after, with an amazing amount of cunning and ability, they managed a coup and took over the coven. My family and our supporters tried to fight back. But then they cursed me to look like this.” Rex still hadn’t seen what she looked like to others. The way her voice lowered when she talked about it made his heart clench. This woman who had done this to her would pay. He would see to it personally.