Page 85 of My Solemn Vow

Yeah, it’s safer in the kitchen where there are more sharp implements to defend myself.

The sun is starting to set, and Valor holds open the door tothe patio and yard. I don’t want to go, but he isn’t asking. It’s clear from his raised eyebrow and stern glare.

I follow, keeping the knife clutched in my hand between us as I walk by him outside.I’m not going down without a fight.

He starts pulling his shirt off.

“What are you doing?” I glance back to the door leading into the house.

I’m not naive enough to think locking him out would help me long term, but it could give me time to get upstairs to the gun cache.

“I know, Antonella. I can smell your fear. But there’s some arousal too. Afraid and horny...” He gives me a sultry smile. “Kinky, darling.”

“You can smell my fear and arousal?” I quirk an eyebrow and readjust the knife in my hand.

He nods. “Antonella, my family are wolf shifters. We date back to the —”

“I’mnotsorry. What?” The words come out before I can even stop them.

Okay, family of crazy people. Formulate escape plan. Berto will have a fucking field day laughing at me.

Valor undoes the button of his pants, and before my eyes, he changes. His body contorts and fur covers flesh, and then there’s a large black wolf standing on top of his dress slacks.

“Jesus fucking Christ.” I’m frozen in place, eyes locked on a massive wolf.

My phone is on the counter in the kitchen, which may as well be a mile away from me.

My mouth feels like it’s stuffed with cotton, and I can’t even make myself breathe. I don’t know how big wolves are supposed to be, but this seems larger than I thought they were. Educated guess says they’re not one of those convenient animals that follow the ‘if you don’t move, they can’t see you’ rule. No, that’sblack bears. Wolves have good eyesight.All the better to eat you with.

Really? I’m thinking about children’s stories. Fuck!

Apparently, my self-preservation is shit today because I should do something more than stand here.I should run. I should do something, right?

“Okay. Good...” I don’t know what to say. My words come out barely audible.

But it’s Valor? Would he want to hurt me? Is he even in there?

I’m lightheaded and have to will my brain to tell my lungs to breathe when I find that I’ve locked my knees. The knife falls out of my hand, clattering to the ground at my feet as the world spins.

I wobble, and the wolf moves, almost charging toward me. I gasp and stumble, trying to put one of the large deck chairs between us.

Oh, there’s the self-preservation button. For fuck’s sake, Antonella... right on time to fall and get eaten.

But Valor — the wolf known as Valor? — moves way faster than I expected. He’s there in an instant, steadying me on my feet. My fingers latch into the fur as I instinctively hang on to stand. The topcoat is coarse and not quite soft, but my fingers sink into the undercoat, and it’s cozy like down feathers.

I pull back the second that I’m steady.

My husband is a wolf, and clearly, the wolf is not planning to kill me or let me accidentally get hurt.

He stalks as I walk back around the chair and plop down in it. I cup my head in my hands, resting my fingers on my temples and looking at the brick pavers.Wolf. He’s a fucking wolf. Wolf.The computer of my brain still not quite catching up, I bounce between disbelief and shock.

Massive black paws come before me, and then I see a wet-looking black nose, and Valor lies down in front of me, looking up. Golden eyes stare at me. Like they were in the kitchen.

Like... Kerrianne at school. They’re both wolves. He said his family. Royal? Ian? Elizabeth?

I keep my eyes locked on him. They’re not expressive like a dog’s eyes are. It’s a flat look, like when Valor is unimpressed with something.

And then nervous laughter kicks in. I sit back, looking at him, and I can’t stop the giggles. “This is my fucking life. I’m forced into a marriage because apparently, I’m the only compassionate person in a massive feud. I protect someone else’s daughter on principle and come to find out I’m married to a dog.”