Page 59 of The Fated Hunter Wolf

“Trail leads right here,” a voice called. Male, with an old-world accent. “Both of them.”

“Good,” another replied. “Master wants them breathing, but he didn’t say unbroken.”

I froze trying to read their signals, but Sable was already moving, getting to her feet in one fluid motion. “Fucking Blackwood crawling with vamps. Stay put,” she whispered. “Keep quiet.”

“Like hell.” I started to get up, but she pushed me back with surprising strength.

“You’re still weak. I’ve got this.”

“Three against one isn’t good odds.”

“It’s three against me,” she said, and something shifted in her expression. Something that made my wolf sit up and pay attention. “That’s not the same thing.”

Before I could argue, she was heading for the entrance, moving as silently as death across the cave floor.

That’s when I heard the first scream.

It cut off fast, followed by wet tearing. The cracking of bone. Another scream, higher-pitched.

Then nothing.

She came back a few minutes later, moving just as quietly as before. Something was different. She carried herself like a predator, every step controlled and deadly. As the fire flickered in front of her, she looked gloriously triumphant.

“Done,” she said.

“How many?”

“Three, as suspected.”

“All dead?”

“Yeah.”

I stared at her, trying to reconcile the woman who’d noticed I’d called her beautiful with whoever had slaughtered three vampires without breaking a sweat.

“How?”

She hesitated. “I shifted. A wolf form’s faster in some situations, and they were too close for full silver magic not to backfire.”

“That’s all?”

She moved toward me, that predatory grace still there. “That’s all.”

I could sense the lie. Whatever she’d done was more than shifting. More than any normal wolf could manage.

Suddenly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what she really was.

But I was damn sure I still wanted her.

The realization knocked the wind out of me. Despite the secrets, despite not knowing what she was, despite every rational thought telling me to run—I wanted her. It wasn’t just the physical attraction, though that was there, getting stronger every minute we spent together.

It was all of her. The deadly grace, the hidden softness, the way she’d risked everything for one stupid word.

Fuck.

“Sable. I meant what I said. I don’t care what you did out there, or what you’re hiding.” I reached out and grabbed her hand.

The moment our skin touched, something electric shot up my arm. Her hand was cool but soft, fitting perfectly in mine. I pulled her and she came willingly, her knees hitting the ground in front of me.