Page 15 of X-Clan The Origin

However, something had definitely been off about it. I just didn’t know what it was, and I really hoped it wouldn’t slow us down now.

“I’m going to try to be as gentle with them as I can,” I continued, telling her the full plan in hopes that it would make her more acquiescent to comply. “But we’re severely outnumbered, Riley. And it’s my job to protect you. Please remember that, okay?”

She snorted.

I wasn’t sure if that was a scoffing sound or one of agreement, but I chose to assume it was the latter.

If she wanted to survive, then she needed to trust me.

And I was done submitting to this fiery little redhead.

I had been assigned to guard her for a reason, and I took my job very seriously. As should she.

Some respect would be appreciated, I thought at her.

But I didn’t bother voicing it aloud. She’d made it clear from the beginning that she didn’t approve of my role.

I had no idea why.

And I wasn’t going to waste time now torturing myself by analyzing something only she could explain.

I rolled my neck, loosening my limbs, and gave my inner beast permission to take over. He eagerly agreed, shifting me to all fours in a graceful movement honed by almost a century of practice.

Much faster than Riley.

I was much bigger, too.

Something that became even more acutely evident as I stretched out beside her, preparing for our run.

Riley’s wolf openly appraised mine, her dark irises roaming over every inch of my light-colored coat.

My animal practically preened beneath her perusal, the beast starved for her admiration after spending so many months pining for her like some teenage pup.

Ridiculous.

I wasn’t sure what it was about this woman, but she constantly starred in my dreams.

And my darker fantasies, too.

Not the time,I told myself.Focus on running. We can play later.

I started forward at a trot, my ears attuned to Riley and the way her paws lightly brushed the concrete as she moved.Lithe and delicate.

Yet the female inside was all teeth. At least when it came to me.

Maybe this journey would be good for us—a way for her to realize I wasn’t her enemy. A way for me to figure out the source of her behavior.A way for me to prove my worth.

Worth for what, I wasn’t sure. But I wanted her to find me deserving of a chance.

It seemed like I’d spent the better part of the last few months trying to prove a point to her, only to be shot down at every turn.

Well, she couldn’t avoid me now.

She needed me.

And I intended to demonstrate my strengths in the only way I knew how—by leading.

The Infected around us ambled slowly in our direction, their lack of coordination confirming that they hadn’t fed recently. Most Infected maintained some form of natural instinct, which made some more dangerous than others.