The air seemed to breathe as the wolves circled the pair. Octavia didn’t dare move, though her limbs quaked.
An all-black beast, a head taller than the others, pushed through the pack. His orange eyes landed first on Flynn, then Octavia.
The dragon shifter lifted her head, and though she trembled, she looked him in the eye. The black werewolf, obviously the leader, was a predator. But so was she. They didn’t know she couldn’t shift, and she intended to keep it that way.
The dragon peered out through Octavia’s eyes, her attention curious but not on edge.You’ve found yourself some werewolves,she mused.Interesting.
Octavia stifled the growl rising within her.It would be more interesting if they didn’t look like they wanted to eat us.
Perhaps if you’d been paying attention, you would’ve heard them.
Gods above, Octavia hated it when the dragon was right.
She was saved from having to reply when the black wolf snarled. The sound echoed through the forest, and the hairs on Octavia’s neck rose. The other wolves yipped and pranced as a flash of white light burst from the wolf.
When it cleared, a tall shifter stood on two legs in front of them. He was naked. Very, very naked.
Octavia’s eyes widened, and blood rushed to her cheeks. She saw… everything. How could she not? He was standing directly in front of her.
My goodness,the dragon purred.
Not happening,Octavia returned.
She dropped her gaze only to find Flynn’s eyes on her. The weight of his stare caused her core to twist, and after a moment, she looked away.
“Who are you?” Octavia asked the werewolf, keeping her eyes on the ground.
A rumble ran through the wolves, likely because she dared to speak first, but it was the shifted man who growled, “You trespass on pack land and dare ask whoweare?”
Octavia gulped, keeping her hands where they could see them. “I’m sorry, we didn’t know.” At the exact same time, Flynn said, “We were just traveling through.”
Octavia’s heart was a pounding hammer. The weight of the werewolf leader’s stare was heavy, and she fought against the urge to bow her head to him. Reminding herself that she, too, was strong, she forced herself to breathe. To wait. To listen.
“The laws are clear,” the leader replied harshly.
Fuck. Octavia’s stomach dropped. Nothing good could come from the way the man glared at them or the violence that radiated from his aura.
The werewolf continued, “Trespassers on pack lands are subject to the Alpha’s judgment. Take them.”
Octavia cried out, and Flynn yelled as several flashes of white came from all around. The dragon shifter went to pull on her shift, Elders be damned, but before she could, something smashed into the back of her head.
Stars exploded in her vision, and then everything went black.
Octavia’s back ached.Actually, scratch that. All of her hurt. This was worse than the time she’d tumbled out of the tree andhurt her ankle. Everything, from her head to her feet, throbbed painfully. Did she think the teeny-tiny shack was horrible?
This was far worse.
Then she opened her eyes. A curse Grandma Gertrude would have despised poured from Octavia’s lips. She should’ve kept her eyes closed. Then she might’ve ignored this situation for a little while longer.
The dragon unfurled within Octavia. At least one good thing had come from all this. It seemed like the creature was no longer ignoring her.Where in the seven circles of hell are we?
Octavia groaned.Nowhere good, that’s for certain.
Iron bars surrounded her on all sides and rose above her head. The floor was cold and hard. Comfort didn’t exist here.
Her stomach twisted in knots, her eyes widened, and bile rose in her throat.
She was in a gods-damned cage, like a fucking animal. Her bag was at her feet, but her walking stick was nowhere to be seen.