Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Brux only cocked his head to one side, looking at her as though he was trying hard to understand her words…and failing.
The movement was heartbreakingly familiar—so much like Buck, the giant wolf she had first brought home—and yet now it terrified her because there was no sign he understood the meaning behind the words.
Kiera’s pulse skittered faster.
“This is worse than I thought,” she whispered.
Brux whuffed again, soft and uncertain. I hear you, the sound said, But I don’t know what you want.
She tried again, forcing herself to speak slowly and clearly.
“Out,” she said, making the motion with her hands. Then she pointed. “Dryer. Come on. Dryer.”
She repeated it twice more before something in his expression shifted. His ears flicked forward, and he gave a little rumbling sound low in his chest. Then, at last, he began to move.
Relief flooded through her and Kiera nearly cried.
“That’s it,” she praised him. “That’s right. Good. Good. Keep going–dryer. We need to get in the dryer.”
He rose from the pool with her still in his arms, water streaming from both of them. The sheer strength of him—even like this, half—lost and not fully sentient—still took her breath away. He lifted her as though she weighed nothing at all, cradling her against that broad furred chest while she pointed him toward the dryer.
The warm air chamber roared to life around them a moment later, sending spiraling gusts over their skin and through his fur. Kiera stood close—very close—keeping one hand braced against him the whole time. She hated to admit it but she was afraid that if she lost contact for even a second, he might simply dissolve into his beast forever.
Brux stood still and let the air whip around them, gold eyes fixed on her face.
Kiera stared back. They weren’t empty, those golden depths–not exactly. There was still something in them–some awareness. Part of him wanted to be pulled back to sentience–she was sure of it.
“Please, Brux,” she whispered. “Please still be in there–help me reach you.”
When they were dry enough, she took his hand.
It was larger than Brux’s human hand had been—broader, rougher, and claw—tipped now—but it still closed around hers with care.
“Come on,” she said softly. “Come with me.”
She led him to the bedroom.
35
KIERA
The familiar room looked strange to her now, all soft vines and silky sheets and warm glows, because suddenly it felt like the center of everything. Like whatever she did next would decide the rest of both their lives.
She was already naked, and Brux—what was left of his humanoid form—was naked too.
Kiera bit her lip and tried the most obvious thing first. She climbed onto the bed, then pulled him down with her.
Brux came willingly enough, kneeling in the middle of the mattress while the living vines shifted under his weight. His body reacted to her closeness immediately—both shafts hardening at once, heavy and hot against his furry belly, the larger one thick as her wrist and the shorter one tapered and glistening with pre—cum.
Kiera’s breath caught in her throat. Even now, even with panic beating against her ribs and fear making her hands shake, she couldn’t deny the rush of heat seeing him hard and ready stirred inside her.
He was beautiful in this form too–in a wild, terrifying way. The fur…the muscle…the sheer male force of him. Her pussy clenched, already slick with need.
Please work, she thought. Please, this has to work!
She straddled him first and pressed herself against him. Slowly, she guided the thick head of his lower shaft to her dripping entrance and sank down carefully, moaning as he stretched her pussy wide.
“Oh God, Brux… so big,” she gasped, taking him deep, her inner walls stretching to accommodate every throbbing inch.
He growled with pleasure–a rough animal sound. Then his hands came to her waist, gripping her hips and his own hips bucked up, slamming in deeper.
Kiera gasped as she rode him–taking all he had to give.
But his face didn’t change.
His eyes stayed gold–pure gold without even a hint of blue.
Kiera’s heart sank.
“No,” she whispered. “No, come on…”
She kept moving, riding him hard, grinding her clit against his upper shaft–chasing any sign of blue in his gaze. Her breasts bounced, her nipples tight and her pussy soaking his length with every bounce.
But though she was drawing closer to the edge, she saw no change in him. Nothing. Only the golden wolf—eyes watching her with growing heat and hunger.
And then, all at once, the answer came to her. Not the answer she wanted–the one she had been avoiding. The one he had told her plainly days ago when she had asked how Lykans truly Bond with their mates. The only permanent way to anchor his mind to sentience.
A Soul—Bond–he needs a Soul—Bond to bring him back–to keep him here. He’s too far gone–nothing else is going to work.
The minute she thought it, she knew it was true. Kiera went still above him, and her heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears.