The Omen of Bloodwood

2

Chapter Two

I did not stay to watch Kaelen grovel. The moment his knees hit the snow I turned and ran. My bare feet tore through the frozen woods. The raw physical power surging through my veins was intoxicating. I was not cursed with magic or some mystical disease. I simply possessed the dominant bloodline of a True Alpha. The suppressants they fed me all those years had finally burned out of my system the second the mate bond broke.

A furious roar shattered the quiet night. Kaelen.

His howl was filled with possessive rage. He realized his mistake. He realized he just threw away the strongest female in the territory. But it was too late. I was never going back to that abusive hell.

I pushed my legs faster. The border to the Obsidian Ridge territory was only a mile away. If I crossed the river I would be out of his lands. Snow whipped my face but I did not feel the cold anymore. My blood was boiling.

Heavy paws thundered behind me. Kaelen had sent his elite guard. Three massive wolves burst through the trees snapping their jaws at my heels. I was fast but I was still in my human form. I had never shifted before. The biggest guard lunged. His claws shredded the back of my thin shirt.

I screamed and stumbled tumbling down the steep riverbank. I crashed hard into the icy water.

The three guards skidded to a halt at the edge of the water. They bared their teeth preparing to jump down and drag me back. I scrambled backward clutching my bleeding shoulder. I was trapped.

Then the shadows on the opposite bank moved.

A wolf the size of a bear stepped out of the dark. His fur was pure midnight black. His eyes were molten gold. He exuded a raw lethal dominance that made the air heavy and hard to breathe. The three Bloodwood guards whimpered and immediately dropped to their bellies in complete submission.

The black wolf ignored them. His golden eyes locked onto me.

The second mate bond snapped into place. It was ten times stronger than what I felt with Kaelen. It was a violent explosive rush of pure heat and intense desire. My core throbbed. A heavy wet heat pooled between my thighs making me squirm against the freezing rocks. My breath hitched. The scent of rain and crushed mint completely overwhelmed my senses.

The massive beast stepped into the freezing river. As he waded toward me his body began to change. Bones cracked and reformed. Fur melted into smooth tanned skin. Within seconds a man stood before me. He was completely naked and incredibly gorgeous. Thick muscle corded his chest and arms. Water dripped down his carved stomach drawing my eyes lower. He was perfectly formed and dripping with raw masculine power.

I swallowed hard unable to look away. The sheer size of him was intimidating but my wolf was practically purring. She wanted him to take us right here in the water. He was my second chance mate.

He knelt in the shallow water right in front of me. The heat radiating off his bare skin warmed the freezing air. He reached out with a large calloused hand. His knuckles brushed against my cheek. A jolt of pure electricity shot straight down to my toes.

"Mine," he growled. His voice was a deep gravelly baritone that sent a wicked shiver straight between my thighs.

"I am Torin," he said his thumb tracing my lower lip. "Alpha of Obsidian Ridge. And you are trespassing on my lands little wolf."

Before I could answer a furious snarl ripped through the air. Kaelen appeared at the top of the riverbank. He was still in human form his chest heaving his eyes wild with obsession. He looked down and saw Torin touching my face. Kaelen went completely insane.

"Get your hands off my mate!" Kaelen roared stepping into the water.

Torin did not even look at him. His golden eyes stayed fixed on my lips. A dark wicked smirk spread across his handsome face. He leaned in so close his breath ghosted over my mouth.

"Watch me claim what you threw away," Torin whispered.

Then he crashed his lips onto mine.