Donovan skidded to a stop and let out a deafening growl. Power rolled through the pack until everyone but me was whimpering on the ground.

He came beside me and licked the gash on my hind leg, before nuzzling against me. I let out a little yip to tell him I was okay.

Honestly, my brothers had done much worse over the years. The only downside to being scratched was that the cut was supernatural and would heal slowly. Like human slow.

But I wasn’t going to let that bother me. The pack was still cowering from the aftereffects of Donovan’s power display. They could stay there for a bit for all I cared. The curse had kept me bound as a human for so long that now I relished changing whenever I could. My sharpened perceptions. The wind through my fur. I’d never take the feeling of the ground underneath my paws for granted. I gave Donovan another yip and took off again, knowing he’d be right behind me.

Eventually, the patrol groups broke off from the main group. After talking to Lucas, I wasn’t convinced we’d stand a chance against the fey beast. I hoped the Cazadores didn’t find their quarry, and that Bhrunyz was locked away in his lair, far away from the village and us.

My muscles grew hot and loose as we moved off the pack lands and deeper into the forest. Slowly, smaller groups started breaking off until only Donovan and I were left. He nipped at my hind leg, and I yipped. I spun to find him sitting on his haunches, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

When he took off running again, I followed, not caring where we were going. I was just enjoying the scent of the Irish countryside. A few animal scents caught my attention and the urge to hunt kicked in, but Donovan ignored the trails. He was on a mission to somewhere and I wasn’t about to abandon him.

All of a sudden, I slammed into something.

I growled, rolling back until I got my feet under me. It took me a second to shake off the hard fall before I realized I’d run into Donovan. He’d shifted back and was standing in front of a fey.

A tall, dark-skinned man handed Donovan a robe. His hair was long and fell down his back in one thick braid. He wore a three-piece black suit that was expertly tailored. If I couldn’t smell the sage, narcissus, and something else floral that I couldn’t place, I would’ve known he was fey from the way he glittered in the night.

I wasn’t sure if I should shift. It felt like I probably should, but I’d rather give up chocolate for life than stand naked in the freezing cold.

Shift if you want. Qusay’ll have a robe for you. Donovan said through the bond.