Chapter 4

Blood, sweat, and something more, something ancient, filled the space. Veronica sprawled on the ground, a shaking mass of husked breathing squeezed between Damien's form and the yielding ground beneath their locked bodies. She was whatever he created her to be, there, within their shared form, a form he could claim, with his hands, his mouth, his thirst. Each inch of her was like territory claimed, like bruised and inflamed skin, but throbbing in the way that had nothing to do with hurt. But the war outside had not stopped. The night was still thick with peril, the echoes of the hunters' assault ringing through the shattered doorways and blood-stained floors. But here, in this instant, it was just them trapped in the heat of something neither of them could stop. Damien's fingers drew slow patterns on her naked skin, his touch sending fresh shivers. He regarded her like a predator regarding its prey, his golden eyes keen with the memory of his beast. "You should not desire this," he growled, his voice coarse. Veronica swallowed, her fingers knotting in his wild black hair. "And yet, here we are." He tightened his hold on her, a growl rumbling in his chest. “You don’t know what you’ve done. What I’ve done." Her chin was hoisted in defiance. "Then make me understand." The space between them crackled with all that was unsaid, the air heavy with the pressure of everything unsaid. Then he was kissing her again, hard, punishing, as if he was trying to wipe away the truth that lay between them. She was his. And that made her at risk. He hadn't intended to claim her. Hadn't meant to own her so completely. But now her scent clung to him, her flavor on his lips, her heart rate a rhythm that sang to something ancient in his blood. And the others could smell it too. He compelled himself to move away, his body still vibrating with the urge to hold her near, hold her close. But the reality was catching up with them quickly; this never had anything to do with desire. This was war. "They'll come for you now," he said, the hint of suspicion in his tone laced with something akin to regret. Veronica sat up, pulling the sheet around her. The rawness still showed in her eyes, but she met his gaze unflinching. "Then let them come." Damien broke a hard outbreath and for the first time, found his anger touched with something dangerously close to awe. She didn't know what she was asking for. Still buzzing with adrenaline from before, he pulled on his jeans. The house was too silent. Too motionless. Something was off. Then A howl tore through the night. Not his pack. Something else. Instincts made Damien's muscles tense; his mind was nagged. He looked at Veronica, his expression grim. "Get dressed. Now." She didn't need to hesitate, sensing the air shift within him. Seconds later, she was on her feet, getting into her clothes. Damien reached for his weapons, silver blades crafted for a war years in the making. The hunters weren't done. And neither was he. As soon as they stepped out, they were struck by the chill of the air. The town was shrouded in thick, ominous mist; the stench of blood in the streets became widespread. Damien's senses were heightened, his body coiled tight with anticipation. He heard them before he could see them. Forms moving through the fog, silent as death. Hunters. A minimum of five. Damien bared his teeth and took a step forward, putting Veronica behind him. "You're persistent. I'll give you that." The leader stepped out of the darkness, those same ice-blue eyes that had mocked him earlier aglow with sadistic amusement. "We weren't finished." Veronica clenched her fists at her sides. "Neither were we." The hunter grinned. "Bold. Stupid, but bold." Damien didn't wait. He charged. The battle was chaos. A whirlwind of steel and claws, blood spattering off the pavement as Damien tore into the first of his hunters. A blade apparent on his side made him feel the sting of silver, but he was not deterred. Couldn't. Veronica struggled beside him, quick and deadly. She wasn't paranormal; she had no super-strength, no teeth, no claws, but she was fire brutal, burning. One of the hunters caught her from behind, and she hooked her knee hard between his legs and into the man's face, snapping his nose with a sickening crack. He spewed, and she slid a blade into his throat. Blood covered her hands. And she didn't even blink. At seeing her like that, something savage and unyielding arose in Damien's chest. Beautiful. And then he felt a jagged agony shoot through him. A silver-tipped arrow spear of pain entered deep in his shoulder. Damien roared, almost stumbling backward. His eyes blurred for a moment just long enough for the hunter leader to reach Veronica, blade pressed to her throat. "That's it," snarled the hunter. "Unless you want her to die." Damien stilled, ragged breathing, blood flowing down his arm. His entire body screamed to move, to battle, to kill, but he dared not. Not when her life is at stake. Veronica's eyes were fixed on his, defiant even with the knife pressed against her skin. "Don't stop," she whispered. Damien could feel his fists flexing as his beast growled behind his skin. But the hunter merely smiled, drawing her in closer. "You belong to us now, girl. And as for you, wolf…" A gunshot rang out. Veronica screamed. Damien's world went red. Pain was secondary. There was rage. Rage engulfed him. His body moved on instinct, badly adjusting as he lunged forward. Damien dismembered the hunter before he could defend himself, the knife dropping from his grasp as he tore at his throat. Veronica stumbled backward, chest heaving as she gasped, hands stained red. There were additional hunters lurking in the shadows, but they didn't move. Damien spun his head toward them, and his golden eyes burned. "Run." And they did. Veronica clutched at his arm. "Damien" He pivoted, his features still half-shifted, hunger and fury fighting their way through him. Then he drew her tight, his breath warm in her ear. “You’re mine now,” he said in a growl. And then his lips came down on hers, the two of them bound together in blood and flame.