With a blur of motion, Veronica rushed me. As my wolf, I could track her a little better, but still not one hundred percent. She looked as though she was made out of an angry cyclone, hurdling toward me while a spray of dust particles whipped up in her wake. Kicking her leg out, she landed a blow to my side, and I flew across the cave where I bounced like a stuffed animal off the hard rocky wall. The pain was instant, but my anger allowed me to ignore it as best as I could. My wolf got to her feet, lip curling over sharp canines, and charged. I slammed into Veronica’s body, and together we fell to the dirt floor. I snapped toward her neck, looking for my opening, but Veronica’s hands blocked her throat. My teeth buried in her palm until I scraped against bone. A sharp hiss broke through her lips and she flung me off her. I flipped over her head, landing on my side, but quickly found my footing. With vampires, I had to be fast. Taren moved toward me, but Veronica held out her arm toward him.
“This bitch is mine,” she snarled.
If I could smile as my wolf, I would have. I was thinking the same thing, I thought. My eyes flicked to Taren to make sure he listened to Veronica. He stood off to the side, his body as ridged as the stone surrounding us. I was confident I could kill both of them individually, but together … well, let’s just say I was happy Veronica’s pride got in the way.
She circled around me, and I moved with her, never taking my eyes from hers. I noticed in the darkness of the cave, they reflected like an animal’s. The wound on her hand was quickly healing. I couldn’t get the upper hand if she healed this quickly from every injury I inflicted. My next blow needed to count. Power unlike anything I had ever felt before brushed over my fur, leaving a tingling sensation crawling against my skin. Every emotion I was feeling intensified and left me shaky: anger, disgust, fear, and even excitement. They all flooded me until I felt like my skin would rip from my bones. Footsteps sounded behind me, and I threw a quick look over my shoulder to find Taren inching closer. Whatever he saw in my face caused him to stop. His eyes widened, and he held up his hands in surrender, inching further into the shadows.
“Veronica,” he said in a calm voice as though he was trying not to scare a wild animal. “Let’s just go. Leave her.”
I swung my gaze back to Veronica and tilted my head to the side. The same shocked expression showed on her face in the form of wide eyes and parted lips. As I stared at her, thoughts that weren’t my own filled my head.
Who are you to stand against me? I am the ruler of tooth and claw. I will shred your flesh from your bones and lap your blood in victory.
Whoa. Where the hell had that come from? The sudden overtaking of thoughts momentarily dazed me. Was that my wolf? My focus came back when Veronica charged toward me, her eyes alight and bloodthirsty. I feigned left, and when her arms reached in that direction, I whirled around and sunk my teeth into her forearm. Her screams reverberated off the cavern walls, music to my ears. With a sharp tug, her arm popped out of its socket, and I flung it to the floor. She collapsed to her knees, her arm going to her bleeding shoulder. My wolf sauntered toward her, enraged and drunk on the power coursing through our veins. The closer I got, Veronica tried to use her good arm to fend me off. Her fingers arched into claws as she swung them through the air at me. I could feel my wolf chuckling at her feeble attempts.
You thought you could overpower me? ME? I heard the voice again, laced with anger and empowerment. You threaten my life, my Chante’s? Disgusting parasite.
With the speed of the wind, my wolf lunged, landing on top of Veronica’s screaming body. With one arm, she couldn’t hold back the weight of my wolf. I saw the defeat in her eyes right before she let her arm fall to the floor, and I sunk my teeth into her jugular. With a jerk of my head, Veronica’s screams cut off. My wolf spat out the chunk of flesh and began scanning the cave for Taren. Somehow, we knew he was gone. He had left Veronica behind, knowing if he didn’t, he would pay with his life, too.
Smart, for a bloodsucker, the voice said.
Who … are you? I thought and then immediately wondered if I was having a conversation with myself. Adam had told me that my wolf and I were not two separate entities after all. He told me that we were one, and I just hadn’t connected with my animal side yet. Was I connecting with it now? Was this how all werewolves felt while they unleashed their beasts?
I am she. I am you, the beast replied. You and I have been destined since the day of your birth. You are destined for greatness—for power yet to be seen—as the ruler of tooth and claw, a Leader to rule them all. Now is the time for embracing your wolf, dear Anna.
Wha—I don’t understand, I sent the thought to the voice, still feeling slightly crazy for having a conversation with myself. I don’t want to rule them all.
A soft chuckle floated through my mind. You will … you will. That was the last thing my wolf said before I felt myself changing back. The power rushing over my skin subsided into a gentle throb as my human side emerged.
I knelt on all fours, hanging my head as I tried to catch my breath. Digging my fingernails into the dirt, I closed my eyes and fought off the waves of dizziness clouding my head. Something felt different, but I couldn’t identify what it was. I wasn’t even sure how I felt about it. Should I be frightened, excited? Indecision caused my mind to blank as the last effects of my wolf left my body.
I stood on wobbly legs, naked and sweaty. My eyes flicked to Veronica’s dead body. Flaps of bloody skin hung from the hole where my wolf had ripped out her throat. My hand went to my stomach as nausea churned like an angry sea. I lurched forward and covered my mouth with my palm. As I continued staring at Veronica, I noticed the thick pool of blood soaking into the ground beneath her, and that’s when I lost it. I turned, bending over and vomited until I got everything out.
When I was done being sick, a strange calm washed over me. I glanced at Veronica again and wiped the spittle from my mouth. No emotions occurred when I looked at her. My chest rose and fell heavily as a warming sensation climbed through my chest and settled in the spot over my heart. The oddest sense filled me. I wasn’t sure, but it felt like entitlement and pride. Slowly, a smile crept onto my lips, and I headed toward the mouth of the cave.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I walked up the long dirt drive that led to my house. The breeze played along my body, carrying away the heat from my skin. I raised my head and closed my eyes as the sun warmed my face. Birds chirped in the nearby trees and the scent of wild berries and honeysuckle filled my nostrils. I was blissfully happy, fulfilled.
“Anna?”
I opened my eyes to find Chelsea standing in the yard, gawking at me. I smiled and kept walking. I could feel eyes heavy on me, but I didn’t stop to pay them any mind. There was only one pair of eyes I needed to see. Whispers and whistles sounded behind me and as I climbed the steps of the porch, the door swung open. Adam stared at me with surprise, his blue eyes tinged in yellow. My smile grew as I climbed the steps toward him, but when I reached him, he didn’t greet me the way I wanted him to. Instead, he gripped both of my arms and held me away from him. I furrowed my brow, confused, and tried to push forward, but his grip was steel.
“What the hell happened, Anna?” he asked, his voice steely.
I tilted my head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“You’re naked,” he said, his eyes taking in my body. “And … what is that?” He nodded toward my chest.
Looking down, I saw the angry red lines of a design positioned over my heart. Dried drips of blood caked my skin around the design. Looking at it upside down, I couldn’t be sure what the mark was.
I shrugged. “I don’t know.” I shoved forward again, needing to feel Adam’s arms around me, but he still held me at arm’s length. I glowered at him and slammed my arms down to break his hold.
“What is wrong with you,” I said.
“Me?” Adam said with surprise. “What is wrong with you? You’re not acting like yourself. The last time I heard from you, you said you were leaving the cave. I thought … I thought you were dead. I couldn’t feel you, and you wouldn’t respond to me, and now you show up naked with a strange mark and your eyes—”
“What’s wrong with my eyes?” I snapped.
“They’re bright orange, Anna. What happened in that cave, what did you do?”
I huffed and shoved past him, heading into the house. As soon as I stepped foot into the living room, the wolves stopped moving. They stood still, their eyes widening as they watched me walk through the house. I walked through the kitchen, down the hall, and into the bathroom. When my eyes met my reflection, a smile was back on my face. My hair was longer, shinier, and streaked in white. My eyes were indeed orange and bright as though a light was shining from the inside out. I dropped my gaze to the mark over my heart. It still looked a bit messy with the dried blood so I grabbed a washcloth and held it under the faucet, bringing it up to clean it. I could feel Adam’s presence before he shut the door and stepped behind me.
“Anna,” he said in a softer voice. I met his eyes in the mirror. “Please tell me what is going on, Chante.”
I dropped my eyes to the mark and continued washing away the blood. That other voice—my wolf—sounded in my head.
Your destiny awaits.
“It’s true,” I murmured.
“What is?”
My eyes flicked back up to Adam’s. I tried to ignore the worry etched on his face and the … fear in his eyes. It didn’t matter, though; his emotions slammed into me as if they were my own. He was afraid, whether of me or for me was still unclear.
“The myth, it’s true. I am the white wolf.” I brought my eyes back to the mark, now clean of blood and dirt. It was a paw print with a crown hovering over the tips of the claws, but that wasn’t what was odd. A reddish glow seemed to emanate from the tattoo. I trailed my fingertips over the design, and it was hot to the touch.
“Leader of tooth and claw …” I whispered.
“Anna,” Adam breathed, backing away from me. He ran a hand over his face and sat on the side of the tub, resting his head in his hands.