Tangled

Unshift 277

Unshift 277

277 Lisa: Kellan

After the third time I stumble while walking, the naked shifter stares at me with a curled lip.

"Why are humans so weak?" he asks, his tone grating on my already frayed nerves.

1 bristle at his words. Who does he think he is? "None of your business," I snap, surprising myself

voice. I

with the venom in my ericho said I do pretty well for a human, thank you very much. I'm

just weakened.

I'll get back into shape and then wipe that cocky stare off his face on the mat.

Though, I have yet to have a legitimate win without any handicaps during our training spars...

But a girl can dream, damn it.

The shifter's eyebrows shoot up, clearly taken aback by my sass. He peers at me more closely, his brow furrowing. "Do I know you?"

Before I can answer, he leans in, his nostrils flaring as he sniffs at me. I recoil, but he's already pulling back, a puzzled expression on his face.

"You don't have much of a scent," he says, sounding perplexed.

a mischievous twinkle there. The bracelet must mess with my scent, too. It bolsters my courage for some reason. "That's

don't smell like you've

that? The audacity! I'm about to unleash a tirade on

wolf emerges from nowhere, its teeth bared and hackles raised. Without thinking,

behind the naked shifter.

Bad move.

can feel the naked shifter stiffen in front

nearly losing my balance in the process. The naked shifter holds up his hands once I've been sacrificed, a look of fear flashing across his face. The enormous wolf bounds forward, placing itself between me and the other shifter. Its massive jaws snap at the naked man, a growl so loud it drowns out everything else. Around us, the other wolves drop to the ground, bellies pressed to the earth in submission. The air crackles with tension, and I find myself frozen in place, caught between terror and awe. "Mating instincts

sure if I should try to back away or stand still. Which is less likely to get

277 Lisa Kollan

+27

for all

into Grey's Anatomy.

in a swift motion to get between me and

woll" Unaffected by the fierce visage of a growling apex predator, he gestures

Excuse me?

remarkably satisfied-sounding huff and turns to rub hard against my thighs, almost knocking me off balance. When I grab at its fur to hold me up, I

hiss at the naked shifter, who looks panicked by my

me!" he snaps, before shifting into his wolf form

lost their damn

to melt under my touch, its eyes half-closing in bliss as its tail wags. The fierce growling from moments ago transforms into a contented rumble that vibrates. through

voice. Bitterness, to be clear, that he was willing to sacrifice me off to a rabid wolf. "What the hell is going on?" The gnome's eyes twinkle with amusement, and I fight the urge to shake him. "If you can't figure it out now, my dear, you will soon enough." He turns to address

out a loud rumble-growl, clearly displeased by the interruption. For a moment, I think it might snap at

skin. Muscles ripple and bones realign,

familiar human form.

Kellan.

body. Unlike the other shifter, whose nudity had barely registered, I find myself appreciating Kellan's form with a reverence that surprises me. My gaze travels from his