Page 84 of The Night Hunting

RAIKA

I could feel it.Three seconds before it happened, I felt it.

Shane lost control over the Shadow Wolf. He shifted in half a heartbeat and advanced on us.

Roman took several steps back and bumped into kitchen counter. I reached for the first thing I could grab—a frying pan from the cooktop—and swung it at Roman’s head.

He let go of me and I dashed to the side as Shane pounced on him. Roman shifted, but it was too late. Shane closed his massive claws around Roman’s neck and squeezed. The crunching of bones echoed through the kitchen and my stomach turned.

By the moon …

He let go of a dead Roman and turned to me. His powerful body in a ready stance, his red eyes shining, his sharp teeth bared and drool gathering at the corners of his huge mouth.

“Shane,” I whispered, my voice trembling as much as my hands were.

I had seen him like this several times, and I had felt nervous only the first time, because I didn’t know what to expect. He had recognized me then and every time since. But this time, it was different. It felt different. We were two days away from the full moon, and the witches had warned him the Shadow Wolf would start taking over more often until he never came back from it.

He snarled.

“Shane, it’s me.” With minimal movements, I retreated a step. “It’s Raika. Your mate.” I lowered my arm and grabbed my phone from my pants’ back pocket. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to text anyone, or even talk on the phone, I simply pressed the call button and put it on speaker mode. Shane took a step closer and snarled again. “It’s okay, Shane.”

I put the phone on the counter.

“Hello? Raika?” Killian’s voice came from the phone.

Shane let out a growl and rushed toward me. “Help!” I screamed before running out of the kitchen.

Shane skidded on the hard floors, but didn’t slow down. I raced through the short hallway to the living room and Shane came after me, bumping into the walls, bending the doorways, and ripping the lights on his way.

I ran to the door then paused. No, I couldn’t take him out of here. If I did, then I would put the entire pack in danger. I had to keep him occupied until the others arrived and we could subdue him.

Shit.

I dashed across the room and into the small dining table, putting that in between us. Not that I thought the table would save me from Shane.

I clutched the back of a chair. “Shane, stop it! You know me. Please, remember me.”

He growled and jumped over the table.

I gasped and ran, but before I took two steps, he slammed into me. He pushed me against the wall, a big hand on my neck, and lowered his head to mine. He snarled, his hot breath washing over my face.

I whimpered. “Shane, please. It’s me. Raika. Your mate.” He snapped his teeth an inch from my nose and I swallowed a scream. “I’m so sorry for this.”

I pushed my hand into his chest and sent my darkfire into him. Just a small jolt, but enough to make him stagger back and let me go.

He straightened and let out a hair-raising howl.

Shit, I only made him madder.

He rushed me again.

I brought my hands up and threw two darkfire bolts at him, one right after the other. These were a little more powerful than the first one, and Shane skidded back, falling to his knees.

But it didn’t keep him down for long.

He pushed to his feet again and let out another piercing growl. He charged—

The door flew open and a blue magical shield appeared between us. Shane slammed into it, but that didn’t faze him. He turned to the newcomers, Lavinia and Killian.