What happened in between~
This is the continuation of Gunnar’s ordeal with the pri wolves before Riley arrived~
"Now you are truly one of us."
The growl had barely finished echoing in the cave when both beasts stepped back at the sa ti, and right before my eyes their massive wolf bodies began to change in a swift shift and within seconds, two very tall muscular n stood where the pri wolves had been.
They both had jet black hair that fell around their shoulders and their bodies were covered in marks and scars that spoke of centuries of perhaps wars.
For a mont I just stared at them.
What the hell?
It was said everywhere that the pri wolves were trapped in their wolf forms and could never shift back into n. That was one of the reasons they were feared so much. Yet here they were standing in human form like nothing was wrong.
"Do not look so shocked, Gunnar Dravenmoor," the first one said, his green eyes watching carefully. "We are just like you."
Just like .
The second one tilted his head slightly and said one simple word.
"Shift."
I hesitated.
My wolf was still pushing against my control and my chest was rising heavily from the fight. For a second I considered refusing just to show them I would not take orders from anyone. But this was not about pride. This was about Riley.
I forced the shift.
The change burned through and I let my wolf retreat as I returned to my human body. The air felt colder against my skin but I did not move or flinch. I stood there facing them with nothing but my anger keeping steady.
The first one stepped closer and looked at like he was studying a weapon.
"Do not take risks like that next ti, Gunnar," he said calmly. "Pushing your wolf to that extre can be dangerous. If we were normal wolves, you would have gone wild and lost yourself completely, but we cannot let that happen."
I frowned at him. "You cannot let that happen?"
He nodded once. "Because your wolf is not ordinary, I guess your mother has told you, you’re a mixed hybrid."
I was still confused and I hated that they were talking like they knew more about than I did.
"You are here for Aemoria Morvayne, are you not?" the second one asked.
My jaw tightened. "Yes."
He inhaled slowly and then smirked. "I can scent her. She is very close to this place."
My heart reacted instantly to that information and I stepped forward without thinking. "Then you will not make this difficult for her. You will give her the lunar fur willingly and let her leave."
Both of them looked at each other and then laughed quietly.
"We do not take orders from you, Gunnar," the first one said as he stepped closer until we were almost face to face.
I did not move.
"Before she gets the lunar fur and takes it back," he continued, "we must strike a deal. Otherwise, you will fight the both of us to the death."
My fists clenched at my sides. Now I understood. They were not just beasts. They were n who enjoyed power and gas.
"What do you want?" I asked straight to the point.
They both smiled.
"We want her."
My brows creased instantly. "You cannot have her. She is mine and my brothers’."
They nodded slowly like they had expected that answer.
"We can make her ours if we choose to," the second one replied calmly. "She is still unmarked, Gunnar."
That truth hit harder than any punch. She was unmarked. None of us had claid her yet.
"That is an impossible deal," I said coldly. "I would rather die killing both of you before you lay a hand on her."
The one who had been circling stopped walking.
"You do not love her, Gunnar Dravenmoor," he said quietly.
I did not respond but my chest tightened.
"You are doing this for your own selfish gain," he continued. "I can feel it. You want her blood. The bloodline of the Emberwyns. You want to use it to summon the soul of your past lover into her."
My jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
"How cruel can you be?" he asked softly. "Did your mother not warn you about the consequences of such an act?"
"That is none of your fucking business," I snapped.
He did not react to my anger.
"You are walking toward disaster," he said. "Carian is dead. She is gone. Let her rest. Live happily with your daughter, Sumr."
Hearing their nas almost broke the control I had left. I could feel the urge to punch him rising so fast that my hands trembled, but I forced myself to stay still.
"But if you insist on continuing this path," he added calmly, "we have an option."
I stared at him.
"Once she arrives here," he said, "she will choose among three of us which one she is willing to lay with. Whoever she successfully takes will claim her."
For a second I thought I had misheard.
I let out a dry laugh. "Do you truly believe that if Riley sees here, she would choose either of you over ?"
The second one shook his head slowly.
"That is why we have an option."
I narrowed my eyes. "What do you an?"
"You will not look like Gunnar when she arrives," he replied calmly. "You will look like one of us."
Confusion crossed my face before I could hide it. "How do you an?"
Without another word, he stepped closer and plucked out a strand of his own black hair. Then he held it out to .
"Take one of yours," he instructed.
I stared at the strand in his hand for a second before pulling one from my own head.
"Twist them together," he said.
I hesitated only briefly before doing exactly that. The mont the two strands touched and wrapped around each other, a strange heat ran through my fingers. It was not painful, but it was strong. The air around shifted slightly and I felt sothing move beneath my skin.
I clenched my jaw as the change began.
It was not like shifting into my wolf. This was different. My muscles tightened and then relaxed. My height seed to adjust slightly. I could feel my facial structure changing in subtle ways and my hair lengthened and darkened. It did not take long, but when it was done, I no longer felt like myself.
I looked at my reflection in a cracked piece of stone nearby.
A tall man with jet black hair and sharp features stared back at .
I did not look like Gunnar Dravenmoor anymore.
"Do not worry," the first one said. "The effect will wear off once she gains the lunar fur and leaves this place. That is only if she successfully chooses to ta you."
"Ta ?" I repeated coldly.
He smirked. "My brother and I crave fear and blood the most. That is what feeds us. In your case, we will crave lust. We will see if she can withstand it."
My hands curled into fists again but before I could respond, the second one lifted his head slightly.
"She is here."
My heart jumped.
"You might want to join us," he added. "And shift back, let’s test her wits a little bit"
Without waiting for my answer, both of them transford back into their wolf forms in one swift movent. Their massive bodies filled the cave again and their eyes burned with excitent.
I did not hesitate this ti.
I shifted as well.
The change ca easier now and my wolf welcod it. I landed on all fours and lifted my head.
I could scent her now too.
Riley.
She was close.
The two pri wolves moved first and rushed toward the entrance of the cave.
I followed imdiately.
There was no way I would let them win this damn deal and I pursued~
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