Stone Of Severance

eral Hospital. Her twelve-hour ER shift had stretched to fifteen after a three-car pileup on th

in the distance, bass thumping like a heartbeat. A sudden gust blew Angela's hair across her face, and she paused at the mouth of

low, guttural growl t

r bag. Another growl echoed, this one strained, almost pained. She crept forwar

lolled forward, hair matted to his forehead. But it wasn't his injuries that made her breath catch- it was his eyes when the

voice thick with p

re she could stop herself. "

seeping into the rain. His breathing was ragged, labored. She pulled out her phone, rea

ed. His fingers trembled vio

ong here, something primal. The man's eyes flashed gold again as thunder rumbled overhead

twisted beneath his skin. His teeth elongated, claws tore through his gloves. She gasped as his form expanded, fu

, shifting halfway back into human form. Angela's fear disso

s. Keep him conscious. His breathing hitched with every touch, but his eyes never

e might die without knowing who'd tr

ched. "Raymon

ully: the sharp planes of his cheekbones, the corded muscles of his arms, the deep claw marks

ck coat watched from the shadows, eyes gl

e smooth as silk. "The nurse. And

Sirens wailed somewhere far off, and she prayed they wouldn't come here. If paramedics found him like this-

but oddly, the bleeding began to slow. Angela blinked, unsure if it was a trick of the moonlight-but

re you?" s

gain. "Alpha... Pride Pack," he murmure

ng?" she as

onto hers, fierce even as his consciousne

ead stubbornly. "I

around as three figures stepped into view-men dressed in dark tactical gear,

a blade scraping stone. "Looks like the great Alpha Raymon

ers and the wounded Raymond. "Stay back!" she sh

ughed. "She think

lun

e others were on her instantly, grabbing her arms. She kicked and

s massive wolf form mid-leap. Fur black as midnight, eyes burning gold, he slammed into

lood splattered, but Raymond didn't stop. He bit down on the man's arm, tearing it away with a sickening cra

reathing of wolf and woman. Raymond shifted again, body twisting until he was

men-Nightfangs, she realized-were either dead or

ld have run,

, voice trembling. "And leave

fresh blood seeped. Angela rushed to his side, looping his arm around

u somewhere safe,"

g for just a moment. "You don't

him toward the mouth of the alley,

masking their escape. Neon signs flashed overhead-"Club Eden," "Silver Diner," "Morrigan's Pub"-casting e

a concrete pillar. She peeled his torn shirt away, inspecting the new wound. Despite th

self," she said, awe and

pained nod.

hakily. "Yeah

d up coughing. "You're not

admitted, shaking her head. "And

ng rivulets of blood down his jaw. His eyes were haunted, but behi

t dragged into th

his cheek gen

's head snapped up. His nostrils flared. "More ar

raced. "Where?

aid. "Top floor of t

n, a gleaming monument of glass and steel. Of course the CEO of half the city would ha

bled into the night, the city of Silverhaven sp