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"Elise!"

Edward’s voice What had I said about being doomed?

The back exit was only a few steps away The rear of the cabin stood very close to the forest, a convenience I hadn’t noticed until now

I tried to brush past Edward, reach the out-of-doors, where I could give in to the change pulsing inin the sky Edould keep Nic here; I could disappear out there At least until Nic went away

But Edward caughtfor an old er than me Still, I had been raised never to hurt him, to obey him, so I paused and looked into his face

He flinched when he saolf eyes "What is going on?"

"Yes," Nic said fro on?"

Edward’s face darkened, and he reached for his gun

"No," I said, and my voice rumbled between hu forward

"Stay back"

I should not be losing control; the full moon was days away Even then, I could controlsex hadn’t changedhere?" Edward demanded

I didn’t answer Wasn’t it obvious he’d been doing iving in to such urgesfor?"

I wasn’t going to answer that since I kind of thought that it was - a fact I should never ade,

"What’s he ya about, Elise?"

Edward drew his sidearm I put myself between him and Nic, but I needn’t have bothered He pressed the barrel to the base of my throat

"Outside" Edward shovedblanket "You as well, Mr Franklin"

Nic caument He had to believe both Edward and I had lost our minds

The , lopsided The wind lifted my hair I smelled the forest, the earth, and I was drawn to theh the trees, feel the breeze insmall and furry, catch it and taste its blood

Usually, I found such thoughts disgusting Tonight I was tempted I’d taken one step toward the woods when Edward’s voice iven your soul to evil by giving your body to hi about?" Nic snapped "Is he nuts?"

"You knohat youNic "Show me"

I shook my head, confused

"Shift and follow instructions," he whispered in e and do not kill"

"No problem"

I started for the forest once rowled, low and threatening

"Behave yourself!" He jabbed e here Now For hih revealed his impatience "There are tays to ascertain he departs and does not return Your way, or mine Choose"

Edward’s as death - always had been Mine? Easy

If I showed Nic my true nature, he would run He’d live - there was my reward But best of all, if he told anyone what he’d seen, they wouldn’t believe him

A in situation Edward’s specialty

I glanced at Nic from beneath the curtain of my hair His expression reflected both fury and confusion

He had no idea what he’d stepped into when he’d insisted on acco er from every monster, alive or dead, if they found out I loved him I really didn’t have low fromywhite light pouring through ination, caught the scent of wolves that couldn’t be real, heard theh the sky

The ed th, speed, agility were mine

"The perfect animal," Edward murmured "People brain, wolf body They are very hard to kill"

I openedI saas Nic He’d fallen to the ground His chest was heaving, and I feared he’d gotten sick, but he wasto catch some air so he wouldn’t faint

I couldn’t blame him Not every day do you see a woman become a wolf He took it pretty well

"How?" he ed, then lifted his head

I’d crept closer, and when he looked up, his nose nearly brushedover his face

"Sign of a olf" Edward’s voice was far too jolly "Human eyes Makes the phrase ’never shoot until you see the whites’ actually , jawohl"

I turned in his direction and snarled Edward laughed Nic skittered backward and to his feet His hand reached for a gun that wasn’t there, and my heart cracked just a little

I hadn’t realized until thathe could see the true er-Suchers don’t hunt rabid wolves at all," he murmured

"Nein"

"Then what?"

"Werewolves As"

For Nic, curiosity see the place of concern However, I wanted to be a sideshow freak even less than I wanted to be a demon-possessed horror

" She’s a olf"

"Elise is a special case The only - "

I woofed once

"Oh, hi his lack of enthusiasm in the matter "Elise and Damien are the only olves in their division"