Blood Shadow by Aurora Kryan (digital e reader .TXT) 📕

The scent of blood was thick in the confined space I woke up in. Darkness surrounded me, the rough feel of burlap rubbing against my fur. Was I in a potato bag or was it my imagination? Stretching I pushed against the sides. They gave but not much. My heart was beating loudly in my ears as I twisted in the bag. The thickness of the air was becoming an invisible wall smothering me.

Flexing my paw I slashed at the rough burlap. A small tare broke the over powering feeling claustrophobia. From the sliver of light fresh air filtered in. I stuck my nose over the rip, inhaling deeply. Heavy scents of wet bark and rotting foliage filled my nose. The familiar tingle of forest calmed me, cleared my head.

Even though the scent of forest was soothing to me I could smell a plethora of plants I didn’t recognize. This forest was something I had never experienced before. While I tried to sift out the scents I did know the bag shifted, throwing me out into the blinding light of the outside world. Curled into a ball I tumbled end over end in the air.

Suddenly my fall stopped, the endless space of air interrupted by the sharp strike of metal. I whined as the heavy thud rattled my body. It was so unexpected, the blood, the light, the feeling of cold steel under me. It made me feel helpless. Shivering I blinked at the bright reflection shining in my face. Two voices echoed around me, bouncing off walls and doors.

“Look at the mutt’s fur, are you sure it’s this one?”

“Yes I’m sure, it has blue eyes. We were told to catch the snow wolf with ice eyes. There isn’t any other werewolf with blue eyes and white fur, it has to be her.”

Blue eyes, white fur, their talking about me

. Forcing myself to look beyond the disorienting light I stared at the second figure. His voice was kinder then the first persons and just like the man at my house he was clad in a midnight black cloak. Shifting my paws under my contorted body I tried to stand, maybe to fight, maybe to try and escape, I wasn’t sure which I would be forced to do.

Suddenly a sharp pain shot through my neck and my face slammed into the metal tray I was standing on. I yelped but the pain continued to crush my neck. Panicked I howled at the ceiling, struggling with my feet to kick whatever was pinning me away. Then just as suddenly as it had come the thing was gone. Flying back I shoved myself against a wall, teeth bared defensively.

The two cloaked figures hissed at each other, the second smaller one was griping the first man’s arm tightly. Was that what had been trying to break my neck, the larger cloaked man? Jerking away the larger and obviously more violent of the two turned to me, still hissing like a snake. Upset the second man pushed his hood back to reveal his face.

Brown curls cascaded down from his head to rest just below his shoulders, framing his chiseled face. I fidgeted under his crimson stare. He was another inhuman creature. But like the man from my house he was different, different from me, different from the man. Instead of seeing pools of death and fear I saw a kindness that the man next to him lacked.

“We should kill it, after all what is another mutt to us but a pest.” The second man growled. I glanced over at him, keeping the curly haired one just in my line of sight. “This one has a reward on its head anyway. Besides that I don’t want it growing up to be a problem.”

Ranting about how much he wanted to end my life made me feel sick. How can someone be so evil?

Flicking his hood back my faceless kidnapper stepped forward. The second his sneering face drew away from the shadows I recognized him. A growl tore through my bared teeth. That face, those remorseless red eyes, the toxic scent of blood hanging around him.

The feeling to kill shook my body as the images of Linda laying dead on the ground and thoughts of my mother being just as injured crossed my numbed mind. Reflexively I lunged forward, roaring at him like a rabid dog. Before I could even get close to him he slapped me with that blinding speed he had. I flew back into the wall, shoulders first. My enraged growl cut off, replaced with a broken whimper as I slid down onto the tray.

Even as I flattened myself against the cold metal in submission my mind kept screaming one word over and over, murderer

. I wanted to fight, to hurt him, but my wolf knew when it was out classes. My body pressed itself lower and lower, trying to disappear from the man’s irritated glare. His hand twitched like he was going to hit me again.

Reflexively my eyes darted to the silent brunette. There was a disdainful glare on his face. Grabbing the aggressive mans arm once again they hissed at each other. It was like something bigger than a little argument was happening in the silence of their glares. I couldn’t comprehend it, their enraged eyes. What would make someone so angry?

“No,” the brunette growled. Releasing his comrade he turned to me,” it would be a good pet.”

Reaching out he started to touch me. I flinched away, remembering how painful my last three physical encounters with them had been. Hand dropping to his side he smiled sadly at me.

“What are you thinking Roan?”

Looking away from me the brunette stared at his friend. “Like I said Max, it would be a good pet.”

“A good pet for who exactly?”

“Me.”

Max scoffed at the brunette, Roan, then turned to me. A small displeased growl rumbled in his chest. Would they fight again? Jerking back Max loomed over my shaking body like a shadow. Eyes wide I stared at him. Don’t hurt me

. My thoughts of fear came across as a weak whimper.

Scoffing Max snatched my tail, dragging me off the tray. The sudden motion caused me to cry out in pain as my tail shot jolts of electricity up my spine. Swinging in the air I cried out in short pleading barks. It hurts, stop!

He wouldn’t, he wouldn’t let me go. Lips pulling back over my teeth I began to growl. If he won’t stop I’ll make him

. Chest tight I let the wolf take over once again.

Legs trembling I glared at the raging vampire in front of me. His left hand was clutched to his chest, blood pouring down between his fingers. Baring his snake like fangs at me Max growled. I growled back instinctually. I was afraid of him but now I knew he wasn’t invincible and that small fact gave me some hope. With a hunk of his flesh in my mouth I flexed my jaw. Blood oozed down on my tongue making me want to hurl.

Max jerked like I’d hit him. “You stupid mutt.”

Growling he lunged for me, teeth bared, hands curved like claws. I tensed for the impact, unwilling to back down with my wolf on high alert. A loud clattering noise filled the dreary space of the room. My ears flicked forward curiously. Max was fuming, hands reaching between a set of bars like a caged animal as he roared.

It was like he couldn’t see the cell door between us, just me and the blood color the world was tinted in. Taking a step back my eyes wondered to the left. Leaning against the cell wall was Roan. His face was bland, an unpleasant smile pulling at his lips, one hand on the door holding it shut. When he saw me looking at him in disbelief he smiled, red eyes playful.

“You’ll never get it as a pet. Payton won’t let you if it’s dangerous!”

Pulling my gaze from the smug Roan I frowned at Max. He had finally stopped throwing himself against the cage door like a zombie and composed himself, somewhat. Hands balled at his sides Max took three long huffy breaths before he would meet Roan’s calm face.

“I always get what I want, and that was your fault.” Roan said darkly, motioning to what remained of Max’s hand.

“Just because you are Payton’s tracker.” Max hissed at him in annoyance.
“Exactly.” Roan said smugly.

Making an almost inaudible growl Max cursed at Roan. Turning on his heels Max stocked off stiffly, claws dragging along the wall. He was clearly unhappy Roan had defended me, and I wondered why he had. Eyes sliding back to the brunette I watched him stare at Max’s back. What ever he was thinking he kept to himself as he turned back to me. Squatting by the cage door he smiled kindly.

With the overpowering presence of Max gone I let the bloody piece of his hand drop to the floor. I coughed, tongue running against my teeth to try and get the taste of Max’s rustic blood off. Roan stared at me while I fought the urge not to tremble. Max was gone but Roan still remained. Without his friend here would he still show me kindness, or become a monster too? Gazes locked on each other I stared into his crimson eyes.

Will you help me

, I wondered. Again his hand lifted to touch me. A small growl escaped my bared teeth. Despite the safe feeling Roan gave off he was still one of those things that killed Linda, I just couldn’t trust him. He seemed to laugh at my reaction, hand still reaching through the bars. I growled louder, more defiant, but still he didn’t stop. His continued advances made my courage crumble.

Eyes closing tightly I kept growling at him, though it was weaker than