Free Moonlight Kin: A Wolf's Tale by Jordan Summers

upward in the cold night air.
    The wolf was going to kill him if she didn’t do something fast. Scrambling her feet, Madie looked for anything that could be used as a weapon.
    There was nothing.
    She clenched her fists and felt the leather of her purse strap biting into her palm.
    Fury the likes of which she’d never experienced surged through her body, propelling her toward the melee. Madie swung the purse a couple of times around her head to build momentum. On the third swing, she brought the purse down.
    The heavy section that held her wallet and water bottle smacked the wolf in the middle of its back, drawing the beast’s attention away from Damon. She swung her purse again, hitting him in the muzzle and clipping his nose. He yelped.
    If Madie didn’t know any better, she’d swear a look of surprise crossed the wolf’s face.
    Madie swung the handbag once more and lost her footing on the frost-covered road. She fell hard, slamming her head onto the cobblestones. Blinding pain shot through her. Her vision faded in and out, then comforting blackness enveloped her.
    Fear squeezed his chest as Damon watched Madie fall. He wanted to rush to her side, but he couldn’t. Luc, his Beta tried to rush her, but Damon latched onto his leg. His flesh burned from the wounds the wolf inflicted, but he didn’t cry out.
    Luc had no right to interfere. As Beta, he had not only overstepped the boundaries set by the pack—he’d demolished them. The attack was a direct challenge to his position as Alpha and Damon wasn’t about to let it slide.
    Damon growled menacingly at the youth, as his teeth and fingernails began to grow. The beast within struggled to break its leash. Pain ripped through him and his clothing fell away as he willed his body to make the change.
    Between the injury and the lack of full moon, shifting was difficult.
    The pale wolf sensed the danger and jumped away from him, lowering his eyes from Damon’s gaze. Too late for that. Damon lunged, his jaws clamping down on Luc’s neck. He shook him, tearing bits of flesh. Blood covered his white fur. Luc whimpered, but did not fight back.
    Damon continued to squeeze until Luc’s air was cut off. His Beta dropped to the ground and rolled over, baring his belly and throat to Damon’s sharp teeth. He held Luc for another minute, then slowly released him. Damon wanted him to know that the only reason he lived was because he’d allowed it.
    Luc stayed down. He didn’t try to challenge him again. Why would he give up so easily? Understanding flashed in Damon’s mind. The Beta came for Madie tonight, not to try to take over the pack .
    Leave now, Luc, while you still can , Damon barked out the mental command. We’ll settle this later . He fought for some semblance of control as he slowly shifted back. His mind switched violently between wolf and man, as Damon struggled to his feet, then quickly dressed.
    Luc tucked his tail between his long legs, then limped off. He faded into the darkness, rumbling under his breath—a cowardly action, considering his hasty retreat. Damon watched until he knew he was gone, then held his leather coat out in front of him.
    Damn, this was his favorite jacket. Puncture marks dotted the leather. Thank goodness, the coat took the brunt of the attack. The pup owed him a new one.
    Damon glanced up and down the street to see if any cars approached. The last thing he needed was to have to explain to a bystander what had just occurred. He heard a moan and hurried to the women. It was stupid of Luc to jeopardize the pack this way. Unnecessary exposure was not tolerated.
    The biggest surprise had been the care Luc displayed for Sarah. Tenderness in the face of viciousness was not the norm. Damon planned to have a serious talk with his Beta about his brash actions. Later. When he didn’t feel like ripping Luc’s throat out.
    Damon looked down at his torn T-shirt. Blood seeped through in a steady stream. He inhaled. The coppery odor seemed at odds