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

with the fresh sea air. His elongated canine teeth began to recede, along with his claws.
    He squatted next to Madie. Her face was pale set against the mossy cobblestones. She’d fought Luc like a true she-wolf defending her mate. Her actions surprised him, though he knew that they shouldn’t. Something in the vicinity of Damon’s heart softened.
    Her breathing was regular and even, but he could smell her blood as it mingled with her flowery perfume.
    Damon brushed a wisp of blonde hair from her brow, the texture soft as silk against the thick pads of his fingertips. With the back of his hand, he gently skimmed her cheek. She was warm and supple.
    Heat spread to his groin and he groaned. Despite the gravity of the situation or perhaps because of it, his need returned with a vengeance.
    Damon’s fingers fisted in her hair.
    A trickle of blood rolled down Madie’s forehead. Her eyes were still closed. Damon waited to make sure that she wasn’t going to open her eyes, then he leaned forward and lapped at the wound with light strokes of his tongue. Spice mixed with sugary fire hit him like a rocket, exploding across his senses. He sucked in a startled breath.
    His question from last night had been answered. Madie did taste as sweet as she smelled .
    A soft moan to his right brought his attention back to the situation at hand. Damon released Madie’s hair and turned to help Sarah.
    Sarah stumbled to her feet and glanced around. Her wary gaze darted to Madie’s still form. “What happened? Is Madie all right?”
    “She’ll be fine. She wasn’t out long,” Damon said. “She slipped on the frost and hit her head. She’s coming around now.”
    “Is the monster gone?” Sarah asked.
    Anger filled him. His jaw tightened as Damon fought his knee-jerk response. It was typical of humans to call anything they didn’t understand a monster. He nodded curtly. Sarah looked back at Madie and her returning color started to drain. She swayed.
    Her fingers shook as she pointed to her friend. “She’s not moving. Are you sure she’s still alive?”
    Damon’s gut clenched at the thought. He didn’t think to stop and ask himself why it should unsettle him so. “She’s strong.” He forced Sarah to sit down on the edge of the curb and put her head between her boney knees. “Take deep breaths,” he demanded, before tending to Madie.
    Tenderly, he felt around Madie’s head. Her lashes fluttered. There didn’t appear to be any fractures, but she’d probably have one whopper of a headache.
    He patted her hand. The fleshy skin heated under his touch. Her eyes slowly opened. She looked at him, her gaze unfocused for a full thirty seconds, before sucking in a violent breath. Madie bolted upright in a panic. She swayed and her hand flew to her head.
    “You’re okay,” he said.
    Madie gasped. “The wolf. Where’s the white wolf?”
    “It wasn’t a wolf, it was a wild dog,” he said matter-of-factly.
    A look of confusion crossed her face. “That was no dog. I saw it attack you. It was a wolf. I’m sure of it. Are you all right?” she fired out in rapid succession.
    “I’m fine.” He released a heavy breath. “I got an up close and personal look at the animal.” Damon pulled out his T-shirt for emphasis. “I think you should take my word for it, when I say it was a dog.”
    “I saw it, too.” Sarah raised her head.
    “I hit it on the snout,” Madie insisted.
    Yes, you did . Damon caught himself before he smiled. He made sure his expression was stern when he spoke. “You and Sarah saw it for a split second, before she fainted and you fell.”
    Heat rushed to Madie’s face. She’d never passed out before in her life. Now at the first sign of danger, she’d rushed in without thinking and ended up knocked out cold. The fall could have killed her, if the wolf didn’t.
    Gaston would be so proud .
    She shook her head, pain splintering her thoughts. She strained to recall the few seconds before the attack and