Free Lycan on the Edge: Broken Heart Book 13 by Michele Bardsley

SOFT RAIN pelted the Oregon forest, and
    Sophie lifted her face to enjoy the light splash of
    water on her skin. She’d been out here for a
    couple of hours and had gathered numerous
    herbs and flowers. The trip had been a good one,
    and she found herself enjoying the bounty of
    nature. Being alone here, now, was pure freedom.
    The smells of wet earth and the sharp scent of
    pine infiltrated her senses.
    She couldn’t resist.
    She undressed, placing her clothes in the
    waterproof backpack she’d brought with her to
    store the herbs and her lunch.
    It took only a few moments to shift, and then
    she was a wolf.
    She explored the forest with all her senses,
    yipping happily, romping. She followed the
    myriad of scents that abounded in such a
    spectacular place. Refreshed, she loped toward
    the spot where she’d left her things.
    Solid, hot pain struck her back, and she
    flattened against the earth, howling in agony.
    She hadn’t smelled, heard, or seen anything,
    but as she scurried on all fours and limped away,
    the attacker appeared before her.
    The creature lifted its massive head and
    screamed. In its clawed hand was a silver blade
    like none she’d ever seen. It looked like some
    crazy fire poker with a narrow end and two
    slightly curved attachments. She could smell the
    singed fur and burned flesh.
    Pain shuddered through her, but she kept her
    feet.
    The creature swung its weapon once more,
    and somehow she found the strength to snarl. She
    snapped at it and sank her teeth into its calf.
    The monster’s bellow echoed through the
    forest.
    It fell to its knees and then sideways, its cries
    fading as the light went out of its dark eyes.
    Sophie fell onto her side, panting, trembling.
    Painful as it was, she began the shift.
    Then she heard a cracking sound.
    “Sophie. Sweetheart? C’mon. It’s all right.”
    Sophie woke up, her heart racing.
    Trent lay next to her, his fingertips resting on
    her forehead. The lamp had been turned on, and the
    low light shined on the twisted covers.
    “You’re okay,” he said.
    “Nightmares.” She sat up, her body shivering.
    “Ever since the Alberich attack.”
    “You want to tell me what happened?”
    “I don’t know.” Sophie put her face on his
    shoulder, accepting his comfort gratefully. “He
    attacked. I bit him on the calf. And…then I passed
    out.”
    Trent stilled. Then he gently took her chin and
    tilted her head. “Did you kill him?”
    “How could I? When no one else ever has.”
    “That’s not entirely true.” Trent brushed
    strands of hair off her face. “There was a weapon,
    of sorts. It’s how we rid the world of them the first
    time. Or at least we thought we had.”
    He traced a line from her temple to her chin,
    and Sophie felt electrified.
    “Trent.” His name echoed with her need for
    him.
    He laid her on the bed and rolled to his side.
    His fingers trailed down her arms. She shivered at
    the light touches. When his hand coasted down to
    her thigh, she let out a soft moan.
    “I want you,” he said. “So much.”
    Her answer was easy. She sat up and took off
    her shirt. Her pink lace bra was a thin barrier, and
    hunger licked at her when she saw Trent’s gaze
    darken. He cupped her breasts, sweeping his
    thumbs over her hardening nipples. She discarded
    the bra, baring her breasts for him.
    “You are truly magnificent,” he said. The
    evidence of his desire strained against his jeans.
    Pleased, she lay back down. His hands slid
    down her abdomen, and he unbuttoned her jeans.
    She shoved them off her hips, throwing them to the
    floor.
    Trent took off his clothes, all but his boxers,
    and joined her once more. The intensity of her
    desire, of her need for Trent, thrilled her. Scared
    her. His gaze was on hers, and he watched her face
    as he touched her, noting what made her moan,
    what made her hot.
    He cupped her breasts, bending to grasp a
    turgid nipple in his mouth. His warm tongue laved
    and suckled, and Sophie felt an almost