Free The Wolf Fount by Gayla Drummond Page A

know.”
    Cal looked at her again, noting how dull the green of her eyes had become, and the fact that the gold ring was quiescent around her pupils. He checked her temperature. Her skin was dry and papery feeling under his palm and she was still too hot.
    Sebastian left the doorway. “How is she?”
    “No change.” Morgan had been in this state for over twenty-seven hours.
    “You look awful, uncle.”
    “Thanks.” Cal stretched and scrubbed a hand over his cheeks, feeling the stubble.
    “I’ll sit with her. Go take a shower and shave,” his nephew ordered. Longing for a short break, Cal was hesitant to leave Morgan even in his beloved nephew’s care. Sebastian touched his shoulder. “I’ll call the instant anything changes.”
    “All right.” Rising, Cal almost tripped over his own feet from weariness.
    “You’re sleeping when you’re done. I’ll stay and wake you if there’s a reason to.”
    With a nod and exhausted smile for his nephew’s offer, Cal entered the bathroom. His mind flipped through memories while he showered, but he couldn’t remember another Were suffering the final stage for so long. Not even back in at the beginning, with his own Awakening.
    “No change,” Sebastian informed him as he left the bathroom.
    “This isn’t normal.”
    “No, but that doesn’t negate the fact you need rest.” Sebastian pointed at the bed. “Sleep, uncle.”
    Cal obeyed, crawling under the covers to lie next to Morgan. She muttered again, her eyes sliding closed, only to open again a breath later. He hated to admit it, even privately, but there wasn’t a damned thing he could do for her.
    Except one. He scooted closer, ignoring his watching nephew, and held her.

    “W here the hell am I?” Morgan stared at the surrounding greenery, her skin itching under the burn of unseen eyes. “Hello?”
    No one responded. She turned in a slow circle, trying to remember how long she’d been here. Days? Weeks? Unable to pick out any shapes in the shadows, she said, “This isn’t funny. I’m really getting pissed now, Calhoun.”
    The last thing she remembered was complaining to him about how hot she was. Everything had gone dark and she’d awakened to find herself here. Or in the general vicinity of “here,” as she’d been walking around since. Her skin had been crawling the entire time, thanks to her unseen watchers.
    Something hit her from behind, sending Morgan sprawling to her hands and knees. She screamed as her attacker dug into her. Skin, muscles, and bones parted under its claws.
    And then it was gone. Morgan sobbed, reaching to touch her lower back, expecting a raw ruin. Her skin was smooth and untouched. No blood showed on her shaking fingers when she checked them.
    Morgan began to rise, only to go down again as a second invisible attacker struck. Pushed into the dirt, she screamed and kept screaming as the thing dug into her back until she was certain she was dying.
    Then it was gone.
    Lying there, wondering what was happening, she couldn’t find the strength to rise. Had Calhoun dumped her here after she’d passed out? If he had, then whatever the things were, they’d have left real marks, and she’d be dead.
    Maybe it’s a nightmare . But if it was, why did everything smell real, and how could she hurt so much?
    A third weight landed on her back, driving the air from her lungs. Long fangs pierced the sides of her neck, and Morgan couldn’t scream, even when the thing began scrabbling at her back. Tears ran from her eyes as she squeezed them shut. This is it .
    But the new attacker disappeared after a few seconds too, leaving her tasting blood.
    Calhoun had said he’d help her. Where was he? Blood bubbled in Morgan’s throat. “Help. Help me.”
    That’s when the fourth thing attacked.

    “H elp.” It was a whisper just before a fourth convulsion almost forced Morgan’s body out of his arms. Teeth gritted, Cal held onto her, trying to hold the warm acceptance he’d been weaving