Free Black Howl by Christina Henry

must close it permanently,” he said. “The demonswere directly behind us. They will pour forth from that portal if you do not seal it now.”
    “But…” I began, but I didn’t need to voice what I was thinking. Wade.
    I looked at the cubs, standing in the clearing like broken dolls.
    Jude shook his head at me. “No.”
    “You must close the portal,” Gabriel insisted. “We cannot defend the children if the demons come through.”
    I knew what Wade would want me to do. I turned toward the portal, my right hand outstretched. Lucifer’s mark needed no guidance from me.
    “No!” Jude shouted.
    From the corner of my eye I saw Jude leap toward me. Samiel intercepted him and there was the sound of a scuffle.
    Light burst from the palm of my hand, the blazing red light of the heart of the sun. The portal shrank rapidly. I thought for a moment that there might have been the gleam of tooth and fang emerging from the swirling mist, a glint of malicious eyes, but a moment later the portal was closed and the image was gone.
    The demon mark in the rock was scorched and blackened. The portal was closed forever. I dropped my hand and turned back to the others.
    Samiel was sitting on top of Jude, who was facedown in dead leaves. The angel used his legs to pin Jude’s arms to his sides, and the wolf’s right cheek pressed into the dirt.
    Jude was red-faced with fury. It was a testament to Samiel’s exceptional strength that he was able to hold Jude down. Wolves are some of the most physically powerful supernatural creatures around.
    Samiel glanced up at me, questioning.
    “Let him up,” I said.
    He looked doubtful.
    “It’s okay.”
    Samiel reluctantly released Jude, who leapt to his feet and stalked toward me. His nose had lengthened into a muzzle. His front canines protruded over his mouth. The fingernails of his hands sharpened into claws.
    “Bitch!” he shouted, and his voice was the growl of the wolf.
    Gabriel tried to step in front of me, but I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. I would not hide from Jude in his grief. It could be laid directly at my feet.
    Samiel moved toward Jude, looking like he intended to tackle the wolf again. I shook my head and stood my ground.
    Jude walked right up to me, chest thrust out, breath coming in harsh pants. His right hand was upraised as though he intended to slash my throat open.
    He pushed his muzzle into my face. I lifted my chin and held his gaze. I said nothing.
    “I should kill you,” he breathed. “I should kill you now and rid the world of one more of your kind.”
    “Killing me won’t change anything,” I said with a calm that I did not feel. I wasn’t sure I could blast Jude fast enough to stop him from ripping me to pieces if he decided the inclination moved him.
    “You sealed the portal,” he growled. “I always knew the spawn of Lucifer would betray the wolves.”
    I couldn’t hide from this. It was my fault. We had lost our only clue to Wade’s whereabouts, and I knew that. I also knew that Jude’s heart was breaking. An alpha is everything to his pack, and as his right-hand man, Jude would have been closer than a brother to Wade. But I didn’t have to stand there and be insulted for the hundredth time.
    “Let me repeat again—I am not the spawn of Lucifer,” I said, my temper rising to the surface.
    “Lucifer’s power runs through you. Lucifer’s sword chose you. Lucifer’s mark is upon you. Whether by one generation or a thousand, you are his spawn. I see his craft in your face. I see the same black heart.”
    “His power may run through me,” I said softly, “but his heart is not mine. I am sorry about Wade. I am sorry. If you look as closely as you claim to, you will see that.”
    His ice-blue eyes flickered over my face, confused. His wolf receded, leaving the face of the man. For a moment he hesitated; then he turned his head to the side and spat. I was thankful he didn’t decide to spit on me.
    “I see only the deception of