Free Aphrodite's Hunt by Jennifer Blackstream Page B

exploding from her chest wall as she fought the urge to run. The vampire was kneeling on the floor, his body twisting and his hands scrabbling at his skin as if he was in agony. Her eyes twitched as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. It seemed like her brain didn’t want to see it, didn’t want to realize what was happening. Unfortunately, as an alpha, it was only a matter of time before her instincts revealed the truth.
     
    Sorin was changing. Shocked into immobility, Gia just stared. It was a rough change, characteristic of a new wolf. Sorin screamed and thrashed about, his limbs shrinking and his bones cracking as they reformed. He rolled over, flailing his arms in the air as his muscles struggled to reorder themselves to the new form. His torn shirt easily gave way, but it took him a moment to fight free of the pants that tried to cling to his lower half. It seemed to take forever, every moment a shared agony as her mind filled in the blanks. She’d been through that first change, had helped others through it. She knew the pain and the fear. Empathic relief washed over her as Sorin finally collapsed to the ground in full wolf form.
     
    At first she was too shocked to react. Sorin was a vampire—he couldn’t be a werewolf. The dead could not be given the gift of transformation. And yet, what she’d just witnessed wasn’t a vampire trick. She’d seen vampires that could change shape and there was no confusing that chicanery with the shift of a true werewolf. She shook her head, tilting it to the side as she looked again.
     
    His fur was a brilliant white. It seemed strange to her for some reason. She’d expected black fur, something sinister and imposing. Instead, Sorin could have hidden in a drift of pure snow with only his green eyes giving him away. He was . . . beautiful.
     
    She waited for him to stand, too curious to leave. Despite his earlier violent domination, her wolf saw no threat in this new wolf. A wolf who struggled through a change like that needed help, care, and protection. That was not the shift of an experienced werewolf. She took a few steps toward him, sniffing the air. What was he?
     
    The minutes dragged on and Sorin didn’t move. Instinct took over. As lupa, it was her job to protect new wolves, to help them through the change. What she’d just seen told her more than words could that Sorin needed help. Shedding her wolfskin and retaking her human form, she paused only for a second to let the dizzying sensation pass.
     
    “I’ve never seen a werewolf change from human to wolf and back so quickly. You are very impressive, Gia.”
     
    Grigore’s voice startled her, but she didn’t take her eyes off Sorin. Dropping down to her knees, she put her hands on his body, seeking a pulse. She found none. Her own pulse raced faster as her wolf’s protective instincts flared even stronger.
     
    “Do not worry yourself, Gia. The sun is rising, he is merely asleep.”
     
    Gia pulled back from Sorin and turned to stare at Grigore. A million thoughts fought for a place in her mind, each one more confusing than the last. Emotions began to bubble beneath the layer of shock. Confusion, frustration, and anger all warred for dominance. The only thing that seemed a certainty anymore was that her perfect plan had gone all to hell.
     
    Pop!
     
    “What the fuck is going on?” she screeched. She pointed at wolf-Sorin’s body. “What the fuck is that?”
     
    “I appreciate how confusing this must—”
     
    She shot to her feet and pointed a finger at Grigore, the digit trembling as she fought to control her temper. “Do not patronize me, little fey. I want to know what the fuck is going on.”
     
    Grigore shook his head. “I’m sorry, Gia. That is not my story to tell. If you want your answers, you will have to wait until Sorin wakes at sunset.”
     
    It took more energy than she liked to admit not to retake her wolf form and eat the brownie where he stood. Her body and her