Arctic Bound by Tigris Eden Page B

She wasn’t going to run. Her dog would never let anything bad happen to her. Maybe the white wolf on his tail was a friend, a stray. Besides if she took off running that would only incite their playful nature. She couldn’t forget about the massive beast that she could hear in the opposite direction of her dog and the white wolf. Turning around, she quietly tried to lead the dogs back towards the creek. She was ahead of them and walking at a clipped pace when a huge black bear stepped out from behind a large boulder. She must have disturbed its den. The bear approached slowly, huge billowing puffs of white air escaping its nostrils as it huffed through its snout.
    Nerina froze. She knew she couldn’t outrun a bear. Instead, she pointed her sig at the bear in hopes of getting off a warning shot, only the bear moved faster. Standing on its hind legs and roaring, it swept her with its huge paws. It sent Nerina flying into the air until her back hit a tree trunk. She felt as well as heard the unmistakable crack that was her ribs and her back as she slumped forward to the ground. Her chest burned for air, she couldn’t breathe. She knew what was happening as her legs and hands went numb. Her mouth slowly filling with blood.
    What a way to fucking die. Nerina thought to herself.
    Her vision was dimming but she could still see the bear waddling it ways in her direction. Slumped against the tree trunk, her back broken, her cracked ribs piercing her lungs, she took her last breath of true air. She didn’t die right away. Even though there was no air left, her body still tried to hold on. The last thing she saw was Demon and the white wolf tearing the black bear limb from limb.
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    Victor changed forms the moment the bear had been taken down. Nerina’s limp body lay propped against the tree. Her breathing shallow as Demon nudged her body so that she would lay flat on her back. There was no time to get her back to her cabin, and he couldn’t take her to his place either.
    Shit.
    Shit.
    Shit.
    What to do…. Think…
    â€œDemon, I have to get her to safety. The wind’s picking up and it’s starting to snow.”
    Demon nodded his head walking deeper into the woods.
    â€œThere’s a cave Victor about a half mile in by the creek. The one the younger cubs use. Take her there. You’ll have to give her some of your blood if she’s going to survive. I’ll go back to the cabin, ride out the storm with Daar. Once the storm is over, I’ll go down the mountain and get Thorn and the others.”
    Demon leapt off in the direction of her cabin, and a naked Victor picked up Nerina’s limp body and headed for the cave. He remembered the cave from when he was younger; it was secure enough that it would keep them from the harsh elements of the storm. He’d need to light a fire, and there would be a limited amount of supplies. They’d make it. Damn woman should have stayed inside. Now he was going to have to give her his blood. She wouldn’t be turned. It would take three bites for that, and then of course a near death experience, and even still she wouldn’t be accepted by the Pack.
    Why do you care? Just give her the blood. No one said anything about turning her.
    Nerina Simpson would be stronger, faster. Her senses sharper, but she wouldn’t be a Werewolf. There was something about her that Victor couldn’t get to. She was like a puzzle too complicated to solve, but he was willing to give it a try. He hoped Demon was right and that he wasn’t making a huge mistake. She could very well be his enemy.
    It didn’t take him long to reach the cave, but by the time he was able to build a fire her lips and eyelids had started to turn blue. The glow from the fire cast an orange glow against the walls of the cave, and they were far enough back that they’d stay relatively warm. Dropping down next to her, he tilted