TurningWildBlankEditionHTML by Erika Masten Page A

the
discipline of a soldier to Odin. It’s what makes us feel like brothers instead of just mimicking the traditions.”
    “It’s what makes us
loyal to one another,” Eric added. He glanced pointedly at the lupa, then
pointedly away, half-turning from her. “And protects us from outside
influences.”
    “You mean the Agency,”
Holly snapped, and Dustin saw Eric’s brow twitch just above those sunglasses.
Very few people flared at the six-foot-four wall of muscle that was the blond
lieutenant. Considering her usual restraint, Dustin had to wonder what was
going on with the lupa. Her wolf asserting itself? Or did she instinctively
realize what she had at stake? Was it too much to hope she was invested in not
just surviving but in becoming one of the pack, a member of Dustin’s true
family, as a true mate would have been?
    “She can help us,”
Dustin insisted to his pack leaders. “Holly can be our in with the local cell
at the Agency. Intel on vargs , Fenris packs,
operations that might target Odin Wolves….”
    Eric huffed. “Assuming
we could trust her not to play us.” He stepped up over Dustin and clearly
enunciated, “She’s not bonded to us.”
    Dustin stared into
Eric’s eyes despite the difference of six inches and at least thirty pounds.
“She’s bonded to me.”
    “Prove it.”
    When Dustin hesitated,
feeling himself go cold, Holly stepped around him. She was watching his
expression, reading, weighing.
    “Fine. How do I prove
it?” she asked. “Dustin? How do I prove it?”
    Ron was the one who
answered. “He wants us to put you through the frenzy.”
    Dustin found he
couldn’t say it, now that the alpha had. It was dangerous, potentially
scarring, mentally and physically. How could he even consider putting his lupa
through that? Except, of course, that the alternative was allowing the pack to
put her down. So how could he not subject her to the trial? She wasn’t just the key to staving off his wilding.
This was his lupa, his responsibility. This was Holly , and he’d promised not to leave her.
    The woman shook her
head and threw up her arms, apparently tired of all the pomp and drama. “Fine.
Let’s do it.”
    Slowly turning his head
to look her in that gorgeous, innocent apple face, Dustin rasped her name.
    “Did you explain it to
her?” Ron asked, and the scout shook his head no. “Well, Holly Parker, that’s a
lot to commit to so blindly. The frenzy isn’t the most pleasant thing you’ll
ever feel. Instead of coaxing out your wolf over months or years and gently
introducing you to your pack, we bring that beast out snapping and clawing and
make it…. Well, make it bond or die trying.”
    Holly huffed out her
breath impatiently. “Either I’m not making myself clear, or no one is listening
to me. I said let’s do it.”
     
    CHAPTER
NINE
    “Why, Holly?”
    Ron and Eric had gone
back out to the porch with the rest of the pack, giving Dustin and Holly time
alone to prepare. She sat cross-legged, still barefooted and not even caring,
on the foot of the bed with the heavy ceramic mug Ron had given her. Well, he’d
tried to give it to her. Dustin wouldn’t let the alpha oversee this first
stage, insisting on taking the cup filled with the hallucinatory mixture of
mead and herbs and lord knew what else and handing it to Holly himself. It was
sweet, a bit thick, maybe a little medicinal-tasting with the add-ons. Under
other circumstances, she’d have enjoyed the drink.
    She took another deep
swallow that almost finished the cup. “What do you mean why?”
    Dustin was crouched on
one knee on the floor in front of her. “Why are you rushing into this?”
    After draining the mug,
and definitely feeling a heavy warmth spreading up into her head and down into
her chest, Holly let the cup rest in her lap. “Do I have a choice?” she asked,
noting her words were coming out slower than normal. Dustin didn’t answer. He
must have known the only alternative was death, plain and