Keeping her eyes fixed on the surrounding brush and the glowing needle of her compass, Euphoria continued her trek toward the south”Get down!
Already on high alert, the sudden roar from behind sent a jolt of adrenaline through her.
She sensed a blur of movement from her left flank and threw herself into a low roll, narrowly dodging a strike
As she pivoted to face the threat, her jaw dropped.
The man who had been following her didn’t just move—he transformed.
In a terrifying display of shifting bone and muscle, he had turned into a massive, golden-maned lion that was currently mid-air, pouncing past her
Are you kidding me?
This is actually happening
She watched, paralyzed by the sight of a human becoming a beast, as the lion’s jaws clamped down on a python thick enough to wrap around a tree.
A sickening whoosh echoed through the clearing
The lion gripped the serpent by the neck, but the python was quick, coiling its muscular body around the lion’s torso in a death grip, its tongue flickering inches from the predator’s eyes
Constricted and snarling, the lion slammed its body against a massive oak with a thunderous bang!
The impact crushed the python’s skull against the bark
The snake’s body went limp, sliding off the lion’s back.
With a sharp flick of its head, the lion tossed the carcass aside like a piece of trash
Then, the beast padded over to Euphoria, its golden eyes filled with an almost human concern
Euphoria, usually the pillar of military composure, swallowed hard.
She pointed a trembling finger at the creature.
“Are you…
some kind of monster?
”Woo…” Wayne let out a soft, pathetic whimper.
Realizing she was still terrified and couldn’t understand his growls, he shifted back
Watching the lion shrink and reform into the handsome, naked young man, Euphoria instinctively scrambled backward”I’m an orc, not a monster,” Wayne corrected her, his voice back to normal
Orc?
Monster?
Is there a difference?
Euphoria retreated a few more paces, dropping into a low combat stance, hands balled into fists
Wayne looked at her posture with confusion, but his expression quickly turned grim as he scanned the treeline.
“We need to get to the tribe.
Now.
If ghost beasts or hunters from other tribes find us out here, we’re finished.
After seeing that python, Euphoria didn’t need much convincing that this forest was a nightmare
She didn’t know what a “ghost beast” was, but if it made a man who kills giant snakes look worried, she didn’t want to meet one”Fine…” she agreed, weighing her survival odds
Wayne’s face lit up with a grin, and he moved to approach her.
Euphoria immediately held up a hand to stop him, then unzipped her camouflage jacket and threw it at his face.
“Put that on.
She was tired of having her personal space—and her eyes—violated by his lack of wardrobe
Wayne caught the jacket, marveling at the smooth, synthetic fabric.
He brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply.
A faint, feminine scent lingered on the cloth
The fragrance sent a strange thrum through his chest; he had never known a female could smell like something other than animal musk and sweat
Euphoria’s eyes narrowed at his infatuated expression.
“Stop sniffing my clothes.
Wayne snapped out of it, his face turning a localized shade of crimson, and tied the sleeves of the jacket around his waist”Let’s go,” he muttered, taking the lead
Great
Euphoria rubbed her temples.
The jacket was far too small to cover him properly.
Watching his bare, muscular backside swaying in front of her as they walked, she felt a powerful urge to just punch him in the head
Wayne kept a slow pace so she could keep up, frequently glancing back with a wide, toothy grin that made him look less like a fierce predator and more like a simple-minded puppy
After what felt like miles, a primitive fortification appeared through the trees
It was a high wall reinforced with a jagged wooden fence.
Two well-built men wearing nothing but animal-skin wraps stood guard at the entrance
Wayne called out a greeting, but the guards’ eyes immediately locked onto Euphoria”A new female?” one of them asked, his voice thick with excitement as he stepped forward
Wayne’s protective instincts flared.
He growled at the guard, baring his teeth.
“She’s my female.” He grabbed Euphoria’s hand and practically yanked her through the gate
Euphoria, who had been busy taking in the sights, stumbled and nearly fell
Reflex took over.
She grabbed Wayne’s wrist, and for a second, he thought she was holding his hand back.
Then, with a blur of motion, he felt a surge of pressure as she twisted his arm behind his back and pinned him
He let out a grunt of surprise.
He could have broken free with brute strength, but he was terrified of hurting her delicate skin”I told you,” Euphoria hissed, tightening the lock until Wayne winced.
“Do not touch me.
The two guards at the gate froze.
Seeing the tribe’s newest adult male being manhandled by a female—and a small one at that—they burst into raucous laughter
Wayne’s face darkened with shame.
He wished the ground would swallow him whole”Let me go!” Wayne grunted, his pride wounded but his concern for her still winning out
Euphoria threw a cold, sharp glare at the laughing guards.
The intensity in her eyes was so lethal that their laughter died in their throats instantly
She released Wayne with a disdainful shove and walked into the village without a second glance
Looking like a kicked dog, Wayne rubbed his sore shoulder and hurried to catch up with her
The “village” consisted of several stone huts of varying sizes scattered across a dusty clearing”My home is over there,” Wayne said, his voice still a bit sulky
He led her into a large stone house.
The interior was Spartan: a bed of soft, dried grass and a single large wooden crate
Wayne looked around, suddenly embarrassed by his lack of furniture.
He was young and had only recently moved out on his own; without a mate, there was no reason to decorate
He rummaged through the crate and pulled out a fresh fur skirt.
After swapping the jacket for the furs, he looked a bit more presentable
Euphoria stood by the door, staring out at the primitive village.
Am I really stuck here?
Living with lion-men”Here,” Wayne said, handing back her camouflage jacket.
The way she was dressed in those strange, tight trousers was starting to bother him
She took the jacket and set it on the crate next to her backpack.
After two days in the mud and dirt, her military fatigues were stiff with filth”Do you have anything else I can wear?” she asked
Wayne’s mood brightened instantly.
He loved the idea of her wearing his furs.
“Yes!
Just wait!
He placed her gear on the grass bed and dove back into the wooden crate.
He emerged with a large, supple hide, a bone needle, and a spool of dried sinew
He spread the hide over the crate and glanced at Euphoria, gauging her curves.
Suddenly, his fingernails extended into razor-sharp talons
Euphoria watched, fascinated and slightly horrified, as he used his claws to slice through the leather with surgical precision.
Then, the claws vanished
Okay, that’s actually pretty useful, she thought
Wayne worked with the focus of a tailor, his large hands moving with surprising grace.
He looked like a devoted housewife as he stitched away
Within minutes, he had fashioned a leather tube top and a matching skirt”Try these,” he said, handing them over with wide, expectant eyes
Euphoria took the garments.
“Is there water?
I need to wash.” If she didn’t get the forest grime off her soon, she was going to lose her mind”I’ll go get some,” Wayne said, standing up”Don’t worry about it, just point me to the river,” Euphoria countered.
She didn’t want to be a burden”No!
Wayne’s voice was stern.
“You cannot go to the river alone.
Other males will see you and try to steal you away!
The sheer panic in his voice made Euphoria relented.
“Fine.
Bring the water here.
Relieved, Wayne dashed out and returned moments later with a massive wooden tub brimming with fresh water.
He set it down in the center of the hut and stood there, waiting
Euphoria raised an eyebrow.
“Well?
Aren’t you leaving?
Wayne tilted his head innocently.
“You’re my female.
Why would I leave?
A vein began to throb in Euphoria’s temple.
She forced a sweet, terrifyingly bright smile.
“Are you absolutely sure you want to stay?
Wayne felt lightheaded.
He had seen the “beauty” of the tribe, but this strange, fierce woman was far more captivating.
He was convinced, more than ever, that she was the one
Gurgle..
The menacing moment was shattered by the loud, pathetic sound of Euphoria’s empty stomach
Wayne’s expression softened into guilt.
“I forgot—you haven’t eaten.
I’ll go hunt.
Stay here, lock the door, and don’t come out until I return.” Without waiting for an answer, he shed his furs, shifted into the great lion, and sprinted out the door
Talk about a mood swing, Euphoria thought
She barred the wooden door and climbed into the tub.
The water was cool and refreshing, reaching all the way to her neck
She let out a long, shaky sigh, scrubbing away the blood, mud, and the scent of the old world
When she finally stepped out and dressed, she found that Wayne’s handiwork was perfect.
The top hugged her chest securely while leaving her midriff bare, and the skirt sat just above her knees, allowing her full range of motion.
It was, surprisingly, the most comfortable thing she’d ever worn