Electric Moon Read Free

handle,
his green eyes brimming with self-loathing.
     This man prided himself on his control. It must drive him
insane to be so close to the edge during the full moon that he was forced to concede
control and escape into his wolf.
    No thinking.
    No feeling.
    No having to trust anyone else.
    “Dominic—”
    “That man didn’t come here for help, and I’ll be damned if I
leave you alone with him.”

 
     
     Chapter Two
     
    SEVEN DAYS UNTIL
THE FULL MOON: SUNRISE
    R aven
dodged the fist flying toward her face, the speed so incredible, she couldn’t
escape completely, and took the glancing blow to her upper shoulder that nearly
knocked her flat. The hit numbed the right side of her body, similar to
slamming into a wall at thirty miles an hour without the benefit of a car.
    “Slow.”
    She grunted at London’s grumbled reprimand, having no air to
do much else. She clenched and unclenched her hands, still not comfortable
being without the leather gloves she wore to protect others from an accidental
touch of her power. Shifters were programmed for survival. Their fights primal.
He wanted her willing and able to use anything at her disposal. The training
was to force her instinct to become second nature.
    Attack and win.
    She had no wish to hurt London and refused to call upon
anything but her beasts when they sparred. Each blow she received only
increased her annoyance. At least she managed to remain upright most of the
time now.
    She wanted to blame her irritation on the few hours of sleep
she’d managed to eke out, but she wouldn’t lie to herself. She didn’t know what
put her on edge more, the house full of strangers or Durant prowling the halls at
night after he’d returned from the club.
    When he’d paused outside her door last night, her breath halted
in her chest, half-expecting him to enter. Disappointment struck hard when his
footsteps continued past her door, revealing just how screwed up her thinking
process had become.
    Funny thing to feel lonely with so many people crammed in
the house.
    She’d been training for three days. Her body ached, she had
bruises on bruises, and no pride left to speak of. Despite all that, she was
glad to be fighting, the angst building under her skin needing an outlet that
didn’t have anything to do with the moon madness crap.
    They sparred in the entryway, forcing her to learn how to
fight in close corners. At least the others had stopped watching them from the
balcony. Some had cheered at each small victory. Others had winced in sympathy.
The constant rumble of Durant’s tiger was a distraction all on its own, like he
would lunge at London if he dared even breathe in her direction.
    The large man who ran security for her dropped, swung his
leg out and tried to sweep her legs out from underneath her. Not pulling his
punches despite their size difference.
    Swift.
    Determined.
    Deadly.
    With no way to counter, Raven leapt back, surprising herself
when she landed lightly on her feet. Using her advantage, she swung out with
her own foot. But the big brute had already retreated.
    “Too slow.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Human,” she spit out, panting to catch
her breath.
    “Dead if you don’t learn better. Stop thinking. Trust your
other senses.”
    Her chest constricted at his words, and she scanned her
core. The animals that normally crouched close to the surface when danger threatened
were nowhere in evidence. All that answered her call was threads of pure
energy, eager to come out and play. She swallowed her unease and forced herself
to ask the question.
    “How?”
    “Loosen your hold over them. They're animals. Treat them as
such. They’ll become dangerous if you continue to deny them their freedom.”
    Raven instinctively shook her head in denial, sweaty hair sticking
to her neck. After three days, her reflexes were already quicker than a normal
human. Though that was what London had intended, the subtle change left her
shaken.
    Each day, her beasts took over more