Darkest Wolf by Rebecca Royce

branch and drag it with her. Even if it made noise, it worked as a really good weapon for her. But since they were all but unable to communicate at all, they would just have to do the best they could.
    “I was so relieved when I found that branch.”
    Rex felt enormous gratitude she’d wielded it so well, but he would have preferred her to have either stayed in the car or run like hell when she saw what was going on.
    “In the past, I could have used my powers to stun them. Boy, did I take those days for granted.”
    He knew exactly what she meant. The simple times in his life before everything had exploded and every move he made opened him up to questions caused by mistrust.
    “You were really handling things before I got in the way, weren’t you?” She sighed.
    “I bet you’re pissed at me, aren’t you? That’s why you’re not shifting back to speak to me, right?”
    He wasn’t changing his form because he was afraid as soon as he did so he was going to pass out from the pain. He preferred to be in the car when that happened.
    Turning around, he pleaded with her with his eyes to just keep moving.

    “You want something from me.” She scratched her head. In the moonlight, he could see her eyes looked weary. “I’m just not sure what.”
    This was getting ridiculous. He was a strong man. Somehow, he’d just have to assure he didn’t lose consciousness until he got to the car.
    Calling the shift onto himself, he bathed in the white light of the change until his human form reappeared.

He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the moonlight. Elizabeth gasped, her hands grabbing him around his waist. “Goddess, Rex.”
    He looked down at himself. Yes, he was just as torn up as he’d expected to be. The sight of his own blood didn’t disturb him; he’d seen it before. He couldn’t live the life he’d led and not occasionally face this kind of an issue.
    “It’ll be okay.” He spoke through gritted teeth. It was better than howling. “I just need to shift again to heal. The only problem is serious healing requires a lot of energy.
    I’m going to be out of it—maybe unconscious for a while after.” She grinned, which surprised him. “Only if you’re not driving the vehicle at the time.”
    A smile twitched at his lips. He was surprised by the sensation. Most of the time he didn’t find things amusing. Now, here he was, in the woods, half-beat up with feral wolves still living that could come after them, and he wanted to crack up. Had he gone completely insane? Rex cleared his throat to cover his amusement. There’s no way Elizabeth would find it appropriate. Her joking was to cover up her nervousness.
    “Obviously, I don’t intend to drive.”
    “Me with my whacked-up head and you with your beat-up body. We’re really tough right now, aren’t we?”
    “You’re right. You’re in no condition to drive.” His little witch had been badly injured. How could he have forgotten?
    “I’m joking.” She shook her head. “I can drive. Between my small amount of magic and a little bit of time, I seem to be getting better.”
    “Better enough to drive?”
    She shrugged, which made her breasts rub against his bare chest. Considering he was completely naked, the fact his cock jumped to attention couldn’t have been missed by Elizabeth. “For a little bit, at least. I can drive us to the nearest hotel.”
    “Sounds like a plan.”
    They walked slowly together through the woods. On her own, Elizabeth could have moved much faster. Each step Rex took felt like agony as pain shot up his legs. There was no way he would complain. He’d already been un-manned in front of her a few times. Leave it to him to not even be able to impress a mate.
    Finally, they made it back to the car. Even though it felt like it might kill him, he managed to, with help from her, hot-wire the car to start again. He stumbled inside and groaned as the desire to pass out threatened. “Elizabeth, I have to tell you I might pass out. I