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Adrian fought Mad Red, but his wolf kept forcing the change. They had to get out of this jungle. They had to find Jaz.
Why would she be here?
He didn’t want her in this hell hole.
Mad Red wrenched hard on their energy, determined to have control. His wolf yelled, Want out. Get away from you!
Adrian’s vision swirled and blurred. He couldn’t see. Couldn’t black out. That would be disastrous for everyone. What was Mad Red doing?
Sharp spikes poked him everywhere.
His wolf howled an insane noise.
Adrian clenched his fists and claws tore into his palms. He had to hold on and keep Mad Red locked down.
Jaz’s voice came from far away through a dark tunnel. You’re safe. Calm down. Stay with me.
He shouted, I’m trying. The words came out jumbled because his head had warped out of human shape. He reached out for Jaz, but his body no longer belonged to him.
Mad Red fought his own demons and forced the change.
Pain from twisting muscles and bones breaking brought tears to the corner of Adrian’s eyes. Claws extended from his fingertips. He fought to free himself from whatever had him pinned down.
His wolf exploded from him and ran forward, banging into solid objects. Mad Red snarled and tackled anything in his way. Adrian shouted telepathically to Mad Red, Open your eyes. I can’t see anything.
Mad Red rammed something and bounced back.
Adrian kept pleading for vision.
His wolf yelled, Shut up.
Then his wolf broke free and raced downstairs, then out into the woods.
Finally, Adrian could see through his wolf’s eyes, just like normal. Had he been in a nightmare and woke up, or was this a nightmare?
This felt real, but he couldn’t stop his crazed animal no matter what he said to his wolf. He pleaded, Don’t hurt anyone, Mad Red. I’m the one you hate, not innocent people.
This time he got a stronger order. Shut up, human.
To be addressed only as a human was another bad sign in a string of indications Adrian had no hope of saving his animal or himself.
Adrian forced all his energy into using his wolf’s senses and not be shut out. The woods came into sharp focus with saplings and thicker trees flying past while in a dead run.
Every smell intensified.
Every heartbeat boomed inside him.
Mad Red drew in a deep inhale and released the air. Adrian could feel his wolf’s elation, which meant only one thing. Mad Red held control and would do as he wished, damn the consequences.
Adrian let his wolf run, hoping the animal tired out and would listen once he dropped off this adrenaline high.
A howl followed them.
Mad Red put on the brakes and slid to a stop, plowing through vegetation. His wolf flipped around, ready to face a threat.
Having been in too many battles together, Adrian recognized the low snarl with each breath as Mad Red ready to kill.
Fifty feet away, a pair of glowing amber eyes broke through the endless darkness.
A growling golden wolf headed this way at top speed.
Jaz! Adrian yelled at Mad Red, Don’t hurt her!
His wolf took off, barreling toward his kill.
