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good looks. He was almost two meters of height, sinewy and dangerous. I knew how easily it might rip my child’s throat open. A low, quiet growl emanated from his throat as he stroked Clarissa’s lips and neck. The other males would have wanted their share of the prey, but the black-haired one communicated to all that this was his catch. The others backed off, offering no resistance.
    The male stroked Clarissa’s hair, alternating between gentle touches and almost violent clutching. Not for a moment did his gaze leave her eyes. I felt his impudence. His excitement and his desire towards Clarissa. He stared at her covetously, as if Clarissa were something incredibly tempting and forbidden, something he simply had to possess. The other males gave low growls and their white fangs gleamed in the dim light. Everything about them emanated threat and danger. Not even quite realizing it, I saw not a group of young men but a pack of wolves with their prey. These men were clearly more animal than human and this was my only comfort, for I knew they would never flout their leader’s absolute command, and this female was marked. Chosen by the black-haired leader, whether she wanted it or not. I sensed Clarissa calling to me for help. She prayed I would wake up and come to rescue her. Even though I was fully awake by now, I couldn’t shake the dream off my mind and I decided to check if Clarissa was all right.
    The instant I opened the door to her room, all hell broke loose. Gunward leapt in through the window, straight between Clarissa and the young male. The big dark brown wolf transformed into a man even before its front paws touched the ground. Clarissa stared at Gunward in sheer terror. Her eyes darted wildly between me and the men and only her fear of the young man prevented her from rushing to me. The other males gave way to Gunward and bowed their heads to indicate their submission. Gunward threw them an enraged glare and they quickly retreated even further from him. I, too, stared at Gunward, enchanted rather than frightened. When had I last seen a full transformation? It felt like forever ago. It also felt unbelievable that Gunward had gathered so many shape shifters into his pack. I had not understood how many there truly were. A few were clearly very young still- only a few decades of age and obviously out of their experience in human bodies. I knew there were very few shape shifter females and of those few, I knew no other female, besides myself, who would have been willing or able to procreate, let alone birth new shape shifters.
    Thousands of questions flitted through my mind, but an angry sound from Gunward recalled me to the present and forced me to confront the chaotic situation in my daughter’s room.
    “Adam,” Gunward grunted sternly.
    For a moment the big males merely stared at each other, until the black-haired male referred to as Adam gave a frustrated grunt and took a step backwards with exaggerated courtesy. I dashed to Clarissa and enfolded her in a tight hug. She trembled in my arms, but didn’t take her eyes off the male called Adam. I felt how tense and strained all her muscles were. She was evidently very frightened, but held her back ramrod straight and her head up. Clenching her teeth, she summoned all her courage and gently broke free of my embrace, eyeing Adam and Gunward with suspicion. She let out a deep sigh and briefly squeezed my hand so hard that I thought my bones would break. Then, trembling and obviously frightened, she stepped in front of Adam. Gunward stepped out of her way and his eyes met mine.
    Staring at Adam in anger and affront, Clarissa smacked her fist at his chest and stood there. I was horrified. Didn’t she realize how dangerous he was? And why was Gunward doing nothing? I was about to draw Clarissa out of Adam’s reach when Gunward took my arm and quietly shook his head. I stared at my child and this unknown man and, to my horror, found myself thinking what a gorgeous