Feral Sneak Peek

It had been about a week since the horrifying things that happened at the cabin. Despite the lingering arm pain, the only evidence of injury was a small pinkish scar. Though people asked about Jax, his habit of disappearing for weeks at a stretch meant nobody worried too much. As for Emmeline, folks stopped asking about her long ago.

In the solitude of his room, Luca relived the events of that night, his mother’s ring twisting idly on his finger.

Myths and legends were an everyday part of life for him, growing up in Cajun country. He knew exactly what Emmeline was—a Rougarou. He also understood the dangerous consequences a bite from one of those creatures could inflict on a man.

His arm tingled with awareness. Though Luca suspected what his body was doing, he ignored the truth and refused to face the inevitable. Truth be told, this had been his deepest fear ever since that haunting night. It was as if he could feel it coming, almost expecting it to happen.

A wave of nausea, cold and clammy, washed over him, making his stomach churn. The sensation was electric, a tingling unlike anything he’d ever known. A searing, white-hot pain shot down his arm, making him wince. The heat was unbearable. He was sure that any moment, he would ignite into a ball of raging flames and burn the whole trailer down.

Beads of sweat seeped from every pore. A deep, throbbing pain wracked his body, a relentless, agonizing pressure that felt like his very bones were cracking, as if some unseen power was tearing him apart from the inside. A tingling, writhing sensation crawled across his skin like a million tiny spiders, their legs prickling his flesh. His lungs screamed for air, a desperate gasp escaping his lips as his vision blurred and the world threatened to fade away. Inside his chest, his heart pounded like a drum, as though he were being chased by something terrifying. Panic seized him, a cold fist clenching his throat, choking the air from his lungs and constricting his ability to breathe.

Pain, sharp and intense, erupted in every limb, its fiery tendrils spreading like wildfire. In his feverish delirium, he leaped from the bed, leaving behind a damp, dark stain on the sheets where he’d been lying. He felt a rush of adrenaline, a tingling energy in his limbs, and he couldn’t resist the urge to move. Carefully, so as not to wake the old man, he eased open the cracked, paint-chipped window of his bedroom, then crawled outside.

The moment the cool night air touched his damp skin, chaos erupted. Excruciating pain in every limb radiated through his entire body. His insides twisted and turned, a sickening wave of nausea washing over him, accompanied by a cold sweat.

Movement helped ease the pain. With a burst of energy, he dashed into the woods; the wind rushing through his sweat soaked hair as he ran at full speed. Never in his life had he felt so much pain. He also never felt so alive and powerful. It was intoxicating.

He doubled over, clutching his stomach as a sharp, stabbing pain shot through him. A crushing wave of agony washed over him; he thought he was dying.

His fingers throbbed with intense pain. A sickening crack echoed as his bones grotesquely twisted and elongated, bending unnaturally, the sound accompanied by a horrifying feeling of tearing flesh. Blood poured from his shredded fingertips, revealing the raw flesh beneath. His hands swelled, developing long, deadly claws.

Excruciating pain pierced his head as his limbs contorted violently. His body was wracked with such intense pain that he felt it in every nerve. The pressure of his erupting fangs caused disturbing cracks and pops in his skull, a process he could both hear and feel as his jaw and teeth grew. With a scream, he collapsed, clutching a handful of blond hair that had come loose. He felt a tickle as short, coarse hairs sprouted all over his body.The intensity of the pain during his transformation was such that Luca fell unconscious. Regaining consciousness, he experienced a sense of unfamiliar disconnect with his body.

His slender frame had disappeared, replaced by a lumbering beast that exhaled heavily with every step. A surge of strength and energy coursed through him. The pain disappeared, replaced by an overwhelming feeling of raw power.

And a great deal of confusion.

Overwhelmed by hunger, his stomach growled ferociously. His new body cried out for food, teetering on the edge of collapse. When he heard the distinct sound of a small animal scurrying about in the dark, his senses immediately sharpened. With his heightened senses, Luca quickly identified the source of the sound as a small possum. Before the creature had a chance to react, it was already in his clutches, its fate sealed.

It wasn’t a great start, but at least he could think clearly after eating.

To test his strength, he approached a large, sturdy tree. It wasn’t particularly big, even at twenty feet tall. His powerful hands gripped the tree trunk, yanking it effortlessly from the earth. It barely took any effort on his part. It was as easy as lifting a toothpick. He tilted his head skyward and unleashed a long, haunting howl.

Newly empowered, Luca sprinted through the swamp, his powerful legs driving him ever deeper into the murky water with each stride. A hungry alligator, swimming silently, expected an easy meal, but ended up becoming the prey.

A satisfied grin on his face, Luca tossed the gator scraps into the water, causing a feeding frenzy among the smaller fish.He pressed onward into the swamp, exhilarated by the strength flowing through him. He felt unstoppable, as if nothing could touch him.

Bang!

Gunfire rang out from the darkness, followed by yet another.

A sudden impact against Luca’s side sent waves of searing pain coursing through him, leaving him momentarily stunned. A piercing yell escaped his lips; then, he looked down. A trickle of blood oozed from a puncture wound beneath his ribs. His body instinctively expelled the bullet. It fell into the water with a soft plop as he watched.

More gunshots.

If you've read this far, that must mean you're enjoying this story as much as I am. Hang tight, more will come. And mark you calendars for September. Once I have the cover, I'll schedule the date.