PROLOGUE
ONE WEEK AGO
Curled in Pietr’s arms, her knee aching from her ex-boyfriend’s brutal attack, Jessie Gillmansen knows monsters come in all shapes and sizes. She rests her head against Pietr’s fiery chest, appreciating the heat that’s the aftermath of his change even more now that she doesn’t know when she’ll feel it next. Listening to the staccato rhythm of his heart, her pulse races to match it as shadows fall over them in the barn, throwing them into darkness.
“Pecan Place—where the nuts gather,” she mutters, shaking her head as Pietr pulls her closer as if his body can shield her from this sudden betrayal. “The mental institution?” It’s only been a few months since her mother’s sudden death and the reality is she’s not handling things well. But beyond the heartache of losing her mother, Jessie is struggling with much stranger things. “No,” she insists, voice rising. “No, no, no!”
Pietr steadies himself. His breath stirs the chestnut-colored strands of hair that curl slightly by Jess’s ear and he says, “I won’t let them take you, Jess. I promise. I won’t let you down.”
Some seventeen-year-olds might make promises hastily. Might not be prepared to back them up. Jess has done her share of that.
But Pietr wasn’t made that way.
Pietr doesn’t take promises lightly.
Clutching his arm, she whispers, “Please—puhzhalsta…”
Her breathing calms. The thrumming of her heart slows as she feels a subtle shift in the muscles sliding just below his skin.
Pietr is her hero.
Capable of amazing things.
A growl builds softly in his gut, clawing toward his chest. “Don’t touch her,” he warns.
Looking at Jess’s father, Leon, Dr. Jones’s lips purse in a distinct, nonverbal cue.
“Now, Jessie,” Leon says, watching Pietr’s eyes flick from person to person as he weighs his options. “This is the best thing we can do for you.” He rubs a hand across his forehead. “I want you to cooperate. Pietr. Let her go.”
“Nyet.” He bites the word off. “I will not let you take her. She does not want to go.”
“Pietr, let go of her.”
“Nyet, Wanda,” he snaps. His breathing hitches when he looks at Jess, so often so strong and now so frightened.
Dr. Jones steps forward, speaking in low, measured tones. “It’s okay,” she consoles him. “This occasionally happens.” She glances at Leon and Wanda. “That’s why we bring extra help.”
Car doors groan open and two sets of heavy feet approach.
“Let her go,” Dr. Jones suggests gently, stepping back as the darkness shrouding the teens deepens.
Jess looks up, eyes widening. It would take three of Pietr to make one of the giant who thickens the shadows. And he’s the smaller of the two approaching men.
“Do it,” Wanda encourages him. “Just let her go.”
From the hay bale where he cradles his girlfriend, Pietr looks up. And up. His head finally stops, neck craning, when he locks eyes with one of the giants. “Nyet.”
For a moment time stands still—for everyone except Jess. She knows how fast it rushes by, based on the thundering gallop of Pietr’s heart.
The shadows shift, the men’s arms blurring as they tear the couple apart.
Stretching toward each other, Jess and Pietr’s fingertips brush and she whispers a single word in warning: “Witnesses.”
He roars. She’s right. He can’t change—can’t shift—can’t let the wolf inside free to fight. His expression twisting with rage, he struggles to keep from showing what’s really inside: his fear that he finally can’t keep a promise to her.
And this may be his most important promise yet.
Ten minutes before they were ready to face the truth, tell her father everything. Stop the lies. Face the consequences.
Together.
But now?
Pinned, Pietr goes wild, writhing. Then, as fast as the rage comes, it disappears. He lies there. Still. The only clue to his inner turmoil is how his eyes hold Jess’s, glowing a furious red.
“No,” Jess whispers, voice catching. The goliath clambers away and Pietr springs forward and grabs her, nearly pulling her free before he’s slammed to the ground again.
Her father barely gets a word of objection out before the women silence him. They’ve already discussed this possibility.
Teenagers can be stubborn.
And Jessica needs protection.
Pietr’s nose streams blood and a fresh gash spills red into his blinking eyes. His cheek is ragged, abraded raw. He’s not nearly as beautiful as he was just fifteen minutes ago.
“Pietr,” Jess whispers, choking back a cry as she’s dumped onto her feet and the pain in her knee explodes like fireworks caught beneath her skin.
The other giant sits up again, watching as Pietr staggers to his feet, swaying. With one more burst of strength Pietr shoves him aside and goes for Jess.
“Stop fighting!”
The biggest grabs Pietr by the shoulders and hurls him to the earth. Jess winces. The crunch of bones carries.
Clutching his head, Pietr groans, his eyes filled with Jess. Only Jess. And he struggles to rise. He reaches for her, arms trembling.
The giant snarls and Leon shouts for everyone to stop as he grabs at the doctor’s clipboard.
But she holds her ground. “Unless you want me to call Social Services and have them reconsider your youngest’s living arrangements…”
Pietr’s head cracks against the hard-packed dirt as Dr. Jones calmly continues. “… you’ll follow through with the treatment plan we’ve agreed upon for Jessica.”
Pietr’s body shudders, but he tries to pull himself back up.
“Stay down! God, Pietr … please, please stay down.…” Jess begs. “I’ll go with you,” she swears to Dr. Jones, grabbing her sleeve. “Hurry. Before he tries again.”
Car doors open and slam shut again and the car’s engine growls back to life.
For one long, horrified minute Leon and Wanda stand in the dirt-and-gravel driveway, autumn’s leaves teasing their shoelaces as the car lurches forward, heading down the drive. Leon moves first, shaking off the immobilizing power of shock to reach for the boy lying crumpled on the ground.
Wanda follows, crouching beside the battered boy as Pietr groans and struggles to drag his hands closer toward his chest. One arm is clearly broken. Wanda tries not to imagine how many other parts of him are fighting to mend.