Lessons in Blood

RAVEN

The warehouse smelled like rust, motor oil, and something feral I couldn't name. Jax's hand around my wrist was iron-hot, his grip just shy of painful as he dragged me to the center of the space where the other bikers formed a loose circle.

"Let go of me." I tried to yank free, but he didn't budge.

"Lesson two," he said, pulling me closer until I stumbled against his chest. "Never show weakness. The pack respects strength. Fear gets you killed."

His eyes were black fire, and this close I could see the scars, one cutting through his eyebrow, another along his jaw. Battle scars. Killer's marks.

"I'm not afraid of you," I lied.

His smile was slow, dangerous. "Yes, you are. I can smell it on you." He leaned down, his breath hot against my ear. "But that's okay, princess. Fear keeps you alive. Just don't let it make you stupid."

He released me abruptly and I stumbled back, my wrist burning where he'd held me. The other bikers watched with predatory interest, and I realized they were waiting for something. Waiting to see if I'd break.

"Strip." Jax's command cut through the silence.

My blood went cold. "What?"

"Your jacket. Take it off." He circled me slowly, and I felt his gaze like a physical touch. "Can't learn to shift if you're worried about your clothes. When it happens, and it will happen fast, you'll tear right through anything you're wearing."

Relief and embarrassment warred in my chest. "Here? In front of them?"

"They're pack. You're pack. There's no modesty in what we are." He stopped in front of me, arms crossed. "Besides, if you can't handle taking off a jacket, you'll never survive the shift. Now do it, or I'll do it for you."

The threat in his voice was real. I peeled off my jacket with shaking hands, standing there in just my tank top and jeans while five men watched. I wanted to cover myself, wanted to run, wanted to disappear.

"Good girl." Jax's approval shouldn't have made something warm unfurl in my stomach, but it did. "Now, the shift is instinct. Your wolf is in there, waiting. We just need to piss her off enough to come out and play."

He moved before I could process his words, his hand lashing out to grab my throat, not squeezing, just holding. My body reacted instantly, adrenaline flooding my system, and something inside me snarled.

"There she is." His eyes gleamed. "Your wolf doesn't like being threatened. Doesn't like being touched without permission." His thumb brushed the pulse point in my neck, and my heartbeat kicked into overdrive. "She wants to fight me. So fight me, Raven. Show me your teeth."

"I don't know how—"

"Stop thinking." His grip tightened fractionally. "Feel. Let instinct take over. What does your wolf want to do right now?"

My wolf wanted to bite him. Wanted to sink teeth into his wrist and make him let go, make him submit.

Pain exploded through my gums. I gasped, tasting copper, and when I touched my mouth my fingers came away bloody. My canines had lengthened, sharp and wrong and terrifyingly right.

"Fuck yes." Jax's grin was feral as he released me. "That's a start. Again."

He came at me faster this time, and instinct took over. I dodged, my body moving in ways I didn't know it could, and my hand came up with claws I didn't remember growing. They raked across his arm, tearing leather and skin.

The warehouse went silent.

Jax looked at his bleeding arm, then at me, and I waited for rage. For retaliation. Instead, he laughed, deep and genuinely pleased.

"She's got spirit." He showed the wounds to the other bikers like a trophy. "And she's fast for someone who's never shifted. This might actually be fun."

"Fun for you," I managed, staring at my hands. The claws were retracting, sliding back under my nails like they'd never existed. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"You get used to it." He moved closer again, and this time when he touched me it was almost gentle, his fingers tilting my chin up. "The first shift is the hardest. Your body's fighting itself, human versus wolf, and both sides want to win. The trick is learning they're both you. No separation. No war. Just one creature in two skins."

His thumb brushed my lower lip, wiping away blood, and the gesture was so intimate it stole my breath. Our eyes locked, and something passed between us, recognition, attraction, danger all mixed into one combustible thing.

"Jax." A voice cut through the moment. "Alpha's here."

Jax stepped back like I'd burned him, his expression shuttering. "Great. Right on time to interrupt the fun."

The warehouse door opened, and Dominic walked in like he owned the air itself. He took one look at Jax's bleeding arm, my bloody mouth, and the space between us, and his eyes flashed pure gold.

"Report." One word, but it carried enough authority to make Jax straighten.

"She's a natural. Partial shift on first try, good instincts, faster than expected." Jax's tone was professional, but I caught the edge of pride in it. "Give me two more days and she'll be ready for the blood moon."

Dominic's gaze moved to me, and the intensity of it made my knees weak. "You hurt?"

"No." My voice came out rough. "Just scared."

"Good." He moved closer, and the air between us thickened with that same electric pull from before. "Fear will keep you cautious. Overconfidence gets wolves killed." He looked at Jax. "Take the others back to the compound. I'll finish her training today."

Jax's jaw tightened. "Alpha, I was just getting her warmed up"

"I said take them back." Command rolled through Dominic's voice, making Jax's eyes flash with rebellion before he controlled it. "Now."

The bikers filed out, but Jax stopped next to me, close enough that only I could hear. "Watch yourself, princess. The Alpha's got a reputation for being... possessive."

Then he was gone, and I was alone with Dominic in a warehouse that suddenly felt too small, too intimate, too dangerous.

"Come here." Dominic's voice was softer now, but no less commanding.

I walked to him on shaking legs, stopping when I was close enough to feel his heat. He studied my face, my bloody mouth, my hands where claws had been minutes ago.

"You did well." He reached up slowly, giving me time to pull away, and cupped my jaw. His touch was fire and safety all at once. "But Jax's methods are rough. He pushes too hard, too fast."

"He said fear keeps you alive."

"It does. But so does control." His thumb traced my cheekbone, and I felt that touch everywhere. "And right now, you need control more than anything. Because in two days, you're going to shift completely. And if you don't have control when it happens..." His eyes met mine, and I saw something dark and hungry swimming in their depths. "You'll be dangerous to everyone around you. Including me."

"I would never hurt you." The words came out without thought, instant and true.

His expression shifted into something complicated, pleased, troubled, wanting. "That's the problem, Raven. You already are."

Before I could ask what he meant, he released me and stepped back, putting distance between us like he couldn't trust himself too close.

"Again," he said, his voice rough. "Show me your teeth. And this time, don't hold back.”