"Okay...um, I guess we can. Can you help her?"
"Help her? How?"
"Stop what's happening. Make her, you know, normal."
Stephanie smiled and glanced at Clover. The older witch's eyes narrowed. Stephanie sighed and turned back to him. "Her body will fight the Hunter's spirit. My best friend had a similar battle. Hers was worse, but she survived, with our help."
"Wait, survived? You mean she might die?"
"The Hunter wants her body. He—"
"What the fuck is this Hunter? Who is he?" Evan interrupted the elder witch.
"Not who, what," Ember said. "It is the spirit of the wolf. The Hunter. The thing that runs in all who have the blood."
Evan shook his head. "I can't believe this is real."
"Believe it," Coral barked at him. "Your next lesson won't be so mild."
He wanted to shout at her but stopped. She looked slender and peaceful. Far from threatening. Yet she could juggle fire that burned him to the bone. He shuddered and nodded. "I'm sorry. Just scared is all."
"You should be," Clover said. "I can help your girlfriend, but there is a price."
Evan heard Stephanie and Ember's gasps. He stiffened as he met the witch's gaze. "It will keep her from, uh...turning?"
"Changing," Ember corrected.
"She will be able to keep control," Clover promised.
Stephanie spun on the elder witch. "Wait— why didn't you do that for Crystal?"
"I can help with the Hunter's spirit. Crystal had the Beast in her too. There is no known way to thwart him."
"Crystal did," Stephanie mumbled.
"With my help," Clover added. "And the help of the Hunter. Without both her will would have been enslaved and she would have become a monster."
Evan looked back and forth between the two witches and realized they were losing focus on what mattered. Whoever Crystal was, her story was in the past. CJ was here, now, and she needed all the help she could get. "I'll do it."
Stephanie spun and stared him, her eyes wide. "Wait!" she cried, "Find out the price first. You don't know what you're doing!"
He shook his head and stared down at his sleeping girlfriend. "It doesn't matter. I'll do anything for her. Help her and I'll pay your price."
Clover nodded. She reached into a pouch at her hip and drew out a dull silver disc on a leather thong. She held it up and over the cauldron before dropping it in. She hummed and moaned, making noises Evan didn't understand. They made the hair on his arms rise, but he didn't send any harm coming to him. She stopped after a couple minutes of her bizarre chanting and grabbed her stirring stick for the pot. She poked it in and swirled it around once before pulling out the amulet by the thong.
Clover walked over and knelt down beside CJ. Stephanie picked the unconscious girl's head up so Clover could slip the thong over her head and then place the medallion between her breasts, over her heart. CJ's sucked in a deep breath and let it out in a shudder. The moment passed and she remained asleep.
Evan stared down at the amulet and wondered what he'd just done. The medallion was plain and simple, reminding him of something made out of lead or unpolished silver. It was featureless save for the single impression in it that took up most of the face. Evan had seen the design before— recently. It was the same as the footprint in the soft ground beside the road. The medallion had a wolf's paw carved into it.
###
Afterward by the Author
I promised a reunion with the guys (or gals, in this case) that started it all. Clover, Ember, and Stephanie are back! I hope you missed them as much as I did. But don't get too excited, they won't be staying long. After all, Evan and CJ need to get back. They have their own problems to deal with. Problems they've set into motion without realizing out, and those problems are spiraling out of control while they're away.
Part seven is underway! A little more time in Arkansas and then back to find out what kind of hornet's nest they've kicked open. It's going to be wild and fun, I promise!
If you enjoyed this please spread the word. Leave a review or drop me a line at [email protected]. If you’d like to know when any future books are available sign up for my newsletter or keep up with me on Facebook so you can be the first to know!
About the Author
Dawn Michelle is a girl next door turned mother of two and household champion. After years of watching her husband write novel after novel and not trying to write the stories she was interested in, she decided it was time she showed him how it was done.
If you enjoyed Dawn’s writing and would like to have a chance to find out more about her and her new releases, please sign up for her newsletter or hook up with her on Facebook. You can also reach out to her personally at [email protected].
Claimed by the Beast series:
Claimed by the Beast – Part One
Claimed by the Beast – Part Two
Claimed by the Beast - Part Three
Claimed by the Beast – Part Four
Claimed by the Beast – Part Five
Claimed by the Beast – Part Six
Blood Kissed series:
First Kiss (book 1)
Forever Kiss (book 2)
Lover's Kiss (book 3)
Tooth and Nayelle Serial:
Tooth and Nayelle - Part One
Tooth and Nayelle - Part Two
Tooth and Nayelle - Part Three
Tooth and Nayelle - Part Four
Tooth and Nayelle - Part Five
The Lost Pack Serial:
Fallen Alpha
The Hunt
The Chase
Denying the Pack
Huntress
Alpha Rising
Heir to the Alpha
Claiming the Pack
Stand Alone Books:
Taken by the Beast
A Cold Winter's Bite
Don't miss out!
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Alpha Rising Page 4
