I looked away. “Let’s shop ‘til we drop!”
Sasha and Cheyenne squealed, and then we all threw our trash away. We wandered around, not finding much in the way of shops.
Jacey frowned. “Now what? Go downtown? To the waterfront?”
“First, we go to the needle.” Cheyenne stared her down. “I love shopping as much as the next girl, but I came for the restaurant.”
Sasha sighed like someone asked her to move the famous landmark across town. “Fine. Let’s go.”
We turned around and headed the other way. I stopped near the enormous water fountain. Even with it being so cold, kids ran around the edge, getting sprayed by the mist.
The scent of my old pack tickled my nose. Someone was nearby.
“This is pretty and all,” Cheyenne said, “but can we get going? I—”
“Shh.” I focused on the smell, trying to tell what direction it came from. There was a slight circular breeze, making it hard to tell.
“Cute guy?” Jacey looked in the direction I faced.
Then I saw him. Tall, muscular, and shaggy hair. He wore an all-too-familiar brown leather jacket.
He stepped out from behind a large tree and leaned against it, looking deep in thought. Maybe he didn’t recognize my scent, or maybe the breeze was keeping it from him.
“Let’s go,” Cheyenne said.
“Oh, I see him now,” Jacey said. “Wow, he’s hot. Good eye, Victoria.”
There was nothing attractive about that man. He was a cruel, horrible werewolf. One I could never forget if I died a thousand deaths.
Had he tracked me, or was it bad luck?
“You wanna go say hi?” Sasha asked.
“No.” I couldn’t pull my gaze away from him.
“Do you know him?” Soleil asked.
I swallowed. “His name is Franklin.”
My pulse pounded in my ears. Franklin would want me dead every bit as much as my father did. I’d been pledged to marry him, but I’d run off to be with Toby. I’d humiliated him, and to an arrogant wolf, that was the worst thing you could do. Even with as many years that had passed, his wrath would be as fresh as the night I’d run away.
He turned my way.
Chapter 8
Victoria
Terror tore through me. The scent of fear was stronger than any other. It would reach him in a matter of moments.
I had to make a decision—quickly. If I stayed with my friends, I would put them in danger.
There was no other choice. I had to run.
“Victoria?” Sasha asked.
My mouth went dry. I spun around and ran, careful to stay at the speed of humans so as not to attract any unnecessary attention. With all my senses on high alert, I could hear my friends confused exclamations.
Another thing I heard—footsteps. Heavy and fast. Franklin’s scent grew stronger as he closed the distance between us.
I glanced over my shoulder. He’d already passed the fountain. Soleil and Ziamara ran to block him, but he darted around them.
Why had I agreed to come on this trip? I should have been studying safely in the library—or better yet, at Moonhaven.
I ran into someone.
“Hey, watch it!”
“Sorry.” I turned my attention in front of me and pushed my legs to go as quickly as possible, not caring who saw me run so fast.
Franklin’s odor continued growing stronger.
I darted down between two buildings. Trash bags lay scattered along the tight walkway. I jumped over some and ran around others.
“Stop!”
“Never.”
His hand brushed my coat. I held in a scream and forced myself to move faster. A dumpster blocked my path, giving me only a few inches to get past. I pressed myself against the wall and squeezed by.
“There’s no point in running,” he grunted.
“Just leave me alone. I already died for what I did.”
He reached for me. “But I didn’t get to do it.”
I made it past the dumpster and continued down the tight alleyway. Hopefully, I would come to an exit rather than a dead end.
Franklin grabbed the fabric and pulled. My coat’s collar squeezed my neck and my heart raced all the more.
“You know, I’ve always loved the aroma of your fear.”
I kicked backward, but it wasn’t enough to loosen his grip. A low growl escaped my throat. I spun around and spit in his face.
“You’re going to regret that.” He let go and wiped his face. His eyes widened as he realized his mistake.
I turned around and ran, gasping for air. “No, I’d do it again.”
I rounded a corner and an opening appeared. Renewed with hope, I picked up speed.
My foot caught on something. I stumbled, trying to regain my footing. Seriously, I had to be the world’s clumsiest wolf. Maybe that was it! What if it had something to do with not being able to shift? Clearly, that was something to look into later—assuming I could get away from Franklin.
He grabbed my hair and yanked my head backward.
I cried out in pain.
“That’s better.”
“Let go!” I fought to spin around, but he pinned my left arm behind my back.
“Now we’re going to set some things right.”
“Never.” I struggled to get away.
Franklin simultaneously yanked my hair harder and shoved his elbow into my spine. “That’s what you think.”
“What do you think you’re going to do?”
“I’m taking what’s rightfully mine. Now play nice.” He stared at me with his muddy brown eyes.
Did he really think I would give up that easily? I continued struggling against him.
He forced me out of the alley. We were still between buildings, and no one was within sight.
Since I couldn’t get away, that left me with only one choice. It was a risky one, but I had to take it. I took a deep breath and stared up at the sky. I struggled to find my inner wolf. She was growing weaker with each shift we missed.
I focused on a cloud and howled.
Franklin laughed. “You think that’s going to help? Our pack rules this part of town. No werewolf in the area would dare cross us.”
“Our pack?” I scoffed.
“Like it or not, that’s where you belong. I haven’t married yet—”
“That’s no surprise.” I elbowed him with my free arm.
He shoved me against a wall, pressing my cheek into freshly-chewed gum. I kicked him as hard as I could, wishing I’d thought to wear boots with a thick heel. “Watch your mouth, woman. Your father’s pledge is still valid.”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure my death nullified it.”
“Except that you’re back to life. You need to declare your submission to me.”
My skin bristled. If I accepted him as my superior, nature wouldn’t allow me to back out of it as long as we both lived. A wolf declaring him or herself allegiant to an alpha couldn’t be undone.
He pressed my face harder against the wall. “Say it.”
“Never.”
“The more you fight it, the greater my victory when you finally surrender.”
I gritted my teeth and kicked as high as I could, aiming for his groin.
Franklin let out a yelp. “Don’t hinder your chances of having pups.”
“I’m not.” I aimed for the same place again.
He moved to the side, loosening his hold on my arm.
I jumped away from him, but he still had a hold on my hair. My head yanked back again. I twisted around and lunged for him, scratching his face.
His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. “Now you’ve done it.”
“You think I’m done?” I exclaimed. The narcissistic tyrant still had my hair. Fury tore through me as I lunged for him again, this time biting into his cheek.
Franklin cried out in pain, but still wouldn’t let go. I bit harder and kneed him in the stomach. Finally, he let go of me and shoved
me away. My back and head hit the brick wall.
I jumped back and spit blood and flesh from my mouth. He wiped blood from his eyes, smearing it along his face and sleeve. Anger burned all through me, running through me like a locomotive flying down a hill without brakes. Memories ran through my mind—things he and my father did over the years. Killing Elsie. Using force to control me and others.
“Give my father a message.” I spit again.
He glared at me. “That you’re crazy?”
“No, that this is just a warning. Anyone who comes after me again will get far worse.”
“That’s what you think. You’re the one who hasn’t seen nothing yet.” He started to push himself up.
I spun around and ran, not about to give him another chance to go after me. The smell of my pack—my old pack—grew stronger. Others were nearby. It was only a matter of time before more came after me. I needed to get back to my friends right away.
Sniffing the air, I couldn’t find a trace of any of them. The werewolf smell was too strong.
Had I thought ahead, I’d have brought along some wolfsbane to cover my own scent.
Fear struck me, but then I focused on the anger. How dare they continue to pursue me? I’d already made my decision to walk away, and not only that, but like I’d pointed out to Franklin, I’d paid the price. Unfortunately, that wasn’t good enough for them. They would never forgive me for my decision. If I died and returned five times, they would set out to make me pay five times.
Once I broke free of the alleyways, I ran my hands through my tangled hair and jogged back to where I’d last seen the others.
They were gone.
My heart sank. Somewhere along the way, I’d lost my purse. That meant that not only did I have no way to contact my friends, but would I need to return to where Franklin had fought me. My heart raced.
Everything in my purse could be replaced. I couldn’t face him again. Not right now. My face felt swollen and was throbbing. It was also getting increasingly hard to walk as pain increased in my calf and my neck ached from being yanked backward so hard.
I just wanted Toby, but he was all the way back at Moonhaven. They had their own problems trying to figure out why that body had been buried and had traces of black magic.
Exhausted, I stumbled over to a tree and leaned against the bark. The werewolf scent was farther away. Hopefully, that meant they were all moving on. With any luck, Franklin would tell them I was crazy and that they should all just leave me alone. Surely, they had to have other things to focus on—things far more important than me.
What I needed was to figure out where my friends had gone. Would they have gone to the needle? Or would they have followed me? I’d been running at supernatural speed, so they wouldn’t have been able to keep up—not unless Soleil or Ziamara had also ran faster than our human friends could see. But if they’d done that, wouldn’t they have shown up and fought along with me?
My best bet was to find my purse. Then I could at least call someone. I had all of their numbers in my new phone.
I sniffed the air again and checked the direction of the breeze. My pack’s smell had definitely faded, and it wasn’t because the wind was blowing it in the other direction.
Stomach twisting, I went back the same way I’d gone when running from Franklin. I couldn’t remember where I’d lost my handbag, but with any luck, Franklin hadn’t found it.
As I ran, I wracked my mind, trying to think if anything in my purse pointed toward Moonhaven. The only thing that did was on my phone behind a complicated password they wouldn’t be able to guess easily.
My leg continued aching the farther I walked. I started to limp. I managed to get back to the alley, though. My stomach lurched as I stared down it.
“Are you okay, Miss?” came a masculine voice from behind.
I spun around, ready to fight.
It was just a police officer, and he smelled thoroughly human. My body relaxed.
“What happened to your face?” he asked. “Do you need medical attention?”
I shook my head. “I lost my purse. I need to get it.”
“Let me look at your eye.” He reached for my face, and I flinched. “What happened?”
“I was attacked.”
“By whom?”
My nostrils flared. “A psychopath.”
“Let me call for an ambulance.”
“No.” I shook my head furiously, but stopped as the pain grew worse.
A look of concern washed over the officer’s face. “You need medical attention. Come with me.”
“My purse!”
“I’ll send someone to find it.” He pulled out a walkie-talkie and spoke into it, directing someone to send medics our way.
While he was distracted, I bolted down the alleyway. If Franklin hadn’t grabbed my purse, I needed to, before someone else did. Though already starting to heal, my leg gave out and I crashed onto the hard concrete.
Footsteps sounded as the officer came after me. “You’re a determined one. Do you know where you dropped it?”
I pulled myself to sitting. “Down this way. I don’t remember exactly.”
“Did the perpetrator take it?”
“I don’t know. That wasn’t what he was after.”
He arched a brow. “Why did he attack you, then?”
That was a loaded question.
The officer stared at me expectantly.
“He thinks I should marry him.”
He nodded knowingly. “Domestic disputes can get ugly fast. Let’s get you out there, where the medics can find us easier.”
I sighed, giving in. I’d have a hard time explaining how I healed quickly because of being a werewolf, but at least I wouldn’t be anywhere the pack could get to me.
The officer helped me out of the alley, and as soon as we made it out, two medics came running around the corner. His walkie-talkie buzzed and then a lady spoke in code. He turned to the medics. “I have to go—robbery in progress. She needs to give a statement before being released. She was attacked.”
“Understood.”
The officer turned to me. “They’ll take care of you.” He ran off.
“My purse.” I pointed down the alleyway.
“You lost it down there?” asked one of the medics, a man with graying hair and deep lines around his eyes and mouth.
I nodded.
He turned to the younger guy. “You check her out. I’ll look for her purse.”
I might have a hard time explaining my quick healing, but at least my old pack couldn’t get to me now.
Chapter 9
Toby
I paced the length of the field as Gessilyn and her family studied the body. They had been circled around it for hours.
Sal came over to me. “Let’s get some lunch, sir.”
“No. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.”
“The black magic is getting to everyone. I think the longer you stay out here, the more it gets to us.”
I scowled. Something from the pit of my stomach told me that trouble lurked close by.
“Food will do you good.”
“How?” I snapped.
A hurt expression covered his face, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.
“I didn’t mean to snap, Sal. I know you’re just trying to help.”
He nodded. “It’s getting to all of us.”
“How much longer are they going to need?”
Sal shrugged. “As long as it takes, I suppose. Gessilyn is nothing if not thorough. They want to get to the bottom of this as much as you do.”
My stomach twisted in tight knots.
“Come on inside. Pacing isn’t going to help you any.”
He was right. “At least it helps me blow off some steam.”
I pulled out my phone and checked the time. It was well past lunchtime, and not a text or call from Victoria. I hoped that meant she was having fun. At least she wasn’t here, dealing with all the stress.
�
��You’re stressing the pack out,” Sal said. He glanced toward the house, and I followed his gaze. Several of the guys had their faces pressed against windows.
“All right. Let’s head inside.” I doubted my stomach would let me eat, but I could try to calm everyone else’s nerves.
As soon as we walked through the front door, the aroma of Brick’s famous stew greeted us. My mouth watered, but my insides continued twisting together.
“Hey, boss,” Brick called. “Heard from the girls yet?”
“Nope. They’re probably having too much fun shopping to think about us.”
“I’m glad someone is,” he said. “Come and eat. You need the fuel.”
Dillon charged down the stairs. “Any news on that body?”
I shook my head, unable to the shake the feeling that something was horribly wrong. “The witches still haven’t found anything.”
He grumbled and went to the kitchen table. I followed him and we sat in silence.
Brick set bowls in front of each of them. “Eat up. I made plenty.”
My stomach relented, giving into the savory meal. I’d downed three large bowls before finishing.
“I told you that you needed to eat,” Sal said, with a hint of teasing in his tone.
“You were right.” I couldn’t bring myself to be playful, though.
“And you look better, too,” Brick said.
“I need to go to the Faeble and talk with Tap. Maybe he’s heard something.”
Jet came in. “I’ll go with. I need a drink—something strong, and preferably with unicorn horn flakes.”
“Everything okay?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I can’t reach Ziamara.”
My head snapped to attention. “What?”
“She’s not answering her phone.”
I turned to Brick. “You haven’t heard from Soleil, either, have you?”
Pink crept into the burly werewolf’s cheeks. “She hardly has to check in with me.”
“Yeah, but you two talk all the time, right?”
Brick turned back to the stew. “You should go talk with Tap. That troll hears everything.”
I ran my hands through my hair, pulling tight. “Yeah. Anyone else going?”
Everyone else shook their heads.
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