“Around. Happy. I don’t want any reminders of my old life. Things are better that way.”
I took a deep breath. “I’d like to keep in touch. Get to know each other again.”
“I don’t want any reminders of the pack. That’s not my life anymore.”
“Your new friends, do they know about your shifting?”
She clenched her jaw. “No, and they’re not going to.”
“How does that work out for you around the full moon?”
“Fine. I have it under control. Not that it’s any of your business, but I disappear for a night and come back.” She pulled out a phone. “Looks like your time is up.”
“Can we exchange numbers?”
“Did you not hear a thing I said?”
“You could join Toby’s and my new pack as a wolf. You could run with us on the full moons.” I begged her with my eyes. “We’re not that far away, and there’s a supernatural bar not far from where we run. It’s a great place to hang out after shifting back.”
“The Faeble? I’ve heard of it, but like I said, I don’t want to be part of that world anymore.”
“I miss you, Els—El.”
A flash of sadness covered her face for just a moment. She cleared her throat. “That was a long time ago. We’ve both moved on. You’ve got a new pack, and I have a new life. Thirty days a month, I get to live a normal human life—just like I’ve always wanted to. I can go to dances and date cute guys, and you know what?”
“What?”
“There’s no one to stop me. Tray and our friends want the best for me, and nobody tries to control me. I couldn’t be happier. If you really do care about me, just let me have that. If I let you into my life, others will follow. That’s just the way it works. I want my human life.”
“What happens when he ages and you don’t? Toby barely changed in all the time I was dead, and he never crossed to the other side. That’s how we age, don’t forget.”
She shrugged. “I’ll buy creams and say that’s why. Just be happy for me, okay? I finally have the life I always wanted. Sounds like you do, too. I wish you and Toby the best. Really.”
Tears blurred my vision. “That’s really the way you want it?”
A rib popped.
Her brows came together. “Are you shifting early?”
I wiped at my eyes as another rib popped. “No. It’s complicated, and would take much longer than the five minutes you’ve already given me.”
Elsie’s eyes widened. “Did you find a way around the curse of the moon?”
“No. We’re still working on it. I need to go.”
She grabbed my arm. “Why are you starting to shift now?”
“You can’t have it both ways.” I blinked away tears and another bone popped. “You can’t push me away and then want to know all this. You have your shifts under control. I wish you the best, really I do.” I pulled away from her grasp and ran behind a building, trying to calm my emotions. I didn’t want to shift again. I would just have to be heartbroken later.
Chapter 16
Victoria
I ran down an alley and leaned against a building, gasping for air and trying to take hold of my heartache. I hadn’t seen Elsie in so many years, it should’ve been easier to let her go. Yet part of me wanted to give into the pain, shift, and run off the hurt. But I couldn’t do that. Not when I had a new werewolf to watch over who had a vampire after her.
Stella ran into the alleyway and over to me. “What’s the matter?”
“Just as I thought. She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“Her loss. We need to get going. Verla’s odor is getting stronger, and I can also smell more werewolves—it’s so strange being able to smell people before seeing them.”
I sniffed the air and shivers ran through me. “Smells like more of Toby’s old pack.”
“Awesome. We both have people who want us dead in the area. I see no way that could go wrong.”
“Let’s just figure out where they are and get out of here. Now that I’ve spoken with Elsie, I have no reason to be here.”
Stella gave me a sad expression. “I’m really sorry about that.”
“I figured as much. Now I know. Come on.” I stepped out of the alleyway and sniffed the air, separating out Verla’s scent and the other werewolves’ from everything else. “Verla seems to be near the booths, and the wolves…” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I think they’re everywhere, spread out.”
Stella’s face paled. “What are we going to do?”
I thought about creeping down the alley and finding a back way out, but then remembered my first run-in with Franklin. I couldn’t risk Stella and me getting trapped. “Let’s mingle with the crowd again. It’ll make our scents harder to pick out.”
She glanced over. “It looks like the parade’s almost over. Then what?”
“Then we see if people go anywhere else. Right now, our safest bet is to hide out with the humans. My guess is that even Verla wouldn’t try anything in a group this large.”
“Okay. I hope this works.” We headed back toward the parade and made our way into the middle of a large group.
A couple teens weaved their way through the crowd, handing out coupons for a restaurant. “These are good for tonight only.”
I arched a brow at Stella. Plenty of people were bound to be there.
She leaned close. “Do you have money?”
“We can just hang out for a while. Maybe Verla and the wolves will give up.”
Stella frowned. “You clearly don’t know Verla.”
“Nor do I honestly expect the pack to give up, but maybe they’ll move on and we can lose them.”
The crowd cheered. A group of motorcycle cops were headed our way, performing tricks on the bikes. They made their way in front of us, riding in circles around each other in formation. Some did wheelies. The audience went wild. The best part was that the motorcycles were loud and the fuel covered every other scent—including mine and Stella’s.
All too soon, the police made their way past us, and the parade was over.
Stella turned to me. “Now what?”
“We follow everyone to Luigi’s and watch them eat.”
“What are we going to eat? I’m already hungry, and smelling garlic bread isn’t going to help.”
My stomach rumbled. “No, it isn’t. As much as I hate to suggest it, maybe we should dine and dash.”
A slow smile spread across Stella’s face. “Really? You don’t strike me as that kind of girl.”
I shrugged. “Hunger makes people do stupid things.”
“Here,” said a voice behind me. I spun around. Elsie held out a fifty. “That should cover your dinner.”
“But you—”
“It’s not that I don’t care, Victoria. It’s the life I want to forget.” She shoved the bill into my hand and ran off.
Stella arched a brow. “What was that all about?”
I watched my sister disappear into a crowd. “I’m not sure.”
“Let’s eat. I’m going to pass out soon.” She glanced down at the coupon which had a map on it. “Looks like we’re only about a block away.”
“Good.” I shoved the money into my back pants pocket and followed her down the street.
Once the restaurant came into view, so did a line out the door and around the building.
Stella gave me an exasperated expression. “What should we do?”
“Get in line before it gets worse. At least the food and crowd will cover our scents for a while.”
She sniffed the air. “Verla’s still close.”
“All the more reason to blend in with people.”
We headed toward the line. She turned to me. “Should I have stayed in the longhouse?”
“You were bored silly, right?”
“Well, yeah. But I was also safe.”
“This is probably the most fun you’ve had in years, isn’t it?”
Stella nodded.
>
“And your bite will kill Verla. It’s worth it.”
“Will my bite hurt her if I’m in this form?” she asked.
I opened my mouth, but no words came. “I actually don’t know.”
“You don’t?” she exclaimed.
“I’m hardly a vampire expert.”
A girl turned around and gave me a weird look.
“We’re talking about a club,” I said. “They turn people into vampires. Wanna go?”
She turned her attention back to her friends.
Stella smiled.
Someone walked by carrying a takeout box smelling of garlic and spaghetti sauce. My mouth watered. I could eat twenty of those this close to a shift. Luckily my bones had stopped popping after talking with Elsie.
The line inched forward.
“How much longer?” asked someone ahead of us.
“Ninety minutes,” said a girl even farther up.
I groaned. Maybe this hadn’t been the best idea.
“I’m going to the sub shop,” announced the guy behind us. “This is crazy.”
Stella arched a brow at me. “Want to join him? That fifty will go a lot farther there.”
That was true. I watched the guy as he headed into a door with just a short line.
“What do you think?” Stella asked.
I nodded, and then we burst into a run, keeping at a normal human pace. Several others from the line followed us.
Stella stopped in her tracks. I nearly ran into her.
The vampire odor was strong—practically on top of us.
She spoke gibberish, staring behind me. I spun around and saw three angry girls, one with electric green hair.
“Verla?” I whispered, turning back to Stella.
She nodded, her face paling and she shook uncontrollably.
I blinked and the three vampires appeared only inches from us.
“Hand her over, wolf.” Verla stared me down with eyes that matched her hair exactly.
“Not going to do it.” I stood taller.
Verla’s sidekicks stepped closer to me, hissing.
“Why don’t you release her from your ownership?” I asked. “Do you really want a pet werewolf?”
The vampire’s eyes turned bright red, despite the colored contacts. “You didn’t.”
“Can’t you smell the truth?” I asked.
Verla sniffed the air. “I thought that stench was you.”
The scent of Toby’s old pack wafted over. One or more of their members was close. Too close. My almost-shift must’ve made my scent stronger, and therefore easier for them to find me.
I narrowed my eyes at Verla while checking the periphery for wolves. “Nope. That would be both of us.”
She flashed her sharp teeth at me. “How dare you turn my possession into a wolf?”
“Because she wants her freedom back.”
“Well, she’s not getting it. Hand her over.”
I shook my head. “People are staring. Why don’t you just leave?”
“You think I came all this way to give her up? Move aside. I’ll find a way to beat the wolf out of her.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’ll work out real well for you.” I put my hands on my hips.
“Look, wolf—”
“Shut up.” I shoved her. Her minions moved closer. “Can you smell all the wolves in the area? One word from me, and someone will bite you. That’s all it’ll take to kill you.”
“That’s only folklore.”
I snorted and then jumped against her, shoving her into a stop sign. “Is that a risk you really want to take?” I opened my mouth and inched toward her arm.
“Stop!” Verla shoved me and moved out of the way. “You don’t scare me.”
A werewolf scent grew especially strong. I turned and saw Wilson, one of Toby’s uncles, walking toward us. He swung a spiked bat in one hand and he stared directly at me.
My heart pounded out of control. Nobody else seemed to notice the other werewolf. Verla said something, but I couldn’t make out the words. Wilson shook his bat and nodded toward me.
Verla took advantage of my distraction and lunged for Stella. I pulled my gaze from Wilson and threw myself at Verla, knocking both of us to the ground. The other two vampires jumped on top of us, screaming and clawing at me.
I turned to Stella. “Run!”
She shook her head and ran to us and yanked one of the vampires off me. She bared her fangs and lunged for Stella. I jumped up and threw the vampire aside. Someone grabbed my shoulders and pulled me away. All I could see was a mess of green hair.
Wilson ran over and yanked Verla away from me. “You’re not going to harm Victoria—that’s our job.” He threw her against a tree and beat her with the spiked bat. The other two vampires shrieked and ran away.
People screamed and ran in every direction. A few pulled out phones and dialed as they fled.
One guy pulled a gun from his pocket and aimed it at Wilson. “Put the bat down, psycho!”
I took advantage of the distraction and grabbed Stella’s arm. We ran through the street, darting around frenzied people who were crying and screaming. Stella pulled behind me, and I nearly lost my hold on her. I spun around. Wilson had her in a choke hold.
“Let her go!” I demanded.
“Why should I?” snarled Wilson.
My throat nearly closed. I had to think of something fast. “Release her and I’ll go with you willingly. No struggle—I swear.”
He glowered down at Stella. “Why’s this mutt so important?”
“She’s my friend.”
Wilson looked back and forth between Stella and me before shoving her away. He glared at me, his nostrils flaring.
I turned to Stella. “Run to the safe house, and don’t stop until you get there.” I stepped closer to Wilson and held out my arms.
He reached for me, and I ran the other way. Wilson swore. “Get back here!”
Everything blew by in a blur as I ran so fast with no regard for humans seeing me run at such a speed. I darted down alleyways and side streets.
Something caught on my hair. My head yanked back in a quick, violent motion. I fell to the ground, crashing on the cement. My elbow hit hard. I tried getting up, but I couldn’t move my head. However, I could crane my neck slightly. My hair was wrapped around Wilson’s spiked bat.
He laughed, cackling. “Looks like you’re coming with me after all.” He kicked me in the back and stuck a burlap bag over my head.
Chapter 17
Victoria
I fought against the burlap bag over my head as best I could. Wilson had tied my arms behind my back, and we’d been walking for what felt like hours. It wouldn’t have surprised me if we’d been going in circles just to confuse me. If that was their plan, it had worked. I had no idea where we were. The smells around me indicated we were in or near a forest and much of Toby’s old pack was close. Everything else was a big question mark.
Finally, Wilson yanked me to a stop. I stumbled, tripping over something. My knees hit the ground first, followed by my face. Even through the burlap, a rock scratched my skin. He pulled me up, nearly taking my arm out of the socket. I cried out in pain.
“Shut up.”
“You got her?” asked a voice I could never forget—James, Toby’s father. The man who’d murdered me.
Rage ran through me, and I shook.
“Looks like you scared her good.” James laughed.
“She put up a fight, but I frightened her into submission.”
“Good man, Wilson. Take her to the cage.”
I gulped. Cage?
“And lock it tight. She’s never getting out of that.”
It took every ounce of my self-control not to react. I was just glad they couldn’t see the tears pooling, ready to spill any moment.
Why had I ever left the safety of the longhouse? Toby and our pack thought I was there and had no reason to come looking for me. I should’ve sent word to them somehow.
I
t was too late to worry about that now. I had to focus on finding a way out of an inescapable cage. Fingers wrapped around my arm, nearly cutting off the circulation. I stumbled as I tried to keep up, not knowing what direction to walk.
“Keep up,” Wilson ordered.
“I can’t see or br—”
“No talking.” The pressure on my arm increased.
I stumbled over something again.
“Clumsy thing, isn’t she?” Disgust filled Toby’s father’s voice.
“What does Toby see in her?” Wilson asked.
“He’s always liked broken things. Do you remember that bird with the broken wing?”
Wilson laughed cruelly. “And how deflated he was after you put it out of its misery!”
James joined in. “I always tried to toughen that kid up. Nothing ever worked.”
“Killing Victoria—the first time—helped. He eventually came back and—”
“You don’t have to remind me. But yes, though he annihilated us, he finally did me proud.”
I rolled my eyes. It was too bad I hadn’t been around to see the world Toby had helped build that had no more traditional packs—where they all lived in peace and all the other alphas answered to him.
“It’s amazing what my boy can do without her to distract him.”
My mouth dropped open.
“Once we get rid of her, we’ll finally be free to lead together as nature intended.”
They thought Toby had accomplished what he did because I had been out of his life? A flash of anger hit me. Not only did I want to get away from them, but I wanted to show them what I was capable of—a mere girl.
I struggled against the ropes tying my wrists together.
The fingers around my arm dug into my flesh through my hoodie. “Quit fussing,” Wilson snapped. “We’re almost there.”
“You’d better learn to wait quietly,” James snarled. “We have to wait until all the members of the tribunal arrive.”
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