Wolfsbane: The Wolf Within

by Bethany Shay Porteous

  Josh clapped me on the back once and gave me a supportive smile before he leapt off the back deck and tore into his wolf, his clothing shredding. He never took his clothes off—his mother hated it and Hannah wasn’t happy when he did that either. One time he tore a shirt she had bought him.

  Taking care, I removed my clothes, savoring the moment as a human before my wolf bossed his way to the forefront of my mind. My clarity was always warped when he was in control and it was hard to take the reins back from him. I needed as much control as possible right now. I needed to be ready to run to Evelyn.

  Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I could feel my change taking place. My wolf pushed forward through my body and fur sprouted from my skin as my limbs popped and realigned. Human emotions went on the back burner and my wolf’s emotions came through hard. His focus was obviously on Evelyn but also our surroundings.

  Come on man! Josh called to my mind. His wolf was growing impatient as it watched us taking our time into the shift.

  I needed that time though. Switching into another form took a toll physically and emotionally and I needed that mental preparation to have any real control over my wolf. If I just launched myself into that form and brought my wolf forward that quickly, I would be a nightmare to deal with. My Alpha qualities were strong and therefore, I needed to be on guard constantly.

  My wolf leaped after Josh and as we broke into the forest and my legs stretched properly for the first time in a few days. I felt instant relief wash over me.

  Told you it was worth it, Josh said smugly. Sometimes a run is all you need.

  It had been my first shift since the accident and my legs felt jelly-like and new. I almost felt like a young wolf that shifted for the very first time. I could feel Josh laughing at me and I nipped his flank in warning as my wolf rose higher in my mind.

  Evelyn.

  That was all that pulsated through my mind as we ran through the forest, our feet hardly hitting the ground. Exhilaration from the speed raced through me and I felt my heartrate increase along with my adrenaline as my wolf took some risks, jumping from cliff to cliff. It was quite reckless. Heck, we had nearly been killed falling from a cliff and at the memory my mind flickered to Sam.

  Anger coursed through my wolf as we landed on solid ground and he ran harder. He was angry we hadn’t been taken seriously when we hadn’t trusted Sam. No one had listened to us and instead called us prejudice against the rogue. Sure, I didn’t like rogues, but I knew there was something wrong with him and now that it had all been confirmed… I knew that Evelyn wouldn’t be happy I’d thrown him in the cells and would have tried to stop me, and more than likely succeeded.

  Both of us were angry at the lack of pressure we had put on Evelyn to be honest with us. She had been obviously struggling and we hadn’t pressed hard enough, or, had we pressed too hard and she didn’t feel comfortable saying what she needed to?

  Our steps faltered at the thought and Josh caught up to us.

  You right Aiden? He sounded puffed. That was some of your best running.

  My wolf, was all I could manage painfully.

  Raising my head, I looked up at the sky and noted the sun was now falling on another day and I still hadn’t found her. This was bullshit. Waiting here was doing absolutely nothing! I needed to be out there, finding her and helping her. I could track her; our mate bond was strong. I would just run until I couldn’t run any further…

  I’m sorry this is happening to you Aiden, Josh cut into my thoughts. You know Evelyn loves you otherwise she wouldn’t have run. She’s trying to help, it’s just her.

  She isn’t helping though, I groaned. If she would just be honest with me—we could have helped her with whatever was going on. Her family could have helped her.

  I doubt she kept it from you deliberately, Trey’s voice cut in. She would have her reasons.

  Why are you out here? Josh asked.

  Grace is bossy.

  Despite myself I managed to chuckle at Trey’s need to please my sister before I realized I would pretty much do whatever Evelyn said. I never let her know that though and so far, I didn’t think she realized just how much she could make me do if she really tried hard.

  I’d walk over coals for her, my wolf said straight up.

  She has a massive family, Trey commented. Like big, bigger than wolves. Although, now that I think of it our litters are getting smaller—

  …And witches breed like rabbits? Josh snorted.

  Hannah’s family didn’t—

  Hannah’s dad was a wolf, I pointed out to Trey and silence once again fell over us. They were being good friends, trying to distract me. I knew they knew I was ready to run out of here and go after her and I knew very well they were here to keep an eye on me and make sure that’s exactly what I didn’t do.

  You know what? Josh started lightly. I bet that she will just turn back up here, everything’s fine and it will all be okay.

  That won’t happen, Trey scoffed. She’ll have her father and The Luna to contend with when she gets back. They will tear shreds off her for making everyone worry.

  No one will tear shreds off her, I snarled protectively. I trust my mate’s judgement. If she felt that she needed to do this… I trust her.

  Both silenced immediately and as the sky grew darker and my heart seemed to grow heavier we made our way back to the house, slowly of course. I looked and scented the entire way, hoping with earnest that I would catch a hint of her scent and that she would be coming back to me. I felt like I was living a half-life and I knew that if this hurt this much, that an actual half-life would be unbearable.

  Closing my eyes, I breathed in deeply and tried stretching my mind out to Evelyn’s once more, hoping to feel those tingles when our minds brushed together. I focused on her solely and our mate bond, that link was more powerful than anything and it was made with her magic—I had to be able to link with her more easily! Why hadn’t we practiced this before?

  Okay focus.

  I was in my wolf form. This was my most natural being, our supernatural power should link. I was strong here and our connection should be stronger. All I needed was her mind. I needed to be able to slide in and see where she was—get an idea of where she was going without her noticing I was in there. I felt like I was pushing against a mountain of rocks, unable to make them budge.

  What magic was she using to stop us from getting through to her?

  Evelyn! I growled angrily.

  Evelyn! My wolf forced against the bond.

  I knew we were at the house now and the others eyes were on me, but I couldn’t give this up. I wasn’t shifting until I got through to her, I was going to get through to her!

  Evelyn, I pleaded within my mind as I pressed harder. Please let me in.

  Something felt looser suddenly, and I felt those telltale signs of my mind brushing with hers and hope blossomed within my chest. It was so faint, and it happened so quickly. First there was an opening and I could feel the lightness of her being—and then I was assaulted by searing pain that buckled my legs from beneath me.

  “Aiden!” my mother shrieked in the distance.

  This pain was unlike any other, but I could feel myself in her mind. Evelyn was screaming in agony and I couldn’t get a clear picture of where she was, it was as if I were blindfolded. I felt like my limbs were being crushed and my head was being torn from my shoulders, the pressure was so intense, so severe.

  “Evelyn!” I shouted out loud and I realized I was in human form, holding my head to try and ease the agony. Her screams still echoed within my mind and it suddenly felt as if I had been flicked from her head like an elastic band. I was flung out and it all closed off, the pain disappeared, and I was left gasping on the floor with the wind knocked out of me.

  “Aiden?” my mother was hovering above me with concern etched on her features.

  “Evelyn,” I panted as I held my stomach, gasping. “She’s hurt.”

  “Did you see anything?” Cornelius dem
anded, and I shook my head as bile rose in my throat.

  “It was dark,” I wheezed. “Like something else was already there… stopping me from seeing…”

  Cornelius frowned at his wife and each sibling shared a worried glance before Cornelius’ face became aghast and he pressed his head into his hands.

  “Please tell me that my daughter did a cleansing after she removed that host from that wolf in Alaska?” he asked anxiously. “Please.”

  My mouth dried, and I looked at my mother. I didn’t know what the hell a cleansing was but clearly for witches it was important.

  “We’ll take that as a no,” Stella said softly.

  “So, Evelyn has a host… that was planted by the Rosewood Sisters in her mind?” Sienna asked breathlessly. “That thing would be tormenting her every second of everyday!”

  “She will be trying to remove it,” Cornelius sighed. “She’s not going to be able to do that by herself. Had she done it when it was still fresh it would have been no problem… but this thing would have had time to attach itself to her, to dig in its claws.”

  “What do we do?” Grace asked panicked.

  “We need to find her as soon as possible!” Cornelius said firmly. “She’ll kill herself attempting this. No more time for waiting around. We need to get moving now.”

  “How are we going to locate her?” my father demanded.

  “Friends,” Cornelius said as he pulled out his phone. “We’ll use as many witches as possible and see if we can by any chance trace her aura. It’s all we have left.”

  “Her aura could be getting weaker by the second,” one of the brother’s commented. “Depending on how much of her life force she’d be tearing from her body—”

  “Gabriel,” Stella cut him off and a lump settled in my throat.

  “Tearing out her life force?” I spluttered.

  “We’ll find her Aiden,” Stella said. “We’re not going to let her hurt herself any further.”

  At that moment my entire body went rigid and my chest felt tight, as if I couldn’t breathe. It felt as if a weight were being held down on it and I clutched at the air as all at once a pile of hands ascended on my body. Evelyn’s family threw their magic into me and slowly, the feeling subsided.

  “What was that?” I spluttered.

  “Suffocation,” Sienna whimpered. “Dad we need to hurry!”

  “They’ll be here within twenty minutes,” Cornelius told us. “Aiden, you’re going to be experiencing a lot of on and off pain. The weaker Evelyn gets, the more her bond will open. You can use that to get in her head and see what you can find. But be prepared for more pain—she’ll be going through a lot of it and so will you.”

  I swallowed hard and nodded as my wolf began to steel himself for the challenge. I would take all the pain in the world for her. I was going to find her, and I was going to make sure she was never hurt like this again.

  ∞

  Evelyn

  This seemed like good a place as any to try, I thought as I rolled the car to a stop down an old beaten up track. I would walk for a few miles and see what I could manage out here in the silence. I would have to put up a few shields so if by any chance someone was wandering through here they wouldn’t see some random girl, spasming around the forest and try help.

  Who knows what would happen then!

  I knew Aiden was trying to get to me and each time my wolf demanded I let him in and to help us. Fighting against all three at once was becoming extremely exhausting and I knew I didn’t have any more time to waste with this. I had to get moving before I was caught and everyone I loved was killed before my eyes.

  Aiden wouldn’t let that happen, my wolf tried once more. He wouldn’t.

  You know he wouldn’t be able to stop anything Salem tried! I told her. Now you’re either with me or against me, but I don’t have time for this. Help, don’t help. I don’t care!

  Throwing the car into park I shut it off and took a calming breath before I got out and began walking aimlessly off down the track, noting it got narrower and narrower before I was pushing through trees and branches, getting cut up and scratched. It hurt but I didn’t have time to think about it or ponder, I needed to hurry up and get this done.

  The sky was slowly darkening, and I had a moment of panic at the idea of where I was even going to sleep tonight… the car would have to suffice.

  Stumbling out of a thick group of trees I found myself in a clearing the size of our bedroom. It was small and confined and just what I needed. I thanked Morgana for being so handy. Salem was still silent, and I knew that only meant I was in for hell. He would have been saving all his energy for this moment.

  Okay, I told myself and I shook out my limbs. I can do this, I needed to do this if I wanted to go home again.

  I set about making myself invisible and that familiar flow of power had me inhaling deeply, picking up on the energy of the Earth around me. Being surrounded by this much nature and peace had me feeling oddly calm for what I was about to attempt, but the calmness helped me focus and I needed to be focused right now.

  Bracing myself, I closed my eyes and began the search within my mind, trying to find that point to grip and pull. It was hard at first but the more I focused, I felt the traces of that imposter. The moment I felt it, I applied the pressure and nearly collapsed from the pain that immediately hit my body, like dozen knives stabbing into any available and exposed flesh.

  I felt as if I were being torn open, but I pushed through, allowing myself to scream as loud as I wanted. It wouldn’t take the pain away, but it would help some.

  Salem’s coldness was coursing through my body while I fought it with fire and I wondered if I would be able to take this on much further. I was breaking into a hot sweat and he seemed to be like he was on a vacation.

  EVELYN!

  Aiden’s voice ricocheted through my mind and there was now a third presence I had to combat. The moment I felt him, I covered his senses before he could feel too much. It was agony, trying to shield him and absorb the pain myself.

  My wolf was howling along with my screams and the more I pulled the more she howled. Aiden vanished from my mind in that instant and I doubled over, as if someone had snapped his force from my head. I panted heavily, taking in much needed oxygen as my heart thundered in my chest.

  Why was this taking so long and why did it hurt so much? He should be easy to remove if he could slip so easily in and out of my mind. There was something else here… something he was either linked to or holding onto… but what? I tried searching my mind for my wolf and found nothing, but a void silence and I decided that she was trying to recover from the experience.

  It frustrated me to no end that my concentration had been broken for that moment when Aiden had managed to get back inside my mind. If they just left me alone for a while I could do this! The more they interfered the harder it was for me.

  The sky was getting darker and I knew I didn’t have much time left before I would have to settle down for the night. I would make one last attempt before then and I hoped no one would interrupt me. My wolf was still vacant within my mind and I decided it was probably best if she was silent as well, the least amount of distractions I had right now the better.

  Rolling my shoulders and cracking my neck I squared my feet firmly a part and shakily placed my hands back on my head. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I braced myself for the pain and wasn’t as surprised as I had been before. It still hurt, like a thousand knives being dug into my skull but I was ready for it this time, and my heart rose a little when I heard a man screaming within my mind.

  I was getting Salem!

  The wind was picking up around me, almost to the point where I thought I might cause a tornado. Branches cracked and waved, and the wind howled angrily as leaves and rocks and whatever other loose items around us flew haphazardly. I could feel my skin being whipped with the flying debris.

  My chest began to burn and feel as if it were stretching. My concentrat
ion on seeking out Salem was now straying as I focused on the new pain in my chest. It seemed to be building in intensity and I cried out, my hands dropping from my head and to my chest, feeling as if it were suddenly being torn open and I needed to hold it together.

  I felt dizzy and I stumbled and fell to my knees as I cried out in pain and my wolf started howling again, suddenly deciding to grace me with her company. I could feel a presence within my mind, as if something else were watching me and then I heard Salem’s chilling laugh in the background. He was smug and victorious in feeling and as I lay on the floor panting and paralyzed I could almost feel the chilled fingers brushing my forehead.

  I win.

  Chapter Nineteen

  From the moment I managed to peel my eyes open, I knew I wasn’t back in the forest anymore. I was blinded by a bright light that made my eyes sting in agony and I hurriedly squinted them shut in a vain attempt to stop the pain. I felt cold and I was laying on something hard. I just wasn’t sure what it was.

  I ran my hands along my body, feeling for my injuries and felt relief wash over me when I came up against nothing.

  My mind was silent, and I couldn’t even sense my wolf—it was still and hushed and that made me slightly nervous as I tried once again to see where I was. I slowly peeled each eye open, taking my time to let the light reflect in my eyes. The pain was instant but less forceful this time and as I allowed myself to adjust I was able to slowly open them all the way, staring at the white void.

  There was nothing around me… or up… or down… it was just white space.

  Where the hell was I and what had I done to myself? Where had I put myself?

  It was strange to me that the extreme pain I had been feeling could suddenly vanish and that my mind itself could feel so weightless as well. There was nothing in there right now, taunting me and hurting me. My wolf wasn’t arguing with me or whining against me… it was pure silence, an empty void and that’s why I knew something was wrong.