Wolfsbane: The Wolf Within

by Bethany Shay Porteous

  “If she’s feeling Aiden’s pain then that means the connection is opening enough for her to do that,” Hannah rushed out. “They’re opening and closing the connection when it suits them.”

  “They’re hurting him,” I sobbed out.

  I’m going to rip them in half! my wolf vowed.

  Suddenly a strong howl echoed so loudly through the woods the trees shook and my own ears ached from the shrill sound. My wolf was on high alert, wanting to answer the howl with her own and I could feel my mouth beginning to ache more than it had been.

  “That was close,” Hannah said. “They’ve found something.”

  More howls resounded through the forest and we instantly began running in the direction, as if we were on autopilot. I could suddenly feel the earth seemingly vibrating beneath my feet as hundreds of paws began running in the same direction, it gave me hope and confidence that we’d all be able to take them down, but I knew also that these wolves could be running to their death and the guilt of that rested heavily on my shoulders.

  Amongst the chaos of my mind Lucy appeared and my stomach twisted at the state she had been in and her panic over the baby. All the human lives that had been in danger inside that gym… all because of me. I had brought that trouble to them, they were all unsuspecting victims and I had risked their lives.

  This would all stop tonight. I would no longer be everybody’s issue, I couldn’t keep risking people’s lives like this.

  I needed to step up and stop finding excuses as to why this wouldn’t or couldn’t work. I had what the Moon Goddess said I needed, my wolf and my magic. I had the power, she said I had the power as long as I trusted in it and trusted myself.

  I realized that in the haze of my thoughts I had lost sight of my father and of Hannah, neither were to be seen and I slowed my run to a walk before stopping dead in the middle of the track. The howls had ceased, and the area was almost eerily silent aside from the odd crack of a twig here and there.

  “Dad?” I called out, feeling my nerves grow. “Hannah?”

  “Evelyn,” a cool voice said behind me and my blood chilled. “How nice of you to finally join us.”

  ∞

  “Where is my mate?” I growled angrily. “Where is Sam?”

  “So many questions,” Danyeela sighed patronizingly. “Evelyn, you are in not in the position where you get to ask the questions.”

  “Oh no?” I growled. “Because if you don’t answer them I am going to—”

  “What are you going to do half-blood?” Tatiana spat. “I’ll save you the need to give us your impressive speech of how you intend to kill us. Your mate and little friend were thrown down a ravine, now, given you’re still standing here it’s clear your mate hasn’t died—yet. You on the other hand—you die tonight, Evelyn, and that prophecy never comes to pass.”

  “It was pure chance we even found you,” Danyeela said. “If you had never taken Salem from the mind of that wolf in Alaska, you may never have been on our radar.”

  My heart sunk heavily, and I prayed that the howling wolves had been because they had sighted my mate and saved him. I took comfort in the small hope that he was in fact still alive and that help would get to him. Rage boiled within me at the image of them carelessly tossing the man that I loved down a ravine and my wolf practically frothed at the mouth.

  “You know,” I started. “I never would have known about the prophecy. You could have gone on living your sick, twisted lives and I would have been none the wiser. None of this had to come to pass.”

  “Oh, but it did,” Danyeela growled. “I was not going to live in a world where a small half-breed whelp had the same amount of power as us. Two pedigree witches, direct children of Morgana. It’s an abomination. Even if you weren’t created to kill us Evelyn, we would have killed you anyway. All of you half witches are a disgrace to the blood line, none of you should even exist.”

  “We’re going to clean up the filth of the supernatural world,” Tatiana promised. “We will be the rulers and people will answer to us.”

  “You’re both insane,” I whispered. “Absolutely crazy, it’s not going to work.”

  “Oh really?” Tatiana challenged. “Why is that?”

  “Because I won’t let it!” I snarled and in that instant I aimed directly for the witch’s heart and shot death at her, knowing in an instant she’d deflect it. I wasn’t naïve enough to think killing the two would be that easy!

  “Nice try little witch,” Tatiana gloated. “But it’s two against one, we can make this quick or slow.”

  “I only need to kill one of you,” I told them. “Quick, or slow?”

  They seemed shaken for a moment—not long enough for my liking but I was glad to have rattled them a little bit.

  It isn’t two against one, my wolf told me. I’m here too. I’m ready to help you Evelyn, you’ll have more power than you’ll need. We can do this.

  Relief washed through me and I felt my confidence growing the way it did the night of the battle, when I realized I had what it took.

  It was time to protect, and not just myself. I needed to protect the pack, my family and the entire supernatural race from these witches and I wasn’t leaving here until they were dead. Even if it meant taking myself down with them.

  Duck! My wolf ordered, and I narrowly missed the flaming ball of fire that was hurled at me. It hit the tree behind me with force and as it engulfed in flames the tree split in half, crashing violently to the earth.

  So, they wanted to display their power? What they could do?

  Just go for the kill Evelyn, my wolf ordered. Don’t play their game. Scare them, don’t toy with them. End them!

  I found myself incorporating my training I had been using with Aiden on the course. They stumbled back in surprise as I ran at them and as they raised their hands I jumped, gripping a branch and flinging myself over their heads, landing behind them. Gripping both by their necks I sent volts of electricity through their bodies, feeling the power of the earth rushing through my feet and through my body.

  They were old and strong—it would hurt but it wouldn’t be enough. I couldn’t kill them both at once.

  As Danyeela turned to grab me I threw myself back into the tree, mildly surprised at my new acrobatic features. But this was about connecting the earths power… closing my eyes I blended into the surroundings of the trees and as the two became more and more frustrated in their search they shot up random bolts of light and I dodged them, narrowly avoiding being hit by one as it whizzed past my head.

  “Come out little witch!” Danyeela shrilled. “The time for games is over!”

  I closed my eyes and tried to think on my next move. I needed to take them out one at a time, but I couldn’t do that when they could see me, but I couldn’t use my magic to its full potential while remaining invisible. Glancing back down I noticed Tatiana stood beneath my branch and I gasped in terror as she suddenly flicked her wrist and an angry green light shot right at me.

  The base of the branch took the brunt but the resounding crack that followed had my stomach sinking and as it gave way I screamed in terror, the flow of gravity pulling it harshly down to the earth along with me.

  The moment I hit the ground I knew my leg was broken, the angle itself was sickening and I had definitely cracked some ribs. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t see straight, but I could feel my wolf working overtime to heal my body, her own panic evident along with mine.

  This was it.

  I was unable to defend myself like this. Everything was blurry, I could only faintly make out the roof of trees above us and the crack that the moon slipped through, everything else looked like something seen through the eyes of a drunk person.

  “Tat!” Danyeela wailed. “Tatty, wake up!”

  What?

  Get up! My wolf growled at me. Get up now if you want to live Evelyn!

  My leg, I protested in agony.

  I’ll help you walk on it, just get up! My wolf pushed within my mind so hard th
at I found myself automatically rising to my feet. My vision slowly returned but I could feel my wolf working overtime to heal my leg. She ignored the ribs, I could get by, but I needed my leg.

  Danyeela leaned over a gasping Tatiana, having just removed the branch off her sister’s stomach and I knew that this was now my opportunity. Both were distracted—hell Tatiana had almost been crushed to death! This was the only time I was going to be able to take them down.

  “Kill… her!” Tatiana gasped at her sister and just as Danyeela’s wide, fearful doe eyes connected with mine I struck, a ball of black death straight into her heart. Her pained wail echoed through the forest and Tatiana screamed with her as their lives that were joined tore in half. Years of immortality disappearing into nothing but ash as Danyeela vanished.

  Tatiana lay panting in agony on the floor of the forest and I knew her time was up. Their link had now been severed and her life would slowly be fading away. I walked over to her slowly, her eyes filling with anger and hate as I came into view and using the last bit of energy she had, she threw herself at me, pulling me down to the earth.

  Her hands wrapped themselves around my neck and in my shock and panic I found myself struggling to fight her off, not having expected her to be this strong. Should she be this strong?

  I couldn’t fight her off and my throat began to feel tighter and tighter, my airways closing as I clawed at her hands.

  The amount of blood that rushed from her arms had us both startled and through the spots in my vision I noticed black claws now protruded from my finger nails and my body was trembling, thick fur sprouting… I could feel my face changing and Tatiana’s changing in shock… before I lunged at her neck, my jaw latching on before pulling.

  Tatiana lay lifeless on the floor beside me, her throat ripped out, her eyes lifeless as her body began to fade away as Danyeela’s did.

  Nervously I swallowed, looking down at my huge white paws, up to white legs and the lower part of my chest before my wolf let her head back and an almighty howl resounded as she relished in the freedom of being in control. She had the body and the majority of our mind. I was still trying to come down from the fact that I was currently a full wolf and I had just ripped out the throat of an ancient witch.

  Correction, my wolf cut in. I did. Now let’s go find our mate.

  ∞

  Running as a wolf was the strangest sensation—something near impossible to explain. I felt like I was sitting in a rocking chair as she carried a steady gait, smelling deeply as she tried to scent the rest of the pack but more importantly, scent Aiden. Her sole focus was now on finding him, the terrifying fight with the sisters now pushed in the back of her mind.

  Everything through her eyes seemed clearer, more detailed. The smells were more poignant and crisp, and I felt like I could hear all the way to New York and back. These were the senses that everyone had, the senses I wished I’d had and now I did.

  It was overwhelming.

  The strong smell of blood hit my nose and my wolf powered on, catching Aiden’s scent instantly and my heart began to race at the state I may find him in. He wasn’t dead, I would feel that, but he could be close to. Our connection felt weak and while my wolf ran I focused on our bond, trying to pull myself closer to his mind but it was like walking on quicksand. The moment I felt something, it crumbled away.

  We came to a skidding stop where Aiden’s scent was strongest and peered down the edge of the ravine. It was steep, but we could walk down, trying to spot Aiden was a nightmare though. It was pitch dark and even with the extra senses our vision wasn’t that good.

  We’ll follow my nose, my wolf growled. They’re down there, I can smell them.

  Why hasn’t anyone else found them yet? I asked her. Are you sure it’s not just their scent and they haven’t already been rescued?

  My wolf paused nervously, wanting to go down and check it out but also knowing they very well may not be down there anymore.

  “Evelyn?” a voice to my left startled us both and we turned, snarling at the possible enemy. Hannah raised her hands quickly, her eyes widening. “It’s just me… Evelyn… you look amazing…”

  Where’s Aiden? I demanded, before I realized I was a wolf and she couldn’t hear me.

  “Evelyn,” she started. “We have Aiden and Sam, they’re both in a pretty bad way. Aiden is refusing treatment until you’re found… none of us could locate you… Evelyn, did you find them? Are they… dead?”

  My wolf sighed in irritation and she pulled herself back so fast that as we shifted, I felt like I was being flipped around under water, landing face first on the dirt, absolutely naked.

  “Oh!” Hannah gasped as she rushed at me. “Are you okay?”

  I spat out a mouthful of dirt and shakily got to my feet, the change in equilibrium making me feel off balance. My wolf was somewhat content, although her panic to get to Aiden was rising. She was happy she had shifted, and I was as well. We had eliminated the Rosewood sisters, I had shifted into my wolf… and Aiden was refusing treatment after being tossed down a ravine.

  “Aiden,” I managed to get out my first word. “Aiden.”

  “Yes,” Hannah said slowly. “Aiden. Okay, let’s get you some clothes and get you to your mate.”

  ∞

  I’d thrown on whatever Hannah had given me, and we had made our way as fast as possible to the pack clinic. There were cars everywhere and I realized that while Aiden was alive and mostly well, some wolves may not be right now and that sobered up both me and my wolf as we walked into the clinic.

  I spied Lucas first, reading off a clipboard before The Luna walked through a set of double doors, looking frazzled. When she spotted me, she burst out into tears and buried her face in her hands.

  “Lun-Claudia,” I said quickly as I rushed over to her.

  “Oh Evelyn,” she huffed. “You are going to be the death of me girl.”

  “I’m sorry,” I gasped as she squeezed me into a hug. “Aiden?”

  “Oh, that boy!” she growled. “Let me get you to him. Have you seen your father yet?”

  “No,” I told her. “Where is he?”

  “Sienna rolled her ankle when she was out looking for you,” The Luna told me. “Your father is with her now, she’s being treated. Phoenix was still out there searching for you the last I heard.”

  “He’ll be back here soon,” Hannah said. “We had a two-hour time limit before we reconvened back here.”

  “Aiden,” I pressed anxiously.

  “Yes,” The Luna pat my head. “You’ll be able to calm his idiot ass down!”

  She pulled me through the double doors and we passed room after room and I noticed a few wolves still in their prom gear either lying in a bed or being treated. In that instant Lucy’s face flickered into my mind and I clapped my hand over my mouth.

  “Lucy!” I gasped and at that moment no less, we paused outside of her room.

  She lay asleep in her bed, with Geoff sitting as close to the bed as possible, holding her hand. I took a step inside, panic rising as I looked at her leg, finding no injury. Her wolf would have healed her quite quickly, but I wanted to know if the baby was okay.

  “She’s fine,” Geoff mouthed with a weak thumbs up. He rested his hand on her stomach and gave me a small smile and I breathed a sigh of relief, allowing The Luna to drag me away from the room.

  Thank Morgana.

  “I want my mate!” Aiden’s voice could be heard shouting. “If I don’t get let out of here in five seconds—”

  “Aiden!” The Alpha could be heard growling. “Don’t make Cornelius subdue you again.”

  The doors pushed open and I had to hold back my laugh at the sight of Aiden. He was in a gown that wasn’t fully tied up, his bare ass on full display and he was tearing chords off his chest and arms. His back stiffened as my scent hit him and he whirled around fast, his eyes looking frenzied, glowing a rich amber.

  His wolf was beyond close to the surface.

  He was cut up bad,
it nearly shocked me to the point of screaming but I held it back. They’d gotten to his face; two long gashes ran down the left-hand side of his face from his hairline to his chin. It had started healing over his eye, but I was glad I hadn’t seen that when it was fresh. His arms were lashed up, healing but slowly.

  “Aiden,” I whimpered. “What happened?”

  He ignored my question, pushing past his father and mine before he swept me up in his arms. His lips caught mine as he kissed me fiercely, savoring the feel of my lips before he set me down and leaned his head against mine, his eyes shut as his arms trembled.

  “Goddess Evelyn,” he breathed. “No more. I can’t handle your life being at risk anymore. That must be it, tell me that’s it.”

  Tears welled in my eyes as I stroked his cheek, eyeing off his new scars and feeling guilt bury itself deep within me. A guilt that would rear its ugly head every time I looked at him.

  I caused that.

  “That’s it Aiden,” I choked. “I’m so sorry.”

  Prologue

  “We’re here tonight to officially welcome two new wolves into the pack,” The Alpha announced to everyone in the clearing. “By the acceptance of this mark, these wolves sign a binding contract of loyalty and submission to the Wolfsbane pack. To honor and respect the culture and traditions of Wolfsbane, to defend it when under threat and tend to its growth.”

  I tremored in the plain white dress I was in and glanced at Sam from my peripherals. He stood looking nervous in a white shirt and white pants and his eye caught mine, a nervous smirk on his lips. I looked back at The Alpha as he continued to talk and then past him to Aiden, who stood behind his father looking serious.

  His eyes twinkled when ours met and I had to try as hard as possible not to let my small smile creep on my lips.

  “As we have our witnesses,” The Alpha gestured to Aiden and The Luna and Karla. “To bear witness that I, Alpha Gregory James, am marking you Samuel Luther Stevens as a member of the Wolfsbane pack. That your past is forgotten and your future to be forged new.”

  The Alpha placed his mouth on Sam’s neck before his canines elongated and he pierced the skin before plunging his teeth deep, making the mark of the pack.