Page 25 of Dance With Death

“Catch the bastard.” Logan holds up a knife, and Dane beside him pulls cable ties from a pocket.

“Are you insane?” I choke out.

“Four of us against one of him,” Logan retorts.

“And what if the shifter is waiting to kill someone?” I ask, incredulous at their stupidity. “You’ve no idea how strong and violent shifters are. Did you miss that one killed Wes? You’re bloody stupid!”

Cassie sniffles, holding her chest. “Violet stopped us. She’s in on this.”

“For fuck’s sake,” mutters Rowan. “‘In on this?’ Violet has more chance of catching the shifter than you do.”

“Is it her dad?” asks Sara.

I gawk. The humans’ paranoia is going too far.“Are you serious? Why the hell would one of Violet’s fathers stalk Thornwood?”

“One is a wolf,” retorts Logan.

“No. Zeke is Tigris. Tiger shifter. Ethan is… not,” I say.

Cassie screams again as Violet reappears at her side. I hastily scan Violet’s hands and face for blood, but the only thing covering her is a furious expression.

“Where’s the shifter?” asks Logan.

“I couldn’t catch them after you interrupted me.” Violet growls, and I close my eyes in despair as she flashes her teeth.

“I thought you had super powers?” says Sara. “Like, you can run super fast.”

“Good grief. Yes, as fast as a shifter, but not when a stupid and inconveniently placed girl gets in my way.”

Rowan steps up and takes Violet’s hand.

“The shifter escaped? Well, that’s convenient. Did someone tell you that we planned to hunt it tonight? Were you helping a friend?” asks Dane.

“Hunt a shifter?”

“Yeah, I already told the group what a dumb idea that is, Violet,” I say. “All the humans have is a knife.”

“Against a shifter’s claws and teeth? The wolf would’ve eviscerated you all before you could blink. And I mean all. You’re lucky we decided to look for the shifter too.” Violet straightens. “I need to leave this place.”

“Could you still catch the wolf?” I ask.

“No.” She takes a deep breath and turns her face to the sky. “But if I remain with these individuals, my anger will not subside.”

“We won’t stop until we catch the werewolf,” says Logan icily. “The academy won’t help. They don’t give a crap about a supe hunting humans.”

“It might have hidden Holly in its lair!” puts in Sara.

“Lair?” Violet tears her hand from Rowan’s. “Your ignorance knows no bounds. No wonder humans die often and will continue to do so.”

Crap. I stare after Violet as she stalks away leaving a hushed horror behind. “Violet wasn’t threatening anybody. She means humans are physically weak.”

“Yeah, against people like her murdering us.” Dane steps up to me. “I knew Violet would show her true colors eventually. You definitely are, Leif. Whose side are you on?”

Even if I argued with these kids all night, nothing would change how recent events have twisted their beliefs, including my roommate’s. Is someone at the academy behind the wolf’s appearance, and the full moon rumor true? Because Mrs. Lorcan is either ignoring the growing trouble or has buried her head in the sand.

I’m as pissed as Violet that the Darwin kids interrupted us because I swear that whoever the shifter is, they were looking for her.

But then why run?

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