Page 75 of Isabel and the Werewolf Beast

“Asher took off and hasn’t come back. Have you seen him?”

The concern in the pack leader’s voice was more than our father had ever held for us. Asher had chosen right to join this pack.

“He’s with me.” I hung my head as the emotion at thinking I’d lost Asher welled to the surface again. I hadn’t lost him though. He was still here. “He’s not all right.”

A second later, a warm hand landed on my shoulder and Barth eased me onto a log to sit. He kneeled before me.

“What happened?”

Every word of the battle with Silas spilled from me, every word about Isabel and her family trying to help my brother, how the professor vampires had arrived and the outcome of the meeting. Barth rocked back on his heels before he stood and let out a long whistle.

“Josephine is here?” He whispered the question. “She wants to see me?”

“She’s waiting outside the castle.”

“I haven’t seen her for so long.” There was a hint of longing in his voice.

“She said the same.”

Barth stood. “They voted to end killing werewolves?”

“Yes.”

“Holy shit this is big news.” His entire body vibrated with energy. “If this is true, then all our lives will change. Maybe we can be happy with each other again.”

I didn’t want to rain on his happiness, but I had to ask, “Do you know how to help Asher?”

“Sorry, I don’t. We avoided warlocks and witches once vampires turned on us. Most of us hid in forests accepting the animal side of us more and more because vampires stayed in cities closer to their food source.” He crouched before me again. “Asher is pack. We’ll help you look for a cure.”

It was better than no help, better than our parents ever did for us.

“I’ll take you to Josephine now.”

Barth rose to his impressive height. Even in his human form, he was a large man. I shoved myself off the log and led him through the forest. He most likely knew the forest better than me, but he didn’t rush me, or tell me I was going the wrong way. Every instinct inside me told me to head back to Isabel. I didn’t need a sense of direction when her sweet scent drifted on the gentle breeze ruffling through the trees.

Up ahead, the vampire stood against a tree, almost blending with her environment. As we approached, she straightened, her eyes glowing red in the darkness of the night. A chuffing noise rumbled from Barth’s chest then he raced across the distance. Josephine ran forward too. They embraced in a tight hug and didn’t let go.

“Josephine.” Barth whispered, burying his nose in her hair.

She giggled, reminding me of the happy giggles Isabel let out on the rare occasion surprising me with how ecstatic I was to hear her delight.

They drew apart and stared at each other as I hovered a few paces away from them.

“It’s true,” Josephine said. “We’ve voted to end the war with werewolves.”

“About time.” Barth folded his arms over his muscular chest.

“Did you find your mate?”

“I did.”

Her shoulders drooped into a defeated slump.

“Then a vampire killed her.”

She gasped. “Barth, I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry won’t bring her back, Josephine,” Barth said with a bite to his words.

---