Page 48 of Isabel and the Werewolf Beast

“Then why did you attack me?”

“Reasons.” I risked taking my eyes off him for a second, but I didn’t see Isabel’s head nor did I see Maximus.

“This is preposterous,” he sputtered.

“Is it?” I turned my attention back to him, to the man who’d made Isabel’s life a living hell. Who’d cursed the vampire I’d grown feelings for. Who’d stolen her head for nefarious purposes.

“Yes, now see here, I’m a great warlock. Whatever you desire we can bargain.”

Oh, so he was backpedaling to trick me into a deal. That wouldn’t happen even if I didn’t realize how evil he was.

“What I desire, I don’t need your help with.”

His gaze locked on the moonstone. “Perhaps I can help you with controlling your urges? I’ve heard werewolves struggle with their animal side.”

“I’m working it out myself.” My lip curled in warning and disgust. I should kill him and be done with it, but I needed to know Isabel was safe first.

“I see. Is that why you’re in a half shift?”

“Shut up,” I growled. I didn’t need this man’s voice in my head, trying to weaken my resolve to hold him captive.

“How do you think this will end once you let me go?”

“I said shut up.” I glanced around the room, to the cabinets lining the wall, an assortment of glass jars and tubes lined the surface, a table sat in the middle of the room, one lonely chair by its side, but there was no one else inside.

“Are you looking for a particular spell? I can help with those too.”

This man’s voice was getting in my head.

“Let go of my hands and I’ll help you.”

My head swam. Was he trying to mesmerize me? I slammed my head into him, breaking his nose in a bloody mess and knocking him unconscious. There. That shut him up. I stood and yanked the belt from his pants and secured his hands behind his back. After meeting this warlock for a few minutes, I doubted the belt would hold him for long. I searched the cottage for Isabel’s head, but I couldn’t find it. No matter how I searched and scented the place, it wasn’t there. I found a length of rope and set to work hog-tying Silas, then returned to searching the cottage just to be sure I hadn’t missed finding her.

When I’d searched everywhere, I stepped outside and marched over to where Maximus had stood waiting for me to go inside. He wasn’t there. I followed his scent back to the cottage and inside. He’d come inside. Had he found her head? Silas groaned as he started coming to. I walked back outside and hunted for Maximus’s scent. The tang of the vampire drifted from the front door leading away from the cottage, but it mingled with the trail we’d come here on.

I narrowed my eyes. Was Maximus leaving without me? And with Isabel’s head? That double-crossing vampire. I chased after him, but he had a head start and he was fast. I’d catch him though and when I did, we’d fight because there was no way I’d let him get away with trying to take my Isabel.

My feet skidded on a bunch of leaves. My Isabel. Where did that come from? A deep growl rolled out of my lungs and my shape shifted to a wolf. I ran faster than I ever had before because the wolf understood he was chasing after his mate. I’d read about them in Isabel’s books, how wolves chose a mate. One above all others they’d protect until their last breath. Yes, that was how I felt about Isabel.

I couldn’t kill Maximus though even if my animalistic side wanted to right now since he had a part of my mate.

Up ahead, I caught sight of Maximus dashing between the trees. I added an extra spurt of speed until I grew close enough to launch myself at his back and take him to the ground. We rolled over and over with the force of my blow until a tree stopped me. I grunted at the painful impact on my head, but I shook it off and shifted form with ease into my half-shifted state. A short distance away was a hessian bag with a round object inside.

“Isabel,” I cried, crawling across the dirt to her side.

I scooped the bag up into my arms and cradled it to my chest rocking back and forth, I carefully tugged the sack open and drew her head out. She looked peaceful and not one blemish on her perfect skin from our tussle.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, brushing back the hair on her head into a less rumpled state.

“You’re crazy,” Maximus said. “Why did you tackle me? I’m on your side.”

My head snapped in his direction and my top lip curled back. Now I’d accepted what she meant to me, I wouldn’t let another man near her.

“Do we have a problem?” Maximus held up his hands. “Because I’d hate to kill you after all.”

I shook my head from side to side repeatedly and fought for control of the animal. A few heartbeats later I shifted to my human form. I tucked Isabel’s head back into the sack and stood.

“I’m sorry. My wolf side thought you were taking her away from him.”

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