Page 2 of Wolf Bitten

The needle must have been small enough that I couldn’t detect a wound.

Turning my head to the left, I took in the space. Wooden blinds covered a window that took up half the wall. A light-colored wooden dresser sat underneath it. A few feet beyond the dresser was a light-gray desk with a reading lamp on top and a white chair. A thick wooden door stood at the edge of the dresser, which I hoped was the exit but could be a bathroom.

When I managed to look in the opposite direction, I stared straight at the toilet. That answered that question and confirmed something else.

I’d never seen this place before.

Footsteps scuffed the floor outside the room, and a lump formed in my throat. Between that and my cottonmouth, I needed something to drink and fast.

One problem at a time, Skylar.

The doorknob turned, and I closed my eyes and returned to the position I’d been in when I woke up.

“That’s what I thought,” an older woman said. “She’s still asleep. That vampire must have given her too large of a dose.”

That thought scared me. Too much of something as strong as a tranquilizer could lead to death, so if they hadn’t been sure of the correct dosage, I was damn lucky to be alive.

At least, there was that.

Someone huffed, and a man replied, “She could be faking. We need to check, and you can’t blame Dave. We only have dosages for supernaturals, not humans, and he had to give her enough to knock her out.”

The footsteps came closer, and a pineapple-and-mint scent invaded my nose.

A scream lodged in my throat, but I swallowed it … or maybe I didn’t have the strength to release it.

Someone touched the base of my neck, and I had to fight a flinch. The hand seemed big, so I guessed it belonged to the man. He brushed his fingertips against my cheek. My skin crawled, and I desperately wanted to move away from him, but I suspected that was the point. Somehow, I didn’t move a muscle.

“I thought she was supposed to smell extremely delicious,” the man said as he bent toward me, his nose brushing my neck. “Don’t get me wrong, she smells great. Not human, but not like anything I’ve ever smelled before either. But I don’thaveto drink her blood.”

Between his proximity and the pineapple-mint scent filling my nostrils, I almost gagged.

The womantsked. “You sound disappointed that you aren’t blood-crazed. Be glad because I will doanythingto protect her, including hurt you. Just so we’re clear.”

Luckily, the lump in my throat remained, or I would’ve laughed. Her protective stance clashed with my captive situation—which she was clearly okay with. I wasn’t sure how she didn’t understand the irony.

“I don’t want to hurt her. I was curious what all the fuss is about.”

“Well, I don’t want to hear that thought again.” The woman cleared her throat. “Let’s go before we disturb her. We don’t want to wake her too soon.”

The man stepped away from me. Not only could I hear it, but I could feel it in the air and the way his scent weakened. They must have doused themselves in cologne because I’d never smelled a fragrance that strong … either that or being drugged had heightened my senses.

“You’re right.” The man chuckled grimly. “We wouldn’t want that.”

“Remember our goal,” the woman snapped. “Or do I need to make a call?”

“No need. I remember.” The man then hissed at her. Hissed. At. Her.

The two of them walked out, and the moment the door shut, I let out a shaky breath. With their supernatural hearing, I had to be careful, so I stayed put in case they decided to check on me again immediately.

I listened as their footsteps disappeared then waited a while longer.

After counting to five hundred, I opened my eyes again. Thankfully, this time, it was easier. I raised my hands in front of me, and they followed the command, if sluggishly. That was an improvement and meant the drug was wearing off faster than I’d anticipated.

Moving as slowly as I could so the mattress didn’t squeak, I sat up, and the world slowly spun around me.

Dizziness was another side effect of tranqs and something I naturally experienced, thanks to my blood and its ancient power.

Focusing on my goal, I inched across the bed, trying not to make a sound. Luckily, the bed wasn’t creaky, and the smooth cobalt comforter helped me move along easily.

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