Page 98 of Wolf Bitten

That was an excellent idea. In all the chaos, I’d forgotten about Lucy.

Uh, yeah. About halfway there. I saw the others’ clothes where we left them, and I snagged them,she replied.I’m starving, so I’m hoping you guys already ordered pizza or something. I’d rather not head back to the student center with Uncle Jovian and Aunt Tashya around.

I wished that was our main concern right then.We need you to hurry. We’re half a mile inside the woods from the apartments, near where the Eastern wolves attacked me. Josie passed out, and we can’t carry her inside until she’s dressed.

What?She paused.Okay, I’m on my way.

Even though I couldn’t feel her emotions like Raffe’s, I could hear the shock and fear in her tone.

What are we going to do with her?Adam asked.

I didn’t have to turn around to know he meant Octavia.

Kill her?Keith suggested.

I wasn’t sure if he was kidding or being serious. With him, anything was possible.

I’d like to, but if she’s with Dad or the secret society, she could have information we need.Raffe exhaled noisily.I’d hate to kill her until we’ve learned everything we can.

Okay, Keith had been serious, and Raffe was basically going along with the suggestion. I waited to feel horror, but it never came. Instead, my chest tightened. I was horrified that I wasn’t horrified at the suggestion.

Had becoming a wolf shifter changed me so much in so little time?

I didn’t even know who I was anymore, but if we killed people for the hell of it, we were no better than the people coming after us. At the end of the day, weren’t we all the heroes in our own story? But we needed an ethical line. I refused to become like the people who’d bullied me my whole life and tried to force other people to conform.

My chest loosened, and I realized I hadn’t changed completely because I still strongly agreed with that last statement.

But that meant we needed to determine what Octavia was. I didn’t want to get Slade involved. He’d tell his mother, and she’d want control over the situation if Octavia was a witch.

I remembered something.

I could sense witch magic. If Octavia had a spell cloaking her, maybe I could tell.

I went to Raffe’s side, and he took my hand. The buzz of our fated-mate bond sprang to life.

What are you doing?he asked, his icy-blue irises locking on me.

I’m going to see if I can feel coven magic from Octavia.I rolled my shoulders to loosen the tension throughout my body.I’ve sensed it before.Slade had told me I should be able to feel it within each person who had it. I just needed to figure out how.Whether it’s inside her or swirling around her from a cloaking.

If anything feels off, stop immediately.Raffe arched a brow.Promise me.

I smiled and kissed his cheek.Promise. Besides, you feel my emotions now. Remember?

When the spot where his emotions resided in me expanded and warmed, I realized how tense we’d all become, and I was glad that my words had provided comfort.

He released me, and I moved to stand in front of Octavia.

She lifted her chin, though she was only an inch or so shorter than me, and asked, “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to see if I can feel magic on you.” I tilted my head, taking in every inch of her face, waiting for a change of expression. “I want to see if I can find the truth.”

Turning her hands palms up, she nodded. “Sounds good to me. Let your arcane power search me.”

If only that was how my blood worked.

If this woman makes one wrong move or breathes in a weird way, we take her out,Raffe commanded.Make sure Sky doesn’t get hurt.

Got it,Keith and Adam responded in unison.

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