Page 103 of The Lone Wolf Café
That was when it really sank in that I’d done it.
I’d used my empath powers to regain my humanity and stop my full moon frenzy.
I fell forward, fumbling back into my human form and using my palms to catch myself. I was trembling, overwhelmed with both exhaustion and relief.
But I was also laughing. Joyous, proud, almost maniacal laughter.
I couldn’t believe it worked. Using my powers on someone else, when I was already calm, was one thing. But this? I may have been the first werewolf in history to pull myself out of my own frenzy.
All my life on Hollenboro, I’d never been able to do this. Granted, I didn’t need to. It was so easy to just let the moonglow overtake me and run wild and delirious with the rest of my pack. On that island, it was just us. There was no one for us to harm. There was nothing for us to lose.
But leaving the island changed everything. The full moon had been the crutch holding me back the entire time I was in Wisteria Grove. It was what made me lose my humanity and become a danger to every non-werewolf around me.
But now, I felt powerful. I’d overcome the wretched curse of my heritage.
Nothing could stop me now.
“Nettie!”
Oh crap.
My name was Rowena’s last word, her last grip on her witch form, as the remainder of her flesh was engulfed by black fur. Her feral eyes widened; the pupils rapidly adjusting to the white light that began to emanate from them.
No. I scowled.Not you too.
I hoped bringing Rowena back would be easier than reclaiming my own mind. After all, I’d calmed her down once before.
And Rowena and I had a bond. A relationship. Which made it easy to flood her mind with happy memories of us, remindingher who she was before the light of the full moon started pulling her under.
Her mind immediately softened to my prodding, offering no resistance. I knew it was because of her feelings for me. But I wondered if it was also because the real Rowena was still in there, deep down, fighting this with every fiber of her being.
When the light finally faded from her eyes and she collapsed in her human form, my arms were there to catch her.
“N-Nettie,” Rowena’s tone was gentle but bleary. “You did it!”
“Sort of,” I scoffed, giving her a loving smile. “The real challenge is still ahead of us.”
I cupped her cheeks in my palms and kissed her. Just for a second, since the arrival of the frenzied werewolf pack was imminent, and the other witches were waiting on us.
But it was enough. Enough to fill my heart with happiness. Enough to leave me optimistic and hopeful.
We’d made it this far.
We had to finish this.
Rowena knelt next to the lock, undoing the intricate knot with precise twists of her fingers. She explained that her mother had taught her this knot when she was young. Even as a child, Rowena had always tied a key at the back of her cage. Just in case.
The heavy cage door swung open, its eerie metallic creak echoing through the bare, silent office.
But the sound filled me with more relief than discomfort.
“I’m going to shift again,” I told Rowena once we’d both exited the crate. “When I do, get on my back.”
“Your back?”
“Yes. I’m going to be much faster in my wolf form than you will be in your human form. And–” I peered out the tiny office window. “–I don’t want to waste any time.”
“Alright.” Rowena nodded, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
