Page 104 of The Lone Wolf Café
We left the town hall and stepped outside, the bitter nighttime breeze blasting us in the face. Rowena pulled her cloak closer to her body, but I let mine blow in the wind. I wouldn’t need it in a moment – wolf fur was a far better insulator than anything human-made.
I shifted with ease, the moonglow no longer in my eyes, and Rowena unsteadily climbed onto my back. Werewolves were only slightly larger than ordinary wolves, but we were a lot stronger, and I had no trouble carrying Rowena’s weight.
She settled herself in, like a horseback rider in a saddle, rubbing the thick ruff of fur around my neck.
“You know, I could get used to this,” she commented.
I tilted my head back and gave her a funny look, as if to say,What do you mean?
A devious grin crept across her lips. “Riding you.”
I grumbled, shaking my head and neck so red fur flew all over her dress. She scowled, and if I had been in my human form, I would’ve laughed. It wasn’t the time for such jokes, but the suggestive comment still sent a burning warmth pooling into my belly.
I stepped forward, signaling to Rowena I was about to take off, and she gripped the fur around my neck tighter.
Hold on, my girl.
I started off at a trot. Once I was confident that Rowena was comfortable and had found her seat, I accelerated to a hard canter.
Before long, I was at a full gallop, weaving between trees as maple leaves fluttered beneath my stomping paws. I felt the previously tense grip of Rowena’s calves lighten against my flank, and I realized she was enjoying this.
In all my years as a werewolf, I’d neverriddenone. Rowena likely hadn’t either.
But despite the impending danger of where we were headed, I imagined it was fun. I peered over my shoulder and noticed Rowena’s short black hair whipping in the breeze, her posture straight and her eyes wide and alert.
“It feels like flying!” Rowena exclaimed joyfully, peering down at my wolfish head.
My heart filled with warmth again, and for a moment, I forgot how dangerous this insane plan was. Because right now, running through the woods on the way to Wisteria Grove’s eastern border, it was just the two of us.
I promise, Rowena. No matter what happens, I will never forget this moment.
I will never forget us.
In the distance, I could see the former pumpkin patch. It was now an unused field, full of fallen leaves and bone-dry, yellow grass. And on the far side of the field, bordering the forest, I could see the silhouettes of the other witches.
Then I saw a burst of fire. And a large rock flying out of the ground, hurtling toward a dark mass of figures emerging from the woods.
My stomach dropped in horror.
We were late. The werewolves were already here.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The sounds of angry howls and snapping jaws intensified once Rowena and I made it to the other witches.
They cheered in shock and relief as soon as they saw us. Because the fact that we’d made it out of the cage signaled the first part of our plan had worked. It meant I was able to pull both myself and another werewolf out of a full moon frenzy using my powers.
It filled me with glee. Their reaction to us was quite different from when we’d shown up at town hall half a day earlier.
Rowena slipped off my back as soon as we approached the barrier. From a distance, it appeared almost invisible, blending naturally into the scenery. But up close, I could see it take shape – a shimmering, translucent wall that pulsed with so much magic it seemed alive.
And it kept the werewolves out. They growled and snarled on the other side of it, their eyes blinded by the white light of the moonglow. Every time a stray paw or snout scratched at the barrier, it bounced off like rubber.
Then I saw them. Even in the darkness, without the sunlight glinting off their bright red fur, their remarkable size and ferocious temperament made them immediately distinguishable from the other werewolves.
So did the fact that their body sliced through the barrier like butter.
The witches had been doing their best to fend off Big Red. Nina’s vibrant flames were enough to startle them, as werewolves naturally hated fire. Another witch, one with earth magic, levitated rocks off of the ground and hurtled them at the angry werewolf. Some of them were as large as my head, yetthey did little to slow the Big Red down. The wolf would recoil backwards, dazed and in pain from the blow, but they’d be right back to charging the barrier within minutes.
