Page 91 of Wolf Heart

Following the scent of magic, I run for miles, I run until it's stronger, cloying. It's everywhere and I know I’m close.

The fucking witches are going to learn what happens when they mess with my pack.

The scent of death is stronger and I see the blackened bodies of the dead birds littering the forest floor. I stop and scent the air. The scent is stale, the bodies cold and rotting.

I know the witches have been here. What I can't figure out is why the bodies are so mutilated.

I scan the area. The bodies are too far apart to be from one event. They look like someone walked through the forest and skinned the dead animals.

Somehow, I need to get Juniper from the witches to finish our deal. And if they have Aspen and Dex... I swallow hard, believing in my heart they aren't dead. If they were, I'd know it in my gut. But I need to find them and her.

"Where the fuck are you, cowards?" I bellow.

A roar echoes from behind me and I whip my head around.

They're here and they're not alone.

The witches materialize in a puff of black smoke.

"Where is she?" I growl.

The air around me crackles with dark magic and the witches gaze toward each other, the fear on their faces evident.

Unconcerned, Maria, the redhead, skips before me and her smile reminds me of a shark's.

"You made it." She flicks her wrist, putting a small scratch on my cheek. "Too bad you're a little late."

I growl, punching my fist at her face, but the witches flutter their fingers and I'm thrown backward. I crash into a tree, pain lancing through my back. I jump to my feet, the wolf inside me struggling for freedom.

The redhead's eyes light up with magic. "I think we'll keep you alive for a little bit. Maybe a few days. I'm sure my mother would be interested in some of your parts." Sheheldoutherhand, palmup,anda ball of red light bloomed between her fingers. "Don't worry, we'll let you say goodbye to the girl before we kill her."

The pain forgotten, my wolf seeps from my pores. I can't let that happen to me. Not now. Not ever. I don't care if I die in the fight, but I can't let them take me.

"Over my dead body." With a snarl, I shift. The smell of blood hits my nostrils, but I can't focus on them. Before I know it, two wolves tear out of the forest with me in their sights.

Aspen. Dex.

They are under some spell. The witches want to play with me knowing I can't and won't attack my men.

Shit! The witches had this planned from the very beginning. Make us their prisoners.

Dex snarls, running at me, teeth bare.

"It's me." I hold up my hands, trying to fight them off, but it's too late. His teeth pierce my leg.

He'sgoing for a bone-crushing bite that only a wolf can give.

Ican't let that happen, which means I'll have to bring him down first.

The blood pours out of the wound and Ihold back a yellofpainasIhithismuzzlewith my fist. He growls,sinkinghis teeth deeper into my leg, clampingdown harder.

Thewitchescirclemelikehyenas around a corpse atthebottomofa cliff.

They're laughing, watchingthiswholething,likeit'ssomekindof show. Rage burns in my gut.

I punch Dex hard. He growls but let's go and shakes his head as though trying to remove the pain.

Aspen flexes his front muscles, telegraphing his move.

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