Page 85 of Howl

Zach stepped down off the stairs, brandishing the silver manacles the pack kept for real rogue wolves that needed to be controlled. “I saw the evidence, Sis.”

“It was him,” I spat. “He killed my father like a coward, he killed Annie, and now he’s trying to kill us all.”

“Why would he?” Dillon asked, approaching with another set of manacles. “He’s the one who brought the witches here to make peace. They healed me.”

“It’s an act, Dill. This is my pack. Why would I try to kill you? Why would I want anyone dead but him?” I asked, scrambling to my feet.

“Because he replaced your father, and you didn’t.” Zach shrugged. “I don’t know, but there’s evidence, Eve. Photos. Call logs. It’s all there. It’s all in your name.”

“And you think I’m that stupid?” I gaped at him. “If I was behind this, there wouldn’t be a trail, you dumbass.”

Zach’s nostrils flared and he darted forward making a grab from my hands. I side stepped him, and threw a hand out, slamming into the space between his shoulder blades. He stumbled forward into the pups standing around the circle and I turned around, ready to run at Adrian, or run for an opening. What I found however was the witch with her hand outstretched in front of me. The air cut off in my throat, and I collapsed to my knees clawing at my neck.

The pressure released, and a hacking cough burst from my lips as the witch giggled. “I’m sorry for interfering, but it looked like you could use some help.”

“Why thank you, Miss Claudette.” Adrian said, smiling down at me.

“You bastard,” I croaked.

“Boys, restrain her.” Adrian said, glancing at Zach and Dillon standing behind me.

“Yes, Sir,” Dillon said, and something closed around my right ankle. The metal touched my skin, and the cold surface instantly burned my flesh.

Crying out, I tried to kick, but he got the second cuff around my other ankle. The pain was too much. Zach grabbed my right wrist, and then my left, and he hooked matching cuffs around my back.

My body tensed, and as they hoisted me off the ground, Adrian cleared his throat. “Miss Claudette, as we agreed, in exchange for ending your curse, and healing the ones who were struck sick, we will end Miss Corwin’s reign of terror, and burn the records she kept on your family. Together, may we begin a new era of friendship and cooperation.”

“You son of a bitch,” I snarled.

Adrian glared down at me and pulled a lighter from his pocket. He flicked his thumb over the wheel and ignited the flame. His lips curled into another smile, and he tossed the lighter onto the stack of Annie’s books.

My eyes followed the metal square, and my heart went wild in my chest as the parchment went up like flash paper. I struggled against my bindings, but the silver was draining my energy faster than Alice’s veil spell.

Tears blurred my vision for the second time that night and I went limp, in Zach’s grasp, watching Annie’s legacy burn. Watching the only threads, I had that would tie me to my birth mother burn.

“Thank you, Adrian,” Claudette said, her voice like acid wrapped in velvet. “I believe this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

“Eve!” A familiar voice shouted in the distance, and I looked up to see Jamie bursting through the crowd. He ran around the side of the bonfire, and swung at Zach, catching him in the chin. My brother dropped my shoulder, and I staggered into Dillon, as the two of them tumbled to the ground wrestling.

Adrian surged forward. “Jamieson! Enough!”

Jamie didn’t stop. Instead, he punched Zach again, sending blood splattering across the ground. I watched in horror, as he snarled. “She’s you’re sister. You son of a bitch. I’ll kill you for this.”

“Jamie,” I gasped, in surprise. I’d never seen him look so violent, so angry, and it was all for me.

Adrian shoved past Dillon and I, and grabbed Jamie by the throat, shoving him away from Zach. The power of the Alpha washed over the pack, and he snarled, “I said, enough.”

“Let her go,” Jamie spat getting in his face. “She’s done nothing wrong.”

“She is a traitor,” Adrian said, narrowing his eyes at Jamie. “And so it seems are you.”

“What? You’re an idiot. Jamie is your fucking loyal soldier boy.” I shook my head, and settled my weight onto my feet, despite the shackles keeping my ankles bound.

Adrian grabbed me by the shirt, and pulled me close, inhaling sharply at the crook of my neck. He shoved me back, and Dillon caught me, keeping me upright.

“What’s going on?” Dillon asked quietly.

“It seems not only do we have a rogue wolf to punish, but a mated pair who bonded without my permission,” Adrian announced, glancing at the other faces watching them.

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