Page 671 of Love Bites

CHAPTER11

Iheard a voice, but itwas far away, distorted. I opened my eyes, but I realized I’d been blindfolded. As I reached full consciousness, I heard two voices, but I didn’t recognize either of them.

Something heavy hit against my leg. I wanted to cry out, but my voice didn’t work. I couldn’t see, I couldn’t talk, and I couldn’t move. I could only hear. Panic consumed me. I was trapped. Frozen inside my own body. Terror filled me, but I beat back that familiar foe.Think, Chavvah. Think!

I remembered Billy Bob talking about how he thought the first two victims had been paralyzed. Is that what was happening to me? I heard the clang of metal against metal, the crunch of feet on gravel, and the roar of a diesel engine. The uneven surface under my back dug into my skin. I had to be in the back of someone’s truck. That narrowed down the suspect pool by about two people. Everyone in town had trucks and so did most of the Jubilee group.

My adrenaline spiked as panic set in—an appropriate response to being kidnapped by an evil, therian-killing bastard. It took a scary confidence to snatch someone up in broad daylight. Damn. I was tired of being a victim!

I tried to scream for help, but again, I couldn’t make my mouth work. Nothing worked.

The truck started moving. The rough ride bounced me around, and the tarp over the top of me rubbed against my skin. I wondered if it was still light outside. Was anyone missing me yet? Billy Bob and I were supposed to meet at three this afternoon. Sunny and Ruth expected me for volunteer work at four. Was it close to those times? Past them?

I focused on calming myself. After my ordeal last year, Sunny had bought me a crap-ton of self-help books. I didn’t read them all, but one had talked about anxiety and panic, and it had said that when “flight or fight” is triggered in someone, it could make it hard to think rationally. Irrational thought was dangerous. Bad decisions were made when people panicked. Keeping calm when you're paralyzed, was not an easy feat. I was failing miserably. It dawned on me my spirit friend had been conspicuously absent.

Brother Wolf! If ever I needed a guardian it was now.

Little sister, he said.I am here.

I need help.I’ve been drugged and taken, and I can’t move. I can’t do anything.I hated feeling so damn helpless. So weak.You have to let Billy Bob know what’s happening to me.

I can’t speak to him the way I speak to you.

Why not?The tiny bit of Zen I’d found was disappearing rapidly.

Why does the wind blow?

Don’t be a dick.

I am not trying to be a semblance of male genitalia.

My irritation did for me what nothing else could. It pushed back at the fear.How long have I been gone?

Seconds. Hours. Days. Years. I have no concept of time.

I was beginning to regret calling for him.Do you know who has me? Who is the killer?

I can only see you.

Again, not helpful. My frustration level rose like a hot balloon on a cold day.What good are you?

I am here.

If my eyes hadn’t been paralyzed, I would have rolled them. Hadn’t Brother Wolf said he’d brought my wolf to the surface and that he’d somehow manipulated my genetics to change me so that he could speak to me? Could he change my body in other ways?

Can you help me flush the drugs from my system?

He remained silent for a moment. When he finally spoke, he said,Maybe.

That one little word gave me hope.How?

You must focus on your creatures. It will take both wolf and coyote to burn out the poison. Even then, I’m not sure it is possible. Your coyote has gone dormant.

What? How?

Two nights ago, you embraced the wolf. Coyote is a jealous creature.

Illogically, I was offended.How do I unoffend my freaking biology?

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