Page 14 of Her Wolf's Demands

My yawn moved me as I drove through the streets of Brighton. We’d spent all night allowing our wolves to bond in the most delicious of ways. My thighs were sore and my brain foggy from no sleep, but boy, I’d had an incredible time.

The skin on my arms tingled as I drew nearer to my apartment. When I’d last been here over a week ago, I’d cast an invisibility spell to protect Bohdi, my familiar, from harm. I’d been dying to return to pick him up, desperate to see him. I’d even begged Malone to send a wolf to get him. However, it had been too dangerous.

When I’d awoken, the need to check on Bohdi had overridden any fear. Leaving Malone to sleep, I’d placed an invisibility spell around myself in order to gain access to the apartment. I would retrieve my cat today.

The tinkling tune of my phone jolted me from my gorgeous reminiscence of the night before.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Where are you?” Malone’s voice was tight.

Yeah, the alpha probably didn’t appreciate my not telling him that I was seeing a cat about a witch.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t leave Bohdi any longer. You know I’ve been going nuts about getting him.”

“You took my truck.”

Licking my dry lips, I smiled to myself. “You had my car crushed so I figured what’s yours is mine and all that.”

“It’s too dangerous, Della! Why do you have to be so reckless?”

“Look,” I replied, shrugging off his untrue accusation. “If one of your puppies was left all alone, you’d do anything to get them back. My magicisstrong enough to keep Bohdi safe, but it’s not fair of me to leave him for so long. I’ll call you when I’m on my way back.”

Ending the call, I pulled the car into a space a few streets away from my apartment. No doubt Ertha would have her spies on the lookout, tracing every movement near my home.

My insides quivered as I climbed out of the vehicle and zipped up my hoody. No one would be able to see me move through the streets and into the building, but that didn’t stop the nerves that clenched my stomach.

Head down, I marched across the road, marvelling at the complete three sixty turn my life had taken. Just a month ago, I was enjoying a happy time with my brother. Both of our careers were going well, and he’d even had a few dates.

His latest commission had been his biggest yet, and he’d been anxious about it. The coven had asked him to paint a mural in the library. It hadn’t been long after their discussions that he’d become paranoid.

Sadness swept through me as I trotted into our street and up the steps that led to our apartment. Pausing outside the door, I sniffed the air. A floral scent flowed around me, a trace of a witch nearby.

I turned my head slowly, seeking out my new enemy. My wolf senses kicked in, my vision expanding to view the whole of the road. There. A woman sat in her car, reading a book. Her witch scent was stronger than I’d ever noticed before. The wolf senses were an incredible ability, even if the vile smells made me want to vomit. Wet dog anyone?

“You can’t see me, but I can see you,” I sang to myself, flicking my finger.

The lights on her car flashed silently, locking her in without her even knowing.

I understood why Malone didn’t want me to bind my wolf. As much as I hated to admit it, being a hybrid-witch made me formidable.

I’d been a low-life everyday average witch for so long. Who could blame me for wanting to keep the magic sprinkle fairy dust – okay, wolf dust, which didn’t sound nearly as romantic – that made me kickarse?

Smiling, I let myself into the building and jogged up the two flights of stairs. When I neared my own entrance, I slowed, listening for sounds within my apartment. It was deathly silent.

A shudder moved me as I closed my eyes and used my wolf senses to search inside. Nothing.

“Let’s see what the bastards have done to our place,” I breathed, opening the door and tentatively stepping into the hall.

A small gasp left me as I surveyed the damage. The boxes were still by the coat stand, empty and waiting. Bohdi’s water and food was full, although I had spelled it to renew every day so that wasn’t a surprise.

I glanced through the open doors into the living room and kitchen. Drawers were open and emptied on the floor. Ash lined every surface, left over from the smoke bomb.

Stepping into the living room, I clenched my fists as a funky smell made me screw up my nose. I couldn’t see the culprit, but the painting of Drake and I had been ripped down from above the fireplace. It lay on the ground, ripped and discarded.

Red paint – no, wait, it smelt like blood – was splattered over the image of my brother’s face. They had cast a location spell on him, using the picture. Why had they wanted to find him? Maybe they believed he would lead them to me. Thank the goddess the spell wouldn’t have worked; I’d made sure of that with my cloaking spell.

Ignoring the rest of the destruction, I went into my bedroom, hoping to find Bohdi snuggled up in my duvet. Every one of my drawers, and all of my ornaments, had been tipped onto the floor, covering my carpet.

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