Page 28 of Winning the Wolf

Her energy was still kind and calm, but her words gave me the chills. I could’ve asked her to go into detail, but my skin was starting to itch, a sure sign that the full moon was on its way.

“I’m really grateful to you for seeing me,” I said, backtracking out of the room, “you have no idea how much you’ve helped.”

Her beaming smile returned as she rose from her seat and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re very welcome. I’m so pleased that was an easy spell. I really hope you sort things with your sister.”

Inclining my head, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and turned to leave. The witch stayed behind as I made my way outside. At least she had understood that I needed my own space, especially since my skin was burning, my fur begging to be let out.

Once inside my car, I glanced up at the sky. It was dark, the bright moon the only illumination between a few dull stars. I only had an hour until the moon reached its apex, forcing me to shift into my wolf self. I could control it if I wanted, but I was ready to take a trip to the location on my phone. I just had to memorise the map in my mind first.

I started the engine and made my way out of Glastonbury, determined to reach Cheddar before the full moon hit. I didn’t have long.

My stomach churned as I imagined what could be happening to my sister. Was she living happily with Jeremy, despite her betrayal? Or had she killed the alpha and his wife in order to make up for it? The not knowing was driving me insane, hence the desperation to go to her.

After a while, the car wound its way up my track. I had to get out now, my skin was itching like crazy and the instinct to shift was growing strong in my chest.

I stopped in front of the house, knowing full well that I’d only have a matter of minutes before I would have to shift. It would be just enough time to check the map on my phone and try to memorise the location of my sister. I just hoped I would pick up her scent the nearer I got to our enemies’ lands.

Getting my phone out, I paused when the crunch of tyres on gravel made me look in my rear view mirror. Shit, Caleb’s car had parked directly behind mine, blocking me in. What was he doing at my home at this time of night?

I quickly tucked my phone away and jumped out of my vehicle. My heartbeat sped up when three men, including Caleb, climbed out of his truck. Had Killick decided to drag me in?

“What’s going on?” I called, my feet halting as they drew nearer.

Their expressions were blank and cold, not giving anything away. I backtracked, holding my arms up as they came nearer, not stopping when they reached me.

“Wait!” I struggled against the two guys who slipped their hands under my armpits and lifted me off my feet. “What are you doing?”

Panic made my voice pitch higher, almost squeaking. Why were they being so rough? Surely, Killick could’ve just asked me to go to him. I would’ve obliged… begrudgingly.

“I’m sorry,” Caleb said when my gaze pleaded with him. “I’m following orders.”

Ducking his head, my so-called friend almost dove into the driver side of the car. The others threw me in the back, not bothering to be gentle about it as my arms and legs landed akimbo. One of them pushed me until I was in a seated position before climbing in after me. The last man jumped in the front and told Caleb to drive.

Hugging my arms around myself, I dug my nails into my skin. Hot fury ran through me, firing my insides. The adrenaline pumped through my veins, threatening to force my shift against my will. It would serve them all right if I morphed in the car, snapping their hands off with my powerful jaw, one by one.

“The full moon will reach its apex any minute now,” I muttered, looking into the rear-view mirror in an attempt to get Caleb’s attention.

I knew that he was best friends with Killick, but his kindness to me had been genuine. Why was he now kidnapping me?

“Hence why we need to hurry up,” the man sitting next to me said, tapping Caleb’s seat hard.

The car sped up without a word from the driver. Instead, he kept his gaze ahead and steered the vehicle, pulling onto the side of the road when we reached the top of the gorge.

“Get out!” he snapped, glaring at the men in the car. “Take her.”

The passenger did as he was told, scrambling from the car and coming round to open my door. The man next to me shook his head and leant forward. “Oh, no, you have to deliver her to the line-up.”

Line-up? What was this? An identity parade? The werewolf community had their own way of doing things, why would they adopt a human’s way of doing things? All they had to do was sniff me out and they’d know if I was guilty. Most of the time.

“Fine!” Slamming his hand on the steering wheel, Caleb got out of the car.

I clambered out too, ready to get answers. Kidnapping was against our pack laws, even if the alpha had ordered it himself. About to grab Caleb to insist that he tell me what was going on, I froze when my nose was assaulted by several werewolf scents.

“What the…?”

Killick may have arranged a line-up, but there was something different about tonight. In front of me, there was a row of six women, all facing the horizon. In front of them was an older woman, holding her hand in the air.

“Hurry up!” she called when she saw us approach.

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