Page 26 of Winning the Wolf

“It’s not surprising, is it? My sister has betrayed the pack in the worst way.”

“But you said that Jeremy claimed that she tried to save the alpha’s wife.” Dinky fiddled with the small vase on the centre of the table before pushing to her feet.

Hanging up my apron, I scooped up my keys and indicated that we leave. I’d told Dinky everything that had happened with Jeremy. She’d sworn to secrecy, and I trusted that she wouldn’t break her word. I still had to figure out how to tell Killick about Jeremy’s accusations towards Miranda. It would help if he was to actually talk to me.

“I still have no idea what happened, remember? They wouldn’t even tell me how Phileas and Miranda died.” Putting a finger over my mouth as we approached the front door, I leant closer to my friend. “I’m going to try and find Nyla again. Tonight.”

Dinky’s gasp made me open my eyes at her, warning her to be quiet, just in case someone, somewhere, was listening.

“How?” she whispered.

Sticking my head out of the shop entrance door, I checked to see if anyone was around. The setting sun cast shadows across the empty car park as it dropped low behind the gorge. “I won’t say anything other than… a witch.”

Dinky’s gasp was loud as I set the alarm and locked the front doors. A shudder moved through me as I checked the surrounding area once again. If Killick knew that I’d planned a meeting with a witch in Glastonbury, he would probably kill me himself.

“You’re crazy,” Dinky said under her breath, “it’s the full moon. Why would you risk being with a witch?”

Our instincts to shift on a full moon almost overtook our senses. However, we’d been training to control ourselves our whole lives. “Don’t panic,” I assured her as we made our way to our cars. “I’ll be back before the full moon even hits.”

My backup plan was to get home before the full moon’s apex. It wasn’t even dark yet, which meant I could get to Glastonbury and back safely. I was determined to find my sister and find out what the fuck was going on.

“Just…” Dinky gripped my elbow, stopping me from opening my car door. “Be careful. Please!”

Nodding, I tucked my thick hair behind my ear and glanced at the floor. “I will, I promise. I can’t go on living this way, you know?”

Her arms came around me, hugging me gently. I didn’t resist the affection she offered me, instead holding her back. She was the only person I could trust in the whole world and considering I’d grown up in a happy household with siblings and parents who’d adored one another, I wasn’t used to that.

“Good luck. Keep me updated.”

Letting her go, I climbed in my car and waited for her to drive away. I wanted to make sure no one followed her or saw her leaving at the same time, just in case they were watching me.

“Fuck it!” I cried, whacking up the music and pulling out of the car park.

I was sick of being afraid of everything the last few days. I was going to find my sister somehow, even if that meant defying the pack and my alpha. It wasn’t as if he’d given two shits about me. I was going to Glastonbury to meet a witch, and I was going to have a good singsong on the fucking way.

Chapter Eight

The path that led to the witch’s house was decorated in fairy statues and solar lights, guiding me straight to her front door. I wrung my hands together as I followed them, the butterflies in my stomach making me question my sanity.

“Hello, Larissa!” A woman opened the door and beamed at me, her bouncy blonde hair almost waving.

I smiled back, unable to help myself. Dinky had been the only person to greet me kindly recently, and her deadpan expression was nowhere near as warm. It was nice for someone to be pleased to see me for once.

“Hi, are you…?”

“Clementine, yes!” Ushering me inside, she stood back and indicated that I go through her small cottage hallway.

I ducked under a low beam, drawn towards the cosy front room. The spit of a log burning was as familiar to my ears as the kettle clicking off, ready to be poured for tea.

“Would you like a cuppa?” Clementine asked from behind me as I went through to the front room.

I looked over my shoulder and shook my head, too on edge to enjoy the taste of my favourite beverage. Not only that, I couldn’t hang around, especially not on a full moon night.

“No, thank you. I don’t have much time.”

The corners of her eyes crinkled as she smiled and came in behind me, waving me towards the small wooden table in the corner. I gingerly lowered myself onto the rickety old straw chair and inspected the divination bowl and map laid out in front of me.

“I should really replace that chair,” Clementine muttered, rushing over and sitting on the other side of the table.

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