Page 20 of The Monster's Desire

“You ran out in front of my car.” I approach slowly with my palms raised. Unfortunately, my magic thinks it’s needed, and instead of dancing over the forest floor, it all flies up to dance around my fingertips.

That earns me another round of ferocious growls.

“You’re wolves,” I say, hedging my words. “I’m a witch. I can heal him. He’s not doing well.”

“You’re a healer?” Jenny pops around George’s shoulder with her head tilted.

“Hardly.” I shake my head. “My magic is...” Okay, so blood magic isn’t quite death magic, but it’s also not far off.

“He’ll die before any of us can go for help,” I say calmly. Hopefully, the sincerity in my words translates to the stubborn teenage brains in front of me, because I’m not exaggerating. I don’t know what punctured his heart, but even the anti-aging kind of immortal that most shifters are will die if their heart or brain is damaged. “You guys live in North Falls?” Jenny nods. “I’m here to renew the wards and help rebuild the protections around the city. I don’t have a lot of time left, though... My fingertips are buzzing, and that means my system is anticipating collecting a lot of energy.”

“You’re a death witch?” George chokes out.

“No, I’m a blood witch.” I grimace, because very few people in my real life know that fact. I get a few hours away from home, and apparently, I think it’s safe to spew out all my personal information.

“Help him,” Jenny begs.

They’re young—they likely have no idea what a blood witch is—but luckily, they’re no longer growling at me. I’ll take that as a win. My hand falls to the metal cuff that appears around my wrist when I need it. I yank out the pin. Okay, it’s like a tiny mini-dagger, butpinsounds so much lessviolent.

I’m nearly to Brock when a vicious snarl breaks the air behind me. Brock’s heart is barely beating, so I ignore the growling.

I assume it’s their alpha or one of his enforcers.

I’m sure they’ll let him know I’m helping.

Right?

Are teenagers these days intelligent enough to make sure their alpha doesn’t kill the witch saving their friend’s life?

Shit, I sure hope so.

“Put a claw out,” I hiss at Jenny and George. Neither listens. “Really? No one wants to help me save your friend’s life?” Maybe teenagers are getting dumber... It doesn’t seem like the way evolution should go, but whatever.

Shoving up the sleeve of my cardigan, I drag the pin across my wrist. Blood pools, but the second it leaves my skin, it drips into black smoke. Normally, it would be a medium gray color.

It instantly clicks that it’s not going to be enough.

The thundering of a very heavy wolf approaching at my back makes my heart thump wildly. Oh good, that’ll help with blood flow. Brock’s heart hasn’t increased its rhythm. Shoving up the other sleeve, I repeat the process on that arm.

“Stop,” an angry voice growls. Lovely, it’s a voice I recognize—Mr. My Personality Is Severely Lacking—the guy from the gas station.

“Alpha,” Jenny bows her head respectfully, “she’s helping him.”

Blood pours from the gashes in my flesh. It spins into smoke so dark it seems to repel all the light in the little clearing. The metallic smell fills my nostrils, which is a good thing. No need to smell the manly delicious scent of the dickhead alpha.

“How do you know?” His voice is distorted, likely from his teeth still being extended.

“I’m helping,” I grind out, making fists and relaxing them to help the blood flow. “I followed them to keep him alive.”

“We mistakenly wandered onto the wrong property,” George says. Aww, the poor guy lies quite unconvincingly. Better luck next time,maybe. He really needs to work on his bluffing skills. He’s worse than me.

“You think I can’t smell the sex all over the three of you?” the alpha scoffs.

Jenny huffs.

Shifters are so fucking bizarre. Seriously... Where else would you find a giant of a nude man glaring down two equally naked teenagers while the third bleeds out, and no one blinks twice or even acknowledges it’s weird?

Well, not outside of me.

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