Page 8 of Captive Witch

Running a hand through my hair, I throw myself onto the couch, debating on returning to the bar. I’m sure something there needs to be cleaned, the books rebalanced, something has to need my attention since sleep refuses to let my mind rest.

I shove my feet into my boots, making my way to the door, but the minute I pull it open, something launches at my face and I fall back into the wall. My arms come up to cover my head, but the beating of wings and cawing makes me fling them down to my sides. The black raven hovers in the air before me, frantic and anxious.

“Kaylus?”

He flies back through the front door, and I shake off the beat of shock, following him into the yard. I tear my shirt and pants off, flinging my boots as I run toward the tree line, and shift.

Picking up his scent, I chase after him through the woods, weaving through the trees as we get farther into town. I barely register where I am until I burst through the final bit of forest into Mila’s back yard.

A black wolf towers over Frank’s reddish brown form, lying on the ground, his chest heaving with each panting breath. Rage clouds my vision as I barrel at the wolf, his jaws aiming for Frank’s exposed neck.

Mila screams behind me as I slam into the black wolf’s side, knocking him from Frank as his teeth graze my beta’s fur. Tumbling over each other, the wolf lands on top of me, and I use my paws to launch him into the trunk of a tree. He lets out a yelp as his spine hits the bark, and I get to my feet, moving to stand between him and Frank.

“Mila, how many wolves are there?”I only smell the one in front of me, but something else is in the air. Adrenaline courses through me, and I try to shake the hope from my limbs that it’s the one scent I’ve been dying to find.

“It’s only us and him. None others.”Adara’s soft voice enters my mind, stealing my breath for a moment.

The black wolf struggles to his feet, blood dripping from a tear at the side of his mouth.“Who the hell are you?”

“The wrong wolf to fuck with,”I growl, stepping toward him.

“This has nothing to do with you. This is between me and your alpha.”He moves to rush past me, and I fling myself to the side, kicking my back legs into his jaw. The breath knocked out of him, he falls to the ground. Shaking it off, he stands with a snarl.

“Iam the alpha of this pack, asshole.”Spreading my stance, I lower my head and tilt it.“Did you really come for a fight without doing your homework?”

His dark eyes flick between me and Frank lying a few yards behind me.

Mila’s sobs mix with the sound of Frank’s labored breaths. “Ulysses, stop, please!” she cries. “Just leave if you don’t want to be here! Stop this!”

The black wolf, Ulysses, glowers at her, his lips curling back in disgust.“This is what you deserve, deserting your mate and alpha!”

“Her mate is the brown wolf you just tried to kill,”I snarl, stealing his attention from the girls on the porch.

“Her mate was Moren, and she let that stupid bastard kill him,”Ulysses says, jumping forward. His teeth brush the tip of my ear as I twist around and bite down on the tip of his tail. His loud yelp dissolves into a growl as he’s yanked back, claws digging into the earth.“Fine, I’ll take care of you first, then finish off that sack of fur.”He rips his tail from my mouth, and I spit fur on the ground before me.“Then, I’ll pay a visit to those pretty little things on the porch. That black one?”He licks his lips slowly.“So sweet and timid.”

Locking my eyes on his throat, I lunge for him.“Keep your filth away from her.”My paws on his chest knock him to the ground, and I straddle him, dodging his gaping jaws and sinking my teeth into the fur at his neck and tearing up.

Blood drips from my jowls as I stare down at the dead wolf below me. I turn my head to the side, spitting his throat onto the lawn.“Frank?”

“I’m okay, boss.”

Mila races across the grass, throwing her body over Frank’s. “Oh my gods, you’re alive,” she cries, burying her face into his fur.

Adara moves toward us, her eyes on Frank.

My heart cracks when she doesn’t run to me or greet me at all.“You know where to find me if you need me, Frank.”Turning toward the woods, I glance up at the raven and nod my head in thanks. Without him, I doubt I would’ve gotten here in time to save my best friend or keep my mate safe.

Chapter five

Adara

After healing Frank, I race after Gideon, following his trail through the forest as the mate bond calls to me, pulsing in my chest. My breath hitches when I emerge from the forest into the backyard, the patio before me, the house…

Gideon’s house.

My pulse thunders in my ears, and I close my eyes, trying to force the images from my mind—Monique as Gideon, covered in her scent while she wears his face, twisting his beautiful mouth into her permanent, lip-curled look of disgust. I shake my head to clear it, but the images keep coming. The nightmares I had of her beating him, standing over his bleeding body as he laid there dying and defenseless. Protecting me. Gods, why is he always trying to protect me?

I stumble forward, desperately pleading with anyone that will listen to stop the mental torment.

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