Page 49 of Captive Witch

Her scent pulls to the right, and I skid to a stop, panting, my breath forming small clouds in the cold night air. The bond pulls me to the left, and I hesitate briefly before following it, trusting it more than my sense of smell. Every time I find her scent, magic interferes, and I lose her. I won’t let it fool me anymore tonight.

A chill creeps over my skin as I break through a copse of trees, and I slow my sprint, searching the forest. A pair of gold eyes flicker before me, and my hackles raise. Slowly, a dark brown wolf emerges from the trees.

“Don’t worry, alpha. Your mate is safe.”

I narrow my eyes at the sound of the female voice, the she-wolf smirking as she circles me.

“What’s the matter? Don’t recognize one of your own?”

“You’re no wolf of mine,”I say, lowering my head to keep my gaze on her.

Her loud laugh barks through my mind.“No, definitely not. But your mate is one ofmine.”

Snarling, I snap my jaws and lunge at her. She drops to the ground, rolling to the side, and nips at my hind leg as she scampers away. Whirling around, I bite at her snout too late, and she laughs, as if playing some game.“Who are you?”I growl.

“You can call me Auntie Eri,”she says, her image blinking as she materializes just long enough to paw my snout.

Aiming for the spot she came from, I pounce, catching her just as she reappears.

Her eyes widen before a laugh sputters out of her.“Impressive,”she says.

The pride in her voice sets my teeth on edge, and I stand with my paws on either side of her head, saliva dripping onto her cheek.“Where is she?”

Her eyes flick to the trees in front of me, and I linger, torn between racing to Adara and wondering if this is all a trap. Concern wins, and I bolt off the strange brown wolf into the thicket.

“Adara!”A worn path through the trees catches my eye, and I race down it, apprehension tickling the back of my neck with her scent completely invisible.

Branches high above creak and rustle, making my ears twitch, but the air is stale. The beating of wings nears, and I duck just as feathers brush against my fur. Scowling into the night sky, I see the raven soar ahead of me, hiscawsounding more like a cackle. As relieved as I am to see him alive, the bastard could’ve warned me a little.

“Gideon?” Adara’s voice is faint, but knowing she’s within reach has my heart racing. “Gideon!”

I push myself faster, dirt billowing up in a cloud around me when she crashes through the trees at my left and I scramble to stop. I shift, not caring about anything but wrapping my arms around her. I sink my face into her hair, inhaling her sweet woodsy scent, and fight the lump growing in my throat.

Her fingers dig into my back as she buries her face into my chest. Tears wet my skin, and I hold her tighter to me.

“It’s okay,mia fiamma.It’s okay. I have you now.” My jaw ticks as I try to take stock of any injuries, knowing she was bleeding from some wound. Twigs snap behind me, and I whirl around, pulling her behind me.

The brown wolf pads from the woods, mischief dancing in her eyes and a cocky smile plastered over her face.“Told you he was close,”she says, her eyes connecting with Adara.

My hand tightens on Adara’s hip, her fingers pressing into my ribs. “You don’t get to speak to her. You don’t get to even look at her after the hell you’ve caused,” I say, my voice low.

“Gideon—” Adara starts.

“I won’t let her hurt you,” I say. “I won’t let anyone take you away from me again, Adara. I swear to the fates I will burn this world to the ground before I lose you again.”

The she-wolf laughs.“You couldn’t burn me alive if you tried, boy. I know you were behind the Salem Witch Trials, but I didn’t die then, and I sure as hell am not dying now that I finally have my niece.”

“Your niece?” I echo.

Adara steps from behind me, taking my hand. “It’s… a lot, but we can catch you up. Maybe without the fighting?” She glances at the brown wolf. “And without the taunts, Eri?”

The brown wolf bows her head, agreeing.

Allowing Adara to guide me to a clearing, I sit behind her, allowing her to lean back against me, covering me while we sit beside the fire.

Eri joins us after getting dressed, her long brown hair tied into a braid that hangs over her shoulder. “So, how did you two meet?” she asks, one side of her mouth pulled up. She holds her palm out to the fire, the flames jumping to life from the glowing embers it was before.

“Explain,” I grit out, glaring at the strange witch before me. “You’re a witch—alycanwitch.” Glancing at Adara, I squeeze her hand in mine, adding, “One who uses fire and is claiming my mate as family. I want answers. Now.”

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