Hunted Wolf Read online

  So, I waited. It felt like forever. I pictured them going through our private things and fury built. The werewolf in my office finally came out. He threw me a smirk before heading up the stairs.

  Everything in me urged me to run inside and defend my home. I planted my feet down, resisting nature.

  At long last, the three men finally came down the stairs. My father arched a brow. “Nice job covering her scent. If I didn’t know better—but I do—I’d think she’d never stepped foot in here. She may not be here, but she’s somewhere, and we’ll find her. That, I guarantee you. It may not be today or tomorrow, but she can’t hide forever.” He held up a bottle of her perfume I’d given her. “And now I have a personal item of hers. That’ll help with a locator spell. As promised, we’ll leave now.”

  “You were only supposed to look.”

  “And I said don’t try me, son.”

  The three werewolves walked past me. Once in the yard, my father spun around and gave a signal for the others to stand down. They walked through the gate, and his pack climbed into the vehicles and left without a word.

  Jet turned to me. “What the hell was that?”

  I ignored him and marched over to the gate, closing and locking it. Then I scanned the edge of the woods. The other werewolves were in the process of retreating.

  Brick came over. “What just happened?”

  “They’ve essentially declared war with us. If they believe I’m going to stand down while they hunt Victoria, they have another think coming.” I stormed past everyone and into the mansion. The stench of my old pack taunted me, reminding me of the violation of having them inside our home, rifling through our things.

  The others joined me.

  “Ugh, it reeks of them in here.” Jet groaned.

  “I’ll open the windows.” Brick went over the nearest one and pulled it open. Sal and Carter joined him.

  I remained standing, too furious to do anything useful.

  Soleil came over. “You okay?”

  I shook my head.

  “Do you want us to head back to the bears’ camp?” she asked.

  “Maybe. I don’t want anyone going to her now. We have to assume we’re being watched and followed.”

  “I can teleport if I have to,” Soleil reminded me. “I’ll just need to drink some essence to keep my strength up—and I can’t do it often. It really wears on me.”

  “Let me think.” I headed toward my office, but turned to Soleil. “Check Victoria’s room. Who knows what they did in there besides stealing her perfume.”

  She scrunched her face. “That’s creepy.”

  “Tell me about it.” I turned back around and went into my office. File cabinets were pulled open, items from my desk drawers were scattered along the floor, and my couch was upside down.

  Nice. Like all that was really necessary. He only did that to get under my skin, and it was working. I flipped the couch over and put it back in its spot before picking up all the scattered items from the floor.

  The entire mansion still reeked of the other werewolves. I opened the window and went upstairs. Before I reached the next level, Jet met me and spun me around. “Let’s head downstairs and discuss what to do next.”

  “What don’t you want me to see?”

  “The other pack is after Victoria. We don’t have time to waste.”

  I turned around and glared at him. “Move aside.”

  Sal stood at the top of the stairs, arms folded, and shook his head. “Listen to Jet.”

  “What did they do?” I rushed past both of them and ran into Victoria’s room. My heart sank and I fell to the floor.

  Her room was completely destroyed. Her bed had been broken into two and feathers from the pillows lay everywhere. Her shelves had been emptied and several of the woods smashed. Her clothes lay everywhere, strewn about. Books had been ripped apart, trinkets shattered, and picture frames destroyed. Broken glass from her mirror was spread around, intermingled with the feathers and everything else.

  She would be crushed.

  “Toby,” Ziamara whispered. “We’ll get this cleaned up. Why don’t you figure out what we should do next?”

  “Cleaned up?” I exclaimed. “Everything is ruined. Utterly and thoroughly destroyed. There’s no fixing this.”

  “We’ll figure something out. I can do a lot with—”

  I rose and let out a primal roar before storming down the stairs into the kitchen. “Everyone in here! Now.”

  Footsteps sounded from all directions as everyone except Ziamara rushed into the room.

  “They go down,” I bellowed. “We don’t allow a single pack member to live. They manipulate their way into our home, destroy much of it, threaten our lives, and plan to hunt down Victoria. We bring in as many other werewolves as we can round up—opposing packs, wolfborns, and even mutts if it comes down to it—any werewolf will do, natural or turned. Find everyone who owes us favors. Then we call on anyone who owes any of us favors—we’re cashing in on everything. We’ll get Tap to round up who he can. The world will see what happens to anyone who messes with us.”

  Some raised their fists in the air. Everyone shouted.

  “My father’s entire pack dies. We aren’t going to lose a single member. Let’s make a list of those who owe us favors and others we know. Then we start recruiting.” I turned to Soleil and Carter. “Do you two know any of your species you can call upon?”

  Soleil shook her head. “I’m supposed to be hunting a dictator, remember? Not making friends with werewolves.”

  Carter also shook his head. “I’ve been excommunicated as a traitor. Any jaguar shifters caught talking with me risk death.”

  “Okay, then. You two get over to the Faeble and see what Tap can do for us.”

  They both took off without a word.

  I paced and looked at the names written on sheets of paper. If we could get all of those people to help us out, it would nearly triple our size, but it still wasn’t enough. Not if we were going to annihilate the other pack. I didn’t want to bother the witches or vampires so soon after helping at the Jag, but it might just come down to that.

  Chapter 8

  Victoria

  The hours dragged on as I spent my time cleaning the longhouse and the courtyard. I preferred being outside in the fresh air but was given orders to take care of the indoors most of the time.

  I hadn’t heard from anyone in the pack, and my cell phone had run out of battery life. If I’d been thinking straight, I’d have brought unicorn horn flakes and faerie dust to give it a longer life. It was hard not to worry, especially with work that didn’t engage my mind much.

  There were a few others there like me, who were hiding from someone pursuing them with magical means. We all had our own stories, but the one thing we shared was the hatred of another supernatural creature who wanted us dead. The one I saw most often was an elderly valkyrie in hiding after a failed mission to take out a murderous politician. There was only one punishment for a valkyrie in her position—death.

  Along with us was also a witch, hiding from an opposing coven, but she didn’t show herself often. The valkyrie told me that with her magic suppressed, she was depressed. The other refugee was a human who had become a ‘pet’ to a cruel vampire—basically, a slave.

  I paused from washing a window. “How were you turned into a pet?”

  Stella stared at me with her striking hazel eyes. “She forced me into a verbal pledge of possession, sealed with a mixing of our blood. I didn’t fully understand it, but it’s next to impossible to break the tie. Believe me, I’ve tried.” She cringed.

  “What happened?”

  “Let’s just say it’s physically impossible for me to disobey her. Away from here, anyway. How long are you planning to stay?”

  “I hope not too long. How long have you been here?”

  She sighed, pulling some curly brown hair out of her eyes. “It’s been years now.”

  My heart sank. “Are you ever planning o
n leaving?”

  Stella shrugged. “Not unless I somehow manage to outlive a vampire.”

  “You never know. Supernaturals get killed, too.”

  “Even vampires?”

  I nodded. “Stake them in the heart or take off their heads. My fiancé could tell you plenty of stories.”

  “Werewolf bite?”

  “That’ll do it, too.”

  Stella’s eyes lit up. She worked more feverishly for a few minutes before turning back to me. “Can werewolves turn people?”

  “You mean into werewolves?”

  She nodded. “Vampires can turn people with their bites. Can you?”

  “Technically,” I said, not wanting to give her hope.

  She clung to her broom and stared at me wide-eyed. “But?”

  “I’ve never done it, and besides I can’t turn in here.”

  “You have to turn sometime, don’t you?” She arched a brow. “You said not turning is bad for you. Turn me then.”

  I stopped sweeping. “It’s risky. My bite could kill you—especially since I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  “Is that any worse than living here for the next seventy or so years?”

  “You’d be a mutt.”

  “I don’t care.”

  We stared each other down. I sighed. “You’ve been thinking about this since I arrived, haven’t you?”

  She looked away. “Maybe. I mean, it’s not like I can turn into a valkyrie or a witch. But a werewolf is a possibility.”

  “You do realize that most werewolves look down on mutts? We can smell one a mile away.”

  “Can’t be any worse than being a common vampire.”

  “Is that what your owner is?” I asked.

  Stella crinkled her nose. “Owner—I hate that term, but yes, she’s common, and horribly cruel.”

  I felt for her. “I don’t know if you turning into a wolf would sever your ties to her.”

  She stood taller. “I don’t care. My bite would do her in. There’s no cure.”

  “Actually there is.”

  Her eyes widened. “That’s not what Verla said.”

  I snickered. “Verla the vampire?”

  Stella shrugged. “What’s the cure?”

  “I doubt she could get her hands on it, but it does exist. It has something to do with the blood of a Fyrsturae—an original vampire.”

  She bit her lower lip and looked deep in thought.

  “What about having one of the werebears turn you?” I asked.

  “They don’t do that.”

  “You already asked?”

  Stella nodded. “Please, will you at least consider it? You have to turn sometime, anyway. I’d rather risk death than live the rest of my life as a prisoner. I want to hunt Verla like she’s hunting me. I hate that she thinks she owns me.”

  “She does, actually. Supernatural law is as strong as any scientific law.”

  “Thanks.” Stella pouted.

  “Sorry. Just pointing out the obvious.”

  One of the bear shifters who took care of the house walked by. “Back to work, ladies. Earn your keep or don’t eat.”

  Stella looked at me and rolled her eyes. I stifled a grin, and then we both got back to our chores. She kept begging me with her eyes as we swept around the building. It was going to be hard to say no if she kept that up.

  We made our way back to the room with the cleaning supplies. One of the bears handed Stella a dust rag and me a pair of clippers for the courtyard. Stella held my gaze as I headed outside.

  The rest of the afternoon went by quickly as I focused all my attention onto shaping the shrubbery. By the time I went to my sleeping mat—I was exhausted. It seemed like I was doing far more than earning my keep. I wasn’t sure if it was so much the chores tiring me out, though, as the lack of magic getting to me. Being a creature who thrived on magic, it made me feel strange—empty, almost—to be without it. Plus, every time I saw Stella, she threw me the puppy dog eyes.

  I pulled the blanket up to my chin and let my body relax. My mind quickly wandered to Toby and the pack, and like each time I thought of them, I fought off worry. They were probably just busy. Someone would come back for me as soon as things had settled with the other pack—something that would be no easy task. I just needed to be patient.

  My eyes grew heavy, and soon I found myself dreaming about Elsie just as I had every other night since arriving. I really wanted to find her. We’d been so close growing up, but hadn’t seen each other since the night our father killed her. I’d never found her on the other side, nor had she been with my pack when Franklin forced me into marrying him at the Jag—even though the marriage only last a few minutes before Franklin died.

  In my dream, Elsie swam near the edge of the ocean with friends. I waved and called out to her, but she didn’t see me. She splashed a cute guy in the face and swam in the other direction. He laughed and chased after her, catching her easily. They wrestled for a minute before he pulled her close and kissed her.

  I sat on the shore and watched, happy she was doing well even though she couldn’t hear or see me. Their other friends came over to them, dousing them until they pulled apart. Dark clouds filled the sky, making the whole area appear like night. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed. I jumped up to run for cover when I heard the screams.

  Elsie.

  Rapid splashing sounded alongside the cries. I strained my eyes to see, but with the darkness covering everything, I could barely see my own hands much less Elsie and her friends in the water.

  I threw off my coat and kicked off my shoes, and then ran into the water. I burst into a swim as soon as the water was deep enough. Something burned my skin. I sniffed the air. Acid. The water was acid. That had to be why the others were crying out. I ignored the burning pain and pushed myself to keep swimming.

  Finally, I reached Elsie. The others had disappeared, and it was just the two of us. She whimpered.

  “I’ll get you out of the water.” I grabbed onto her and pulled her toward the shore.

  She fought me off, kicking and hitting. A fist got me right in the eye.

  “I’m trying to save you!”

  “That’s something you’ll never be able to do. Never have, never will.”

  Her words cut like a knife. “I tried to stop Father.”

  “Not hard enough.”

  “Do you blame me?”

  “Why else would I have avoided you all these years? Leave me alone!” She swam away while my heavy heart pulled me under the acidic water. “Stay away!”

  I woke, bolted up, and gasped for air. Sweat drenched me, and it took me a moment to realize where I was. In the safe house, untouched by magic. The dream couldn’t be real—not without magic behind it. But could it be a message from my sister? Something to do with our emotional or biological connection?

  Or it could’ve just been a dream caused by my own worry. If I wasn’t in a magic-free zone, I’d have even thought someone might have cast a spell to cause these dreams. None that I’d had of her had actually been connected. That was it. My tormenting dreams were just a manifestation of my own conflicted emotions.

  I lay back down, closed my eyes, and fell back into a slumber. In my dream, Toby and I were enjoying a picnic by the ocean. Behind us was a quaint little town with a carousal just beyond the sand. Toby hand-fed me a strawberry dipped in chocolate. I ate it and then fed him one.

  The sky turned black and a low rumble grew louder with each passing moment. Light made everything reappear, and Elsie stood in front of us. Blood dripped down her face. She screamed and ran when she saw us. I jumped up and chased her.

  “Stop! Come back!”

  She disappeared before my eyes.

  I woke, again gasping for air. “It’s only a dream. She’s not drowning or bleeding.” I took deep breaths and thought about wedding dresses to calm my nerves. Finally, I drifted off again.

  This time, I found myself in my childhood home. The house was quiet, but I could smell
stew cooking. I sniffed the air, hoping to find Elsie. I caught the faintest scent and followed it outside. No werewolves were in sight. It was like our entire pack had died off and only left a ghost town.

  I followed my sister’s scent through the woods, all the way to our school. It grew stronger until I reached the auditorium. I crept inside and heard music and laughter. Our old classmates danced and snacked. Elsie was in the middle, looking happier than I’d ever seen her. She wore the same dress as the night Father had killed her, swinging around with an extremely handsome human boy.

  Something pulled on me, dragging me away from the joyful scene before me. Colors swirled around me as though I’d been pulled into a vortex. With a violent push, I flew past the colors and landed on the ground at the Waldensian. What was I doing at the mansion that had been my home in college?

  I rose and dusted dirt from my clothes. Screams sounded in the distance. Elsie.

  My heart plummeted. I ran toward her voice, which grew increasingly more shrill with each passing moment. I ran through the college campus, hearing her but never finding her. It was a goose chase I couldn’t win. I ran through empty buildings, even passing Toby’s office, until I collapsed with exhaustion.

  Elsie screamed again, this time close. I tried to get up but was frozen in place.

  I woke, my heart thundering in my chest. These dreams weren’t going to let up. They were only growing more intense. Whether they were real or fake, I needed to find her.

  What if she really was in danger? If she was, I needed to help her, even if she did hate me. I owed her that much after not stopping Father from plunging the knife into her.

  I squeezed the blanket, weighing my options. If I left, I would leave myself open for Toby’s father to find me. If I stayed, who knew what would happen to Elsie? I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since recovering my memories. I just hadn’t been able to go in search of her with all the opposition facing me. I may never have a perfect time to find her.