The lockpick slid into place, making my heartrate double. I held my breath as I slowly twisted the knob. The door creaked open to announce my presence. I stiffened and awaited an attack, but it never came.
Everyone was on the hunt.
I glanced into the woods where the wolves ran. Which of them would stand up for Ness tonight? Connor had to make up for his past sins. The others needed to band together, but I doubted that would happen tonight.
They were too scared. The only one among them with any gumption was Ness, and I suspected she had little respect for her own life these days.
I took a careful step past the threshold and paused. Nothing happened, so I pushed forward. Ness had mentioned evidence in the basement, so I turned to the door that led down into the inky darkness. Her scent still hung in the air.
Had her shoulder healed properly? Had she eaten enough before the hunt?
Why did my thoughts keep turning back to her? I had a job to do, and I couldn’t focus if Ness took up every available inch of space inside my skull. I shook my head to get her out. The beast clung tight to her. The dragon nearly vibrated with violence. It was ready for a fight.
Tonight shouldn’t come to that. I wouldn’t have to spill blood tonight.
Ness
My hands shookat my sides. I tried to grip the backpack straps to still them, but that did little to stop the fear pumping through my body. I didn’t meet the others at Alvin’s house, like we would for any other hunt.
Instead, I’d asked Vi to drop me off at the furthest edge of the pack’s territory. She waited in her Jeep, ready to drive away at the drop of a hat if things got too bad. All I needed to do was buy Ryder some time tonight. I didn’t have to participate in Alvin’s brutish hunt.
My hound reassured me that we would survive tonight. I would have felt better about that if the new arcana inside me would show itself, but it seemed out of reach. Perhaps my fear had chased it away. Maybe it’d deemed me unworthy since I couldn’t shake this fear. I didn’t like either explanation.
I paused and listened to the sound of movement deep within the woods. The wolves were getting closer. Half the pack wouldn’t hurt me. I knew that down to my bones. People like Janessa, Haylee, and Kelsey would keep to themselves. Catriona wouldn’t pay me any attention. My father…I didn’t know what he would do. I just prayed he would stay out of trouble.
Kneeling, I unzipped Cerri’s bag. I downed the first two potions. They wouldn’t make me invisible, but I called them invisibility potions all the same. Cerri had explained that the first would make me blurry to others. The second would give me an ethereal shield that should stop the first few attacks. It wouldn’t last the whole night, but it was more protection than I’d had to begin with.
The last three bottles were weapons. I slung the bag over one shoulder and let it slump under my arm for easy access. Once I ran out of the potion bombs, I would have to shift.
Motion caught my attention. The wolves were easier to identify now that I had my sense of smell back. Kelsey ran to my left. I exhaled, relaxing once I realized it was only her. Her scent distracted me, though. The moment I let my guard down, a wolf slammed into my back.
I flew forward and nearly crushed the potion bag. I managed to throw my hands out and catch myself at the last second. One bottle tumbled out of the open bag and crashed on the ground. An acrid smoke curled up from the mess of broken glass.
Someone would have to pick that up, but it wouldn’t be me.
I stumbled back and made a break for it. Fallen logs and twisting vines tried to trip me, but I jumped over them in my attempt to get away from my attacker. The scents on the air began to mingle, telling me there were more wolves than just one behind me.
A large wolf broke out of the trees ahead. Harvey.
He lowered his head, his hackles rising as he bared his teeth in a snarl. I flashed him a middle finger and flung a potion at his face. I hoped the glass caught him where it hurt. Harvey leapt out of the way, though. The potion shattered against a tree behind him. Triumph gleamed in his eyes until the potion dripped onto his back.
The potion sizzled on his fur. Harvey yelped and leapt as if he could escape the acidic brew digging into his skin. That should keep him busy.
My real concern was Alvin. I peered around, but the woods were dark and unsympathetic. The shadows revealed little to me. Anxiety made my heart thump against the inside of my sternum. Could Alvin hear my fear?
The asshole was probably nearby, savoring the sound of my heart going into panic mode while I waited. I hated him with every ounce of my being. I wanted him dead and gone so that the world would never have to experience his cruelty ever again.
“Where are you, asshole?” I muttered under my breath.
I couldn’t end Alvin on my own. I could barely handle Harvey. The thought chilled me. I sucked in a deep breath, but my lungs refused to expand. Knowing that Vi wasn’t far behind me helped, but only barely.
She couldn’t take on Alvin and his posse, either. Not without losing control, at least. I wouldn’t put my friend in that predicament. I had to do this on my own.
“Well?” I called out. My voice didn’t shake as much as it could have. “Come out and face me.”
I clutched the last potion bomb in my hand. If I gripped it too tightly, I might break the frail glass and hurt myself. That was the last thing I needed tonight. Harvey whimpered nearby. He hadn’t caught much of the potion. Soon, he would shake off the pain and strike. This last potion was for him.
The smell of putrid breath reached me just as another wolf leapt out of the darkness. I lurched out of the way. The wolf flew over me as I stumbled back. My breath heaved out of me. I twisted and regained my footing. The wolf skidded into Harvey.