Chapter One #2
Aurora’s happiness flowed through her mind. “It’s not that easy, nor something you should do with just anyone. Some might find it creepy or get strange ideas about us.”
“Oh, like during the witch trials.”
She sent a picture into Aurora’s mind of what they’d learned in history about the subject. She’d wanted to burn each and every book that contained the stupid teachings about Salem and the burning of witches across the world.
“Oh lord, don’t think of Salem and us in the same vein. But that’s not far off from what could happen if you run into some crazy person. They could decide to make an example out of you or a name for themselves. You just never know.” Aurora’s tone sounded flat.
Starla projected herself, rolling her eyes. “You’re rambling, sis. I totally get it. I mean, it would be really cool if I could do this with the smartest kid in class and read all her answers—kidding.”
“I love you, Biddy Bee. I’ve been so scared since they took you.”
“Not half as afraid as I’ve been thinking you were hurt or worse. They said they’d killed you, but I knew you were alive.” Starla put her hand over her chest, feeling the ache there even when she’d known they were lying.
“I’m going to get you out of there.”
“They have me in the backseat of the Tahoe with duct tape on my wrists and feet. The alpha glared at me as if I’d killed his favorite pet before he placed the last bit of tape over my mouth.
I swear, Aurora, my world shrank as they filed out of the vehicle and left me inside, and then the howling began.
They all shifted. I’m glad they’re out there, and I’m in here.
Wolves can’t open doors, on account of the whole opposable thumbs thing, right?
” She couldn’t imagine Yukon opening a door, so surely the males couldn’t.
They’d have to shift back to human, which would mean they’d have to be. ..human.
“Alright, first, I’m glad you’re safe in the vehicle. They haven’t hurt you, right?” Shoot, she’d worried Aurora with her questions.
Starla shook her head and then realized Aurora couldn’t see her. “No, they said I needed to be in good shape for the man they were taking me to. They say he...he’s a vampire, Aurora.”
“Okay, good. As for them having the ability to open doors in their wolf form, the answer is no.” Either Aurora didn’t hear her mention the fact the men were vampires, or she didn’t understand she meant blood-sucking males.
“Well, that’s a relief. Obviously, I knew about shifters.
Heck, you’re one, and so am I, or I will be when I finally do the dang thing.
It’s not like I haven’t seen you in your gorgeous white wolf form.
Which, you know, amazed me each time I saw you.
I still don’t understand how your wolf is white when your hair is so dark.
It makes me wonder what my wolf will look like, given that my hair is the opposite of yours.
Do you think that our animals’ fur is the opposite of what’s on our heads?
” Starla stared up at the roof and tried to picture her own wolf.
Their parents hadn’t shifted in front of them since they’d tried to shield them from their other halves.
Starla wished they’d been transparent with them.
Maybe their lives would’ve been different.
She sniffed, trying to stifle the anger burning in her gut.
Howling split the quiet night. She tried to breathe through the fear filling her very being.
“Starla, is there any way for you to lock the doors or maybe even wiggle your way to the front to see if the keys are in the ignition?”
Starla looked down at her body, projecting the image of her taped hands and feet into Aurora’s mind again. The feeling of hopelessness filled her mind. Tears pricked her eyes at how easily the males could return and do whatever they wanted to her if they chose.
“When they’d said you were dead, I knew you weren’t. Do you know how I was so sure, Aurora?” Starla gathered her thoughts. Her throat constricted with unshed tears. She knew her sadness would come across even through their link.
“When mama and daddy died, I felt a piercing pain in my chest just before we escaped from the vehicle, and it fell over the rocky ledge. I never shared that truth with you because you were already carrying so much guilt, and I didn’t want you to feel another layer on top of what you already carried. ”
“You’re truly remarkable, Biddy Bee,” Aurora said.
They continued to talk throughout the night, neither of them allowed exhaustion to pull them from their connection. As the first light of the sun broke through the darkness, Starla could feel their link grow weak as the moon sank below the horizon.
“Biddy Bee, can you look out the window and tell me what you see?”
“Oh my gawd, Aurora. They came back. The shifters. They’re laying all around the vehicle sleeping,” Starla whispered.
“Stay calm, Starla. They’ve obviously been there for a while if they’re sleeping. They must’ve come while we were talking, and you didn’t hear them.”
“Aurora, how am I supposed to keep myself safe if I can’t even hear huge ass wolves outside the damn window?” Starla wanted to run away, but the wolves were right there. Goddess, why couldn’t she be strong like her sister?
“Listen to me, Starla. They might have a custom-built vehicle that blocks outside sounds. Whatever the reason, you have to keep calm, so they don’t sense your agitation. Do you understand me?”
She knew wolves loved to hunt, and if they thought Starla was scared, they could become excited and want to play with her.
Like a dog with a new toy, wolves could be unpredictable, especially if Starla’s stupid body happened to be releasing pheromones their canines found tempting.
Starla knew Aurora wouldn’t hesitate to drive right into wherever they happened to be and do everything within her power to save Starla or die trying.
Starla needed to calm the fuck down, so Aurora wouldn’t do something stupid.
Both of their lives were on the line. Her sister has already given up so much over the last ten years to raise her.
She wouldn’t allow Aurora to give up even more because Starla’s body decided it was a good time to go into heat.