Chapter 2 - Hyacinth
Whistling a little tune, I twirl my keys on one finger as I do my final walk through the kitchen. My two shop assistants left a short time ago after cleaning the front of the shop, and all that’s left to do is double-check tomorrow’s orders.
As I go through the receipts, I walk past the line of fridges, ticking off cakes already made and noting what still needs to be done. Even though this might be considered the “boring” part of my job, I can’t stop whistling my happy little tune.
I never imagined my life could be this good. Moving here was the best decision I ever made.
I linger a little, tracing my finger across the spotlessly clean bench and thinking about all the baking I’ll be doing tomorrow.
It’s the one thing in the world that’s always made me happy—and now, I get paid for it.
For a moment, a heavy, dark wave threatens to sweep over me. I pull my thoughts away from my past, forcing myself to think only of the present—and hopefully, a future just as bright.
It’s not just the work. I’ve made such good friends here, and what an amazing bonus to find out this town has such spooky history!
The tune springs to my lips again as I go through the back door. For just a moment, I feel a flicker of fear, as if intense, all-seeing eyes are on me. I whirl around, searching the darkness.
Did that shadow just move?
They need security lights out here!
Reminding myself to breathe in long, slow breaths, I turn slowly and look around the docking bay. It’s a small area with a few back doors to shops adjacent to mine and a couple of dumpsters at the end of the driveway.
Nothing moves, and the night stays quiet.
Almost too quiet.
I stand for another second, looking around as if my eyes could pierce the shadows. The wave of dark memories threatens me again, but I shove them away, setting my jaw as determination fills me.
I’m not running, do you hear me! I’ll never run again. This time, I’m here to stay, and I’ll fight for this life I’ve built.
There is still no movement or sound, and I sigh softly as I turn back to lock the door.
Probably just me being paranoid. I have a good reason to be, but still—
A strong hand clamps over my mouth as an arm loops around my waist. I try to scream, but the person’s grip is too tight. My arms flail wildly as they start to drag me down the pathway towards the edge of the parking lot.
Fear races through me, paralyzing me at first. I fall limp in the strong pair of arms, feeling a hard chest pressed against my back. Blood pounds into my temples, and I gasp for air, barely able to draw a breath with the hand pressed against my mouth.
By the time we reach the edge of the parking lot, my initial shock has worn off, and I’m starting to think again. I stay limp as they half carry, half drag me towards a small, beat-up-looking car.
I thought shit like this didn’t happen in small country towns?
I almost giggle at the ridiculousness of that thought, as if statistics could save me from my current nightmare. I also wonder if this has anything to do with the town’s spooky history, and it just makes me want to laugh even more.
Okay, I’m truly cracking up now. I’ve got to get my shit together.
When we reach the car, the guy pins me tighter with the arm across my mouth and uses his other hand to look for his keys. I act immediately, grabbing his hand and pulling it away at the exact same time as I bring my pointed heel down on his toes as hard as I can.
I try to leap away, screaming at the top of my lungs, but his yell of pain drowns me out. I’ve barely taken a step when his hand grabs my shoulder and shoves me against the car.
“Hey, buddy, just calm down,” I gasp. “Let’s talk about this.”
He grunts, keeping one hand on my shoulder while he keeps searching for his keys. I can hear them jingling as he fights to get them out of his pocket. Briefly, my mind tries to run down the road of all the terrible things that could happen once he puts me in the car, but I shut it down immediately.
“Hey,” I try again. “Just talk to me, and maybe we can figure this out.”
“There’s not much chance of that,” he mutters.
Does he sound familiar?
“I get that you’re… upset, but this isn’t the way. You could get into a lot of trouble,” I say.
He laughs. “I’m already in a lot of trouble.”
Shit.
Before I can think of anything else, I hear the jangling of his keys as he finally pulls them out of his pocket. My heart slams up into my throat as I realize he’s actually going to put me in the car, and there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it.
“Wait—” I gasp as he grabs my shoulder again. I’m pulled back sharply, then turned around as he shoves me back against the car again.
My breath bursts out of my chest as my back slaps against the car door, and my eyes desperately search the shadowy form in front of me, looking for details I can commit to memory so I can tell the cops later.
Wishful thinking.
He steps forward and puts a hand on my shoulder, looking deeply into my eyes. There is a little light from a far-off streetlight, and even though I can’t see much, I recognize his features.
“Shane?” I gasp, my chest emptying out all my held breath as I succumb to shock. “Shane Skylar?”
“Yes,” he grunts. “You’re Hyacinth, right?”
I nod slowly, my eyes fixed on his face. In the darkness with only faint light to see by, I don’t see his striking coloring. I only recognize his sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and bow-shaped mouth because I’ve spent far too long looking at them.
That night I went out with Trina and met her friends at the bar… Shane didn’t stay long, but I noticed him, that’s for sure.
To my horror, a flicker of warmth awakens inside me, and suddenly I’m far too aware of his hand on my shoulder and how close he is to me.
Maybe this is a kinky game or something…
“Right,” I croak, thinking fast. “Shane, can we talk? Whatever you’ve got going on here, I think you should share it with me. I might agree to go with you if you’d just explain.”
Shane leans in close to me, inhaling slowly. He closes his eyes for a moment, a faint smile playing across his cute mouth.
“Interesting,” he whispers.
Did he just sniff me?
“Shane,” I try again. “Listen to me.”
“No, no,” he says, shaking his head. “There’s no fucking way you’d agree to this. I can’t explain, anyway. There’s no time.”
“What?” I choke out. “No time for what?”
“The sickness is coming!” he says, his voice desperate, his eyes so wide that they almost look crazed. “She died—if she can die from it, anyone can. I have to do something, and they said you could be the solution!”
He is out of his fucking mind.
I try to stay passive in his grip, taking in more detail as my eyes get used to the light. His eyes are wide and glassy, there’s a long line of thick stubble across his chin and top lip, and his skin is far too pale.
Is he sick? What the fuck is going on?
“Shane,” I say, trying for a soothing tone. “Just let me go for a second, and we can call—”
“No!” he yells, slamming me against the car again. “You’ll get away. I know you will. Then I can never help my pack.”
His words sink into me slowly, leaving me staring at him in complete disbelief.
Holy shit. He thinks he’s a werewolf.
“So,” I say, clearing my throat a little. “Werewolves are real, huh? And witches, they’re real, too?”
“Of course they are!” he snaps. “That’s the whole point.”
“What does this have to do with me?”
“I’ll explain later,” he answers. “Right now, I have to get you to my pack.”
While we’ve been talking, I’ve noticed Shane getting more distracted, and as he steps back to open the door, I’m able to shove past him and run for my car. I lost my purse back at the door where he grabbed me, but I’ve still got my phone in my pocket.
I race as fast as I can across the parking lot, thanking any gods in existence that Shane doesn’t immediately catch up. I pull out my phone as I circle my car and tap frantically on the screen as I text Trina.
Shane is at the bakery, and he’s gone nuts!
I tap “send” just as Shane appears and slaps the phone out of my hand. It skitters across the gravel but doesn’t break, and I hear the faint swish of the message being sent.
“Enough,” Shane says, grabbing my arm. “We have to go. I don’t have a choice about this, believe me.”
“About what?” I ask, my voice getting high. “What are you going to do to me? Are you going to sacrifice me or something?”
“No, nothing like that,” he replies in a dull tone. He doesn’t elaborate, just tugs on my arm to keep me walking beside him.
“Hey,” I say, forcing my voice through my tight throat. “Why don’t you show me some proof of your wolf powers? That would make all of this a lot easier.”
Maybe if he tries and fails, it will bring him back to reality.
“I can’t,” he says. “The curse won’t let me.”
Isn’t that convenient…
By the time we return to his car, most of the fight has gone out of me. I let Shane shove me into the passenger seat and shut the door. Curling up in the seat, I try to figure out what to do.
I told Trina. She’ll come for me.
Shane pulls out of the lot and takes the main road that links the towns. Instead of driving straight out to Kingsville—where I’m pretty sure he lives—he detours into the park area.
Where the fuck are we going?
I look over at him, but I don’t bother to ask the question. He looks strung out, desperate, and wired.
There’s no talking to him right now. He’s snapped.
“Okay,” he says as we stop near the trees. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?”
“You’ll see.”
My hands and legs are shaking as I get out of the car, and now I can’t fight the raging thoughts of what could happen once we’re completely out in the wilderness.
Trina won’t know where to look for me. She’ll be too late!
Too late for what?
My chest tightens, making me dizzy as Shane drags me across the grass towards the trees. He holds my arm, forcing me to walk beside him.
Maybe this is a kinky game… a really kinky one. Maybe he’s got champagne and strawberries hidden out here.
“This will do,” he says, stopping under a tree with tall, spreading branches. I can’t think of anything to say as he positions himself in front of me and takes my hands.
Shock finally catches up to me, and even though I can hear him talking, I can’t really understand the words. He pulls a pretty loop of silk out of his pocket and twists it around my wrist, then does the same to himself.
I’ve seen these before. Sadie and Trina said they were folk bracelets.
Through the fog of shock hanging over me, a sharp spike of fear pierces through, waking me up again.
Do Trina and Sadie know about this?
The idea literally makes me sick, and I have to take several deep breaths to keep my stomach under control. Shane tugs on the loop of silk and nods with satisfaction.
“There,” he says. “It won’t come off now. The ritual is complete.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, you lunatic?” I scream, finally losing it. “You’re out of your mind. None of this is real. Just take me home, please. I want to go home.”
My tears well up in my eyes and spill down my cheeks, and I look down at the ground so I don’t have to look at him. My breathing becomes ragged with sobs, and my legs tremble so hard that I almost fall down. Shane steadies me, holding my arms gently.
“I can’t do that,” he says softly. “You’re with me now. Forever.”
“What?” I shriek, looking back up at him. His face is relaxed now, and a soft, sweet smile has brought gentle light into his eyes.
This is freaking me out even more than the crazy look!
“I can’t take you home,” he says. “Technically, you are home. I’m your home—now that we’re married.”