CHAPTER 2 #3
The only thing worse than the sight of Amy snapping that witch’s neck was the knowledge that if she hadn’t moved so quickly, I might have stepped forward and done it myself.
Sure, my mind sought some way to save Carly, but my instincts were another thing entirely.
A small part of me was savagely happy that Amy had immediately unleashed her vengeance upon the witch, and now my mate’s sister was out of harm’s way.
It was almost like being in wolf form. I had to concentrate on forming complex human thought.
On reminding myself why killing other creatures was a Bad Thing.
A week ago, if someone told me I’d be willing to commit murder for a woman I’d just met, I would have laughed in their face. Yet here I was.
I glanced at Michael, a chill running down my spine.
I’d spent my entire adult life in control of myself.
I had to be in control of myself, because if I went off the rails, there was no telling how much damage I could do.
As I stared at my mate, I began to wonder if the other night had been a mistake.
I’d been so worried about him acting out of character that I hadn’t really given my own behavior much thought.
I’d dropped all my walls, let him in, and let myself loose.
We were rough with each other. Careless with our newfound abilities.
Down here in the city, that could get us killed.
And hadn’t Mary’s plans for me included making me a target?
Bringing me out in public and forcing me into some sort of show of strength, so they knew she wasn’t bluffing?
Like a moonstruck fool, I’d just done her work for her.
Any preternatural within five city blocks would have felt a huge metaphysical surge when I unshackled myself and rushed into the alley.
I sucked in a deep breath and checked the bars that caged my power. Thank the Goddess for my years of practice. Binding myself had become a lot like breathing. If I didn’t think about it, my cage automatically reverted to the level I usually kept it at, and now was no different.
Michael shifted beside me and lifted his gaze to mine. “You used your power in broad daylight on a crowded street in front of humans.”
I nodded, my stomach sinking.
What I’d done was against the rules. Not just of the Kolbeck pack, but of all preternaturals.
It was the universal law that governed us all.
Whatever you do, don’t let the humans find out.
In the heat of the moment, I’d been banking on the fact that they wouldn’t be able to see me, but now I saw the danger in that mentality.
What if I hadn’t moved as fast as I had?
What if I’d been visible for all to see, a woman running with speed no human should possess?
There would be hell to pay for my recklessness.
“She moved too fast for anyone to see her,” Amy said.
Ronald made a disgruntled sound and merged back onto the street. “It doesn’t matter. We can’t trust that it won’t get back to Mary.” He glanced at Michael through the rearview mirror. “You need to tell your mother what just happened. Before someone else does.”
From the slight flex in Michael’s jaw, his instinct to protect me was rearing its ugly head again.
“I’ll tell her,” Amy said. “Layla only did it to save my life. That witch was getting ready to cast another spell. Mom will understand.”
Somehow, I doubted that.
Amy pulled her phone out and started typing. Michael felt a little horrified that she was doing this via text, but I didn’t blame Amy for wanting to avoid a phone call with Mother Dearest.
Beside me, Michael was as silent as the grave, but his mind was churning.
As Ronald drove, he muted the bond again and pulled in the cage around his newfound powers so tightly that he barely registered as a wolf.
It made my skin prickle, my lizard brain worried that he might disappear on me again.
I turned toward him, and our eyes met. There, in the corner of my mind, I could still feel him.
After blowing our connection wide open last night, he took up even more space than he had before, and now, no matter how hard he might try to hide, I knew that I’d always be able to find him.
I gathered my focus and brushed my awareness against his. He recoiled from me like I had from his touch a moment ago, but it was too late. Michael was furious. His emotions frothed like a shark-infested sea. Why did I suddenly feel like the chum that had been tossed into it?
Unaware of the ticking bomb sitting in the back seat, Ronald turned onto a side street and glanced in the rearview again, this time at me. “Tell me everything that happened, and start at the beginning.”
“Wait a second,” I said, looking over my shoulder. “Where are we going? The apartment is back that way.”
“We need to bring Amy home,” Ronald said.
Home. To the Kolbeck house. Where Mary was.
Without warning, a memory of Anna surfaced.
Of that ancient vampire sitting in the rickety chair in my parents’ summer house, one heeled foot idly kicking the air as she talked, bubblegum-pink nails flashing in the light.
Her lips moved, but the words came out muted.
I concentrated, focusing on the movement of her mouth.
All at once, sound returned to my memory.
Mary is one of the most dangerous wolves alive today, Anna had said. She will do anything for power.
And here we were, driving straight toward her.