Wolf Bitten

Chapter 1

My head was pounding, and my mouth felt as if I’d been sucking on cotton balls. This had to be a hellacious hangover. What had I done last night to deserve this punishment? I’d better have had a damn good time.

I stretched out my hand, searching for Raffe. The bed felt softer than normal. I needed him to hold me. His touch always made me feel better, and I loved having his body wrapped around mine.

No matter how far I stretched, I couldn’t find him.

My heart skipped a beat. Where was he? I hoped he was okay. He had to be.

Then I remembered.

I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids and limbs were so heavy. My heart pounded harder as my blood tried to jolt but couldn’t. My emotions seemed dulled, especially for me.

Right. Dave had shot a tranquilizer into my neck.

Dave.

I should’ve let Raffe kill him the night he’d struggled not to attack me while my blood had been humming. I’d asked Raffe not to do anything because Dave had fought his vampiric urges, especially after we’d learned that my blood humming made vampires crave me. Dave had told me how to get away without tempting the predator in him, and I hadn’t thought he deserved to be punished or killed.

Had I known my imminent future, my request of Raffe might have been different.

Dave had shot me in the woods, and with the soft mattress beneath me, I had no doubt he hadn’t taken me home. The thought should’ve alarmed me, but all I felt was mild concern.

Dammit, I had to focus. I couldn’t wallow in should haves. I needed to get moving if I wanted to find Raffe. He hadn’t been where he’d told me he was meeting Adam, Keith, Josie, and Lucy. Had something happened to them?

That spot in my chest that had urged me to leave the apartment to find Raffe was burning hot and frigidly cold at the same time as if fear and anger were taking root inside me, but I didn’t have any strong reactions. I was struggling to think, let alone process the situation, and I felt lethargic and numb.

Yet another strange occurrence to add to my ever-growing list of fucking problems.

This time, when I tried to open my eyes, they lifted just enough to give me a slight sense of the room.

And what I saw was nothing like I’d expected. Finally, my heart quickened a smidge. It was enough of a boost to open my eyes wider.

The room was nice and not some sort of prison cell. Overhead, a large circular light was turned off. Because of that, I could see my reflection staring back at me from its glass. My tangled hair was spread across navy-blue pillows, and there were dark circles under my eyes. My complexion was paler than usual, further proof that I’d been drugged. I was still wearing the lilac sweater and jeans I’d put on after …

At the bittersweet memory, my heart panged, nearly stealing my breath.

After months of turbulent interactions, Raffe and I had gotten together and had sex, cementing our fated-mate bond as much as we could with my being human. Of course, it was my luck that, within an hour, I’d be kidnapped and taken away from the one person who made me feel safe and loved and could help me calm my blood when it went crazy.

Apparently, surviving years of bullying and abuse from my peers hadn’t been enough for me to earn some happiness. The love of my life had to be stripped away from me.

Between the emotions crowding my chest and my pity party, I was way too damn close to spiraling out of control and wasting the little bit of energy I had on something frivolous.

I had to get out of here, and I could only do that by focusing and using my remaining energy to move and burn off the drug faster.

Forcing myself to concentrate, I noticed one glorious thing.

Dave hadn’t bound my arms and legs.

I had to use this to my advantage while I could. My chest expanded with hope, which I tried to squash. Hope wasn’t a good thing—it could destroy you.

The cement ceiling looked similar to the one in the hidden coven library. Where the hell was I? Was this another secret location within the Evergreen Elite University campus? Was I even still in Portland, Oregon? My stomach churned as the realization settled over me.

I had no idea where I was, why Dave had taken me, or what he or whoever had made him drug me wanted from me. In other words, I had to get the fuck out of here while my kidnappers assumed I was passed out.

Straining, I moved my hand slowly toward the spot on my neck where the tranq had lodged. My skin seemed smooth, as if nothing had hit me.

Strange.

The needle must have been small enough that I couldn’t detect a wound.

Turning my head to the left, I took in the space. Wooden blinds covered a window that took up half the wall. A light-colored wooden dresser sat underneath it. A few feet beyond the dresser was a light-gray desk with a reading lamp on top and a white chair. A thick wooden door stood at the edge of the dresser, which I hoped was the exit but could be a bathroom.

When I managed to look in the opposite direction, I stared straight at the toilet. That answered that question and confirmed something else.

I’d never seen this place before.

Footsteps scuffed the floor outside the room, and a lump formed in my throat. Between that and my cottonmouth, I needed something to drink and fast.

One problem at a time, Skylar.

The doorknob turned, and I closed my eyes and returned to the position I’d been in when I woke up.

“That’s what I thought,” an older woman said. “She’s still asleep. That vampire must have given her too large of a dose.”

That thought scared me. Too much of something as strong as a tranquilizer could lead to death, so if they hadn’t been sure of the correct dosage, I was damn lucky to be alive.

At least, there was that.

Someone huffed, and a man replied, “She could be faking. We need to check, and you can’t blame Dave. We only have dosages for supernaturals, not humans, and he had to give her enough to knock her out.”

The footsteps came closer, and a pineapple-and-mint scent invaded my nose.

A scream lodged in my throat, but I swallowed it … or maybe I didn’t have the strength to release it.

Someone touched the base of my neck, and I had to fight a flinch. The hand seemed big, so I guessed it belonged to the man. He brushed his fingertips against my cheek. My skin crawled, and I desperately wanted to move away from him, but I suspected that was the point. Somehow, I didn’t move a muscle.

“I thought she was supposed to smell extremely delicious,” the man said as he bent toward me, his nose brushing my neck. “Don’t get me wrong, she smells great. Not human, but not like anything I’ve ever smelled before either. But I don’t have to drink her blood.”

Between his proximity and the pineapple-mint scent filling my nostrils, I almost gagged.

The woman tsked. “You sound disappointed that you aren’t blood-crazed. Be glad because I will do anything to protect her, including hurt you. Just so we’re clear.”

Luckily, the lump in my throat remained, or I would’ve laughed. Her protective stance clashed with my captive situation—which she was clearly okay with. I wasn’t sure how she didn’t understand the irony.

“I don’t want to hurt her. I was curious what all the fuss is about.”

“Well, I don’t want to hear that thought again.” The woman cleared her throat. “Let’s go before we disturb her. We don’t want to wake her too soon.”

The man stepped away from me. Not only could I hear it, but I could feel it in the air and the way his scent weakened. They must have doused themselves in cologne because I’d never smelled a fragrance that strong … either that or being drugged had heightened my senses.

“You’re right.” The man chuckled grimly. “We wouldn’t want that.”

“Remember our goal,” the woman snapped. “Or do I need to make a call?”

“No need. I remember.” The man then hissed at her. Hissed. At. Her.

The two of them walked out, and the moment the door shut, I let out a shaky breath. With their supernatural hearing, I had to be careful, so I stayed put in case they decided to check on me again immediately.

I listened as their footsteps disappeared then waited a while longer.

After counting to five hundred, I opened my eyes again. Thankfully, this time, it was easier. I raised my hands in front of me, and they followed the command, if sluggishly. That was an improvement and meant the drug was wearing off faster than I’d anticipated.

Moving as slowly as I could so the mattress didn’t squeak, I sat up, and the world slowly spun around me.

Dizziness was another side effect of tranqs and something I naturally experienced, thanks to my blood and its ancient power.

Focusing on my goal, I inched across the bed, trying not to make a sound. Luckily, the bed wasn’t creaky, and the smooth cobalt comforter helped me move along easily.

When my feet touched the floor, I paused to make sure I didn’t hear anyone coming.

Silence.

Each heartbeat rang in my ears.

I stood and wobbled but managed to catch my balance and stay upright. I had to get across the room to the window. If I was in a basement and the room had a window, the floor must be at ground level. It would be easier to sneak out that way than via the hallway.

Using the desk for support, I made my way across the room. By the time I reached the dresser, my eyes burned with unshed tears.

Almost there.

I had to keep going.

Then, I could find somewhere to call Raffe and get myself back into his loving arms.

That thought alone was enough to keep me going.

I reached across the dresser and grabbed the string to lift the blinds. My hands shook, and I had to grit my teeth to stop myself from raising the blinds too quickly and making noise. I couldn’t wait to get out of here.

When the blinds reached halfway, my heart sank.

It wasn’t a window.

It was a painting of a blue sky, sun, and flowers.

Acid inched up my throat. This was a cruel trick. I’d thought I was so damn close to heading home.

My vision blurred, and a tear trickled down my cheek.

No.

I would not fall apart.

I refused, especially if that was what my captors hoped would happen. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of breaking me.

Releasing a shaky breath, I took a moment to pull myself together. I still had the door as an option, and I couldn’t hear anyone.

Carefully, I tiptoed over, nearly tripping over my own feet. I wanted to scream in frustration, but that would ruin my attempt at escape by alerting my captors.

I placed my ear against the wooden door and held my breath, listening one last time to ensure no one was out there or coming.

After several long seconds, silence continued to greet me.

Now or never.

I turned the knob and opened the door slowly. I winced, hoping like hell it didn’t creak. It hadn’t for my captors, but that could change with me.

Each inch was more excruciating than the last, and when it was partially open, I looked out the door.

My lungs seized.

This further confirmed my suspicions. I was either in a basement or an underground bunker. I feared the latter, but I couldn’t just sit here and give up. I had to do something.

No one was there. Fluorescent lights lit a long hallway, giving it a department store feel. Three doorways stood on either side of the hall, which ended in a well-lit open area.

I wouldn’t even have darkness to shroud me.

If Slade or one of the other coven members had been here, they could have camouflaged me, but I was on my own.

I had to stop overthinking and focus on the endgame.

Raffe.

With that affirmed in my mind, I opened the door the rest of the way. The more the gap widened, the harder my heart raced … and my blood jolted.

There.

The drug was almost burned off. Maybe I could get out of here.

I listened again.

Still nothing.

It was time.

I took a step forward and slammed into something.