I jumped up with wide eyes and managed to get to the opposite side of him. “You’re supposed to be dead.” I said to the warlock.
“Yes and so should you. For such a smart girl you can be very stupid. I was too valuable to be killed and the wolf knew that. Seeming as if I was dead had its benefits.” He said, grinning from ear to ear as he added; “Benefits like this.” He threw a burst of energy that sent me flying out the window with such force the two story drop was going to hurt.
I screamed and did the only thing I could before I fell to my death, I shifted. My wolf body skated across the street and landed in the neighbor’s yard. I felt blood rising in my mouth from the force of the painful landing. I didn’t want to move but if I didn’t I’d be killed. I rushed to stand as the warlock came busting out my front door.
The warlock wanted to fight fair so his victory wouldn’t be questioned. Pride wasn’t going to let him make my death easy or quick. He shifted into the same four legged animal he used the other night and snarled, showing his long sharp teeth to me.
My whole body was shaking with fear and fury. He was supposed to be dead and I was supposed to be back to my boring life. I had so many strikes against me and the fight hadn’t even begun. I hurt everywhere. It was all his fault, every one of my troubles and bodily aches. I snarled back and jumped at him.
The fight wasn’t short lived, I think the warlock wanted to take his time and play with me before closing the deal. We swiped our claws at each other; I managed to dodge most of his attempts except one that caught me on the shoulder. I got him across the nose, he whined and that small victory made me feel a tad better.
He lunged at me, digging his nails into my skin as we rolled around the grass, each trying to gain the upper hand. Giving up felt so tempting, for all the pain to stop and continue the fight later but if I gave up there’d be no more fight, now or ever again. It was either him or me. I kept focusing on that.
He shook me free and tossed me to the other side of the lawn. I laid there panting for breath and rushing to come up with my next move. The warlock came over with hesitant steps to see if I was dead and if not to make his next move.
That’s when I made my next attack, before he could realize it and stop me, my jaw was wrapped completely around his neck. He shrugged to get me off like he had done before. I wasn’t letting go, it was my last and only chance.
At first I pierced through his fur and skin and after what felt like endless meat and blood I felt his bone. I didn’t stop until I felt that bone crack against my teeth.
I stepped back and looked at the dead animal. It didn’t feel vindicating or joyful like I wanted. I shook with pain and felt tears along my eyes, I took a life, and there was nothing good about what had just happened. Even if he deserved it.
I heard nothing as my eyes focused on the body but people started coming around me, a faint scream made its way past my ears and I knew it was Jamie. I couldn’t move, I started thinking about guilt and who the man was besides the dark side I saw of him. That wasn’t how it was supposed to be, I didn’t want to feel bad for the man who would’ve killed me and enjoyed every second of it.
I stepped back and shook my head when I felt someone touch me. I wanted to be left alone. I ran away from the bleeding dead animal back into my home where I hoped to forget.
Chapter 23
I ran up to my bedroom still in wolf form and hid under the bed while quick heavy steps followed me. “Evangeline.” Caleb stepped inside my horribly messy room with his voice soft yet firm in control of the situation.
My thoughts lingered on the fact he was seeing my room in such disarray. I couldn’t figure out why it bothered me that he saw it like that. It was actually because of him it was a mess; I had no time to clean the last few days. I shook my head and rested it on my paws; I was having the stupidest thoughts. I watched Caleb’s dress shoes as he walked around the room and checked the closet looking for me. I didn’t understand why he cared either. He should know I wanted to be alone and understand why. He was after all struggling with his own demons.
He stopped directly in front of the bed and after noticeably inhaling he bent down to find me. I swiped my paw at him but Caleb moved away in time. The alpha was getting mad. I didn’t care, I just wanted him gone by any means necessary. Being alpha he knew how to deal with unruly animals and made no moves to leave my room.
“I know what you’re doing.” Caleb said like Mr. Know it all. I covered my eyes and ears with my arms. “You can’t be left alone.” he was saying my thought as it ran through my mind. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
I growled at him and turned away. I refused to listen to him try and make me do things his way. I wondered how many other wolves he tried to appear compassionate to in order for them to listen, in order for them to allow him to take control.
“Do you want me to call Michael?” I turned around then. “Yes or no?” it sounded like he was mocking me. I was so tempted to attack him. “I can’t understand you. Shift back and tell me or I’ll make the call.” Caleb was blackmailing me into getting his way, now that was rich. He either truly knew what he was doing or he had no fear at the snarling wolf in front of him.
I gave him my back which was a clear form of disrespect, good thing I didn’t belong to his pack, and moved up to the front of the bed. I laid there tired and bleeding. My carpet would never be the same.
Caleb sighed and left the room, finally I was rid of him. I could hear some commotion outside. I wasn’t curious enough to find out what was happening with the warlock’s body to move. I didn’t want to think about him.
I let my eyes drift close only to reopen them just as fast. I hadn’t gotten rid of Caleb after all. He came back in wolf form and laid beside me. It was an odd fit for the large animal and he didn’t seem to mind. I eyeballed him for a moment before relaxing back down onto the floor.
He laid so close I felt his body heat, it was comforting and I believed I could stay in that moment forever and be ok. I didn’t think I’d be ok any other way, the thought of what could happen next scared me. I’d probably have to over analyze the reaction to Caleb later but right now I took what he gave.
I let out a whine. He moved closer and licked the top of my head. I couldn’t get rid of the need I had to cry. The more I tried to suppress it the worse the feeling got. I ran out from under the bed and dashed into the bathroom. I closed the door behind me with a flick of my head.
I shifted back into my human form just as the bile rose in my stomach. I bent over the toilet and threw up blood, fur, and then more blood until even Dominic’s wonderful pasta was gone. I stood and washed out my mouth a few times over. I looked into the mirror and felt my body swaying. There was more skin purple and green than not. There wasn’t anything I could do about that. I grabbed the towel from its rack and wrapped it around my body.
I stepped out of the door and collapsed right there at the doorway, Caleb caught me before my top half reached the floor. He shifted back and managed to get his pants on and nothing more. I hung onto him like a life line. I rested my cheek against his bare shoulder and let the flood gates open.
I cried and cried unable to make it stop. He carefully ran his hand over my wounded back and my hair. After what seemed like an hour, maybe more, I calmed down and relaxed still with his arms around me. The clouds began to clear and what was happening reached my brain. It was too dangerous to lean on Caleb. I didn’t want to pull away from his inviting arms.
I moved and sat in front of him. “What happened outside with….” My voice was horse from all the ugly hiccup crying.
“It’s taken care of.” Those four words said it all. The way he said it left me with no desire to ask for the details.
“They fooled us, he wasn’t dead...but he sure is now.” I chuckled weakly and ran both my hands over my face.
“He came after you, it was self defense.”
I met his dark blue eyes. “I know that and I’ll admit i
t’s bothering me, but most of the way I feel is more for selfish reasons.” I leaned my back against the wall of the hallway and sighed. The day had been going pretty well, I didn’t think it’d ever be well again, at least never the same.
Caleb’s face took on a puzzled expression. “How so?” he reached out and brushed the hair out of my eyes.
The gesture reminded me of his earlier ones. “You licked me.”
Caleb chuckled with a shrug. “It worked; you’re talking to me now on two legs.” He seemed to be overly proud and some of it felt like an act, he was joking around and from what I knew that was rare.
I shook my head. “I just had to really throw up.” I couldn’t admit to Caleb Nikolas he helped me a lot or the fact I wasn’t sure about much except our relationship would never be the same either. I just wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.
“You’re dodging the question, how is it selfish?”
I looked down at my hands and knew once I voiced the fears there was no turning back, I couldn’t live in ignorance. “They can’t forget this. The Coven will know it was me when he doesn’t come home. They knew what was happening but since I don’t belong to them anymore they couldn’t intervene. But he belonged to them and now they’ll seek justice and if not the Elders, then his family. I was stupid to think I could really escape it all.” I felt tears welling back up in my eyes. I didn’t let them fall free anymore. Crying wasn’t going to help me by any means.
My life would never be the same. I couldn’t turn back and hide from my true self or the world I came from. There was no more running, I was free and I planned to keep it that way no matter what came next. There was no doubt it was coming.
###
OTHER NOVELS BY ISABELLE AROCHO
Set in Celestin City:
Sinfully Departed (Zoe Langston #1)
Blood Sins (Zoe Langston #2)
Sin of Hope (Zoe Langston #3)
Deceptions (Evie Cortez #1)
Anticipations (Evie Cortez #2)
Death says Hello (Holly Garrett Book #1)
Other:
Games We Play
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends