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 faintswishof 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.
