Page 2 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

“For fuck’s sake!” My assailant stumbled as the vines tightened around him.

Screaming bloody murder, I threw my weight against him, breaking free as I fell to the forest floor. I sprang up, taking off at a sprint. The sound of his angry curses followed me.

Pounding footfalls sounded behind me. Then a heavy weight slammed into me. His body. We both went flying, twisting through the air as he turned to absorb the impact before rolling us over and pinning me under him. His hands trapped my wrists, hoisting them above my head, hips nestled between my thighs. My body arched against the pack pressing into my back.

I whimpered at the helpless position⁠—

Then fell completely still at the sight of his eyes.

His yellow wolf eyes.

One perfect, the other marred by the scar bisecting his face.

He blinked and they changed back. So quickly it was easy to think I’d imagined it. Only, I hadn’t.

“Use your magic on me again, witch, and I’ll kill you.” There was something wild and untamed in his voice. Something almost…insane. And yet, beneath it all I caught a flash of fear.

“I…”

Magic.

My magic.

I’d used my magic.

To get free of him.

Which had amounted to nothing.

My emotions transformed into anger. “You were going to assault me! What did you expect?”

He reared back. “Assault—fuck.”

The weight of him was gone as he scrambled away from me. I climbed to my feet, my chin jutting out.

“Slinging you over my shoulder is not means for assault.”

“Well, what was I suppose to think?”

“You are a hazard to yourself. I’ve seen baby deers with more grace.”

“So you thought what, that you’d carry me all the way back to my car?”

His jaw ticked. Yep. Just as I suspected.

“I’ll walk, thanks.” I turned on my heel and did exactly that.

When he didn’t try to tackle me again, my muscles began to relax. I was hyper aware of each step. Baby deer, my ass. Who did he think he was, anyway? Bear Grylls in a flannel shirt?

I covered my snort with a cough. And maybe I did try to walk more carefully. But not because of him. Just…because.

The press of his steps followed me all the way back through the trees. When I finally reached my car, I spun around, ready to give him another piece of my mind. But there was no one there. I stared into the trees for several long moments before stomping around to the other side of my car.

I hadn’t known there were other supernaturals in Redding. What was worse, the owner of the property I needed was a freaking werewolf. Half-feral enough to push me into using magic.

My chest sank. He’d forced me to give away another piece of myself. Something I might never get back. All because he couldn’t control his fucking temper.

What remained of my adrenaline drained from my system.