Page 105 of Bonded Through Bite

Henry’s pack fills the clearing with yips, howls, and growls. I spot Grandfather at the back of the pack and relax just a tiniest bit. He’ll keep the pack in order if things threaten to get out of hand. For now, he seems to be more focused on Samantha than the pack’s antics, though.

I sense the disapproval wafting from him in waves and my wolf wants to back down and growl at the same time. I was supposed to protect her, not let her get beaten up. Hurt.

“What a shit show.” I hear someone mutter and glance up. Jere is the only one in his human form from the pack and he’s shaking his head atop the ATV. I agree with him, but when Samantha gasps, my attention snaps right back to her.

The witch is working hard; the smell of lavender is permeating the air around her and now I get why Samantha detested the taste. It’s horrendous. I can’t believe people put that stuff in their homes on purpose.

Samantha chokes up more blood and then her breathing evens out again. Sweat trickles down the witch’s face and she’s breathing heavily. My wolf doesn’t like the fact that she’s so close to Samantha when she’s hurt, but I hold back. She’s helping and my wolf knows it too.

It takes a moment for me to realize I’m still hearing the sound of the motor coming closer and closer. Somebody is tearing through the landscape at breakneck speed and they are headed right toward us.

My hackles rise and when I let loose a growl, the pack gets into a frenzy. I have no way to know if there’s a new threat or not, but I’m not taking any chances. Just as I’m ready to jump—struggle—to my feet, Grandfather howls.

The pack moves out of the way of a cross-country motorcycle and the woman driving it. She basically jumps off it, letting the bike crash to the ground. Her hair is wind torn and her eyes blaze purple. I don’t have time to react before she’s kneeling next to Samantha.

With a relieved sigh, the witch lowers her hands and the glow around Samantha evaporates. When the last of the light fades, her eyes pop open.

Chapter Forty-Three

Samantha

Igasp for air and blink against the light. My eyes feel sore. Everything feels sore. What the hell happened?

A hand squeezes mine and I turn to look.

Thea! How is she here? Shock swirls in my mind, but I find it easier to focus when I look into her eyes. They are swirling purple and they suck me in. I’ve seen her with purple eyes only once before and she made me swear I’d never tell anyone.

“Oh, Sammie, you got yourself beaten up good, didn’t you?” She smiles, but it’s strained.

“You—” I choke and try again. “You should see the other bitch.”

“Ha! I do.” Now her smile has teeth in it, but then it vanishes and her gaze turns blank.

“Thea?” I fight to squeeze her hand, it’s harder than it should be. If she weren’t holding my hand so tightly, it would slip.

“Well, fuck. Fuck.” Thea’s eyes clear and she curses again. “Sammie, I don’t have time to explain it all… I don’t even know it all—fuck—but I need you to help Patricia.”

“What—”

“Heal her. You can’t let her die!”

“The hell I can’t!” My voice gains strength and I feel the men focus on us. Their attention feels like pinpricks on my skin. Thea glances at them quickly but then ignores them and focuses on me.

“Sammie, do you trust me?”

I do. What the hell kind of question is that from my best friend?

“Sammie.” Thea waits until I focus on her. “Letting Patricia die now would be worse than calling Mike when you are drunk. Much, much, much worse.”

I gasp. We have a code for each other to gauge how stupid a plan of action will be. Calling my ex is top-tier dumbassery on my list. And now she’s claiming that letting the arch bitch die would be worse.

No. Way.

Thea shakes her head like she’s trying to clear it. “I can’t see… Why can’t I see?” she mutters and glares at Patricia.

Patricia is not moving. She’s so close to the final death that I’m surprised she hasn’t crossed the line yet. When I focus on her, I feel a twinge. Our bond vibrates and strains. It’s breaking, and now I sense the cracks and tears in it. Soon her body will give out and I will be free of her.

We all will be free of her.