Page 42 of Bad Witch

I frowned and dropped my hand. Aradina had been a bitch to her, she was obviously still upset. “You and me both,” I said and placed my hand to the small of her back, but instead of going through that viper’s nest, I led her around the side of the house to get to the front.

I’d carried Tempest to the edge of the forest, just beyond the property when we got here, then dressed and walked up to the house. I’d need to carry her back along the edge of the forest to get her deeper into the city. “You ready to head home?” I said and tugged off my shirt.

Her arms were crossed again. “I already have a ride coming.”

My head jerked up. “You called someone? Why?”

Her mouth twisted to the side. “I wasn’t sure you’d be available.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Her gaze slid from me and to the approaching car. “My ride’s here.”

It was a little shit box of a car, and there was a male behind the wheel. “Who’s the male?”

“Just a guy from work.” She looked up at me, and all the weird energy, the attitude, slipped away and she smiled. Just like that, like nothing had been bothering her, when something most definitely had.

I didn’t like how she did that, like she’d buried whatever she was feeling and hid it behind that smile.

“No need for you to rush off now. You can stay as long as you like,” she said.

“What are you talking about⁠—”

“If you need any more help, just let me know,” she said, then pulled open the passenger door.

“Tempest,” I growled. The male in the car startled, his eyes widening. I stared him down. Yeah, fuckhead, touch her and I’ll tear your fucking arms off.

The car door closed and my gaze sliced back up. Temp was already in the car. I rounded it, about to yank the door open and pull her back out. No fucking way was she driving off with some little piece of shit. No fucking way.

The guy threw the car in reverse, flying backwards, then spun the wheel and peeled out. I had no control over what happened next. The beast took over, my clothes shredding and falling around me as I shifted. I burst into action, making chase. Somehow I managed to call on what little sanity I had left in that moment and used the forest for cover rather than just sprinting down the middle of the road where anyone could see me, but it was a close thing.

The more I ran—chased—the more feral I became. That was my female. Mine. Another male was with her, and he wanted her. Of course he did. She was the most perfect female to ever exist. He wanted to take her from me. I’d kill him first. If he touched her, I was going to tear him to fucking shreds and eat his heart.

A snarl rolled from me, followed by a roar, and the sound of startled wildlife filled the forest around me. In my hound form, I could run faster, my balance was much better, and the strength in my remaining back leg was enough to propel me forward, but the car was pulling away. I wasn’t as fast as I used to be. Panic filled me, actual fear, and mind-numbing rage. I had to get to her. I had to protect her. What if he hurt her? I was too far away. I couldn’t catch up.

Pain shot down what remained of my right back leg. I ignored it and pushed on. I could still see the car, but only just. It turned, and I ran out of cover, bursting out onto the street. A horn blared, the car swerving and barely missing me. Fuck. I ran back for cover and shifted. Breathing hard, I looked down at myself. I was naked, balancing on one leg, and fucking useless. I’d left my shredded clothes, my phone, my prosthesis, all of it outside Aradina’s driveway. Throwing my head back, I roared so loud I shook.

By the time I’d run back, found my phone, called for a ride, got picked up, put on fresh clothes, and got to Tempest’s house, it was late. At least the little shit box car wasn’t outside her place.

I swung off my bike, pulled out my phone and hit Tempest’s number.

“Hello?” she said after several rings.

“It’s Fender.”

“I didn’t expect to hear from you tonight.”

“Why’s that?” I was panting again and barely holding myself back from banging on her door and demanding she let me in.

There was a beat of silence. “Um…I just thought there might be something else you’d rather be doing.”

“There isn’t. Is that why you called some other guy to pick you up?” I drew in a calming breath. It didn’t work. “Who’s the male, Tempest?”

“Male?”

“The guy with the car,” I said, barely holding on to my patience.

“Oh, that’s Luka. He’s a healer at the clinic.”