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A muted roaring starts in Elara’s ears, meaning she only catches snippets of what has the whole cafe silent. But those fragments are all she needs to comprehend what’s happened.
Massacre in the woods.
Bodies bloodied and dismembered.
Fear spikes in Mercy City.
“No,” whispers Elara. The very same woods where she turned. The very same woods where she found out Kade was the one who scratched her.
Jordyn reaches out to grasp Elara’s hand, and she’s not sure whether she’s seeking or offering comfort. Laith is wide-eyed and blinking. Kira’s lips thin as the news anchor continues.
“Mercy City police are investigating what's now being labeled a massacre in the woods south of town overnight. A group of fifteen people are confirmed to be dead. There are very few details, but investigators are looking into whether a local cult is involved, or if it could be linked to the recent bank robberies which remain unsolved.”
Elara pulls her cell phone out, quickly texting Denzel. Laith leans over, also worried, but there’s no immediate reply.
“It can't be Denzel,” he says, leaning back in his chair with a determined expression. “He and the pack are strong. He’s not that easy to take down.”
Elara’s stomach sours as she nods, hoping he’s right, even as she doesn’t point out this has far-reaching ramifications. What if this is linked to the bank robberies? The ones where a shifter actually performed magic in front of humans.
That would mean war is definitely on their doorstep.
It means she can't deny what Kade’s been saying any longer.
6
Kade
Kade knows he shouldn’t be standing in the middle of the college campus, waiting for Elara to notice him. He should turn around right now, tuck his tail, and disappear from her life. He promised himself he’d keep her safe, but it was supposed to be from a distance. The pull’s too strong for him to resist, but he has to. He feels like if he gives in to what his insides scream for, he’ll be her destruction.
Even more so than he already is.
But the massacre has unsettled him. He had to see that Elara was okay. He’s been sensing the presence of others as well, newcomers flocking into town. It’s not a good sign. Though her new pack leader probably told her that.
Kade growls and grits his teeth at the thought of her having to answer to a pack now. He knows his confusing signals have left her with few other options, but they’ll betray her in the end too.
Kade means to get a look at Elara and then leave, but now that his sights are on her, walking across the lawn with her lunch in hand and that other turned wolf by her side, he can't make himself pick up and leave. He can't resist waiting to see if she’ll acknowledge him or continue to be angry and push him away.
He must be a glutton for punishment.
Elara’s eyes dart around as if she can sense him. Maybe she can. He can smell her a mile away, maybe more, that's for sure.
She sees him, and his traitor heart leaps.
Turn around. You’re not good for her. But as she walks toward him having dismissed the other guy, Kade seems to be rooted to the spot.
“You shouldn't be here,” she scolds, but there's a little bite to it.
“Just sit down and eat, and let me talk.” Kade gestures to the grass, and she obeys while rolling her eyes. His stomach clenches at how cute she is when she does that and with guilt at how harsh his voice sounds. But better to hurt her this way than let her be killed or cursed or both for getting too close.
“So, what are you stalking me for now?” She raises her eyebrow, and her stark warning about if he kept showing up hits Kade like a hard slap in the face. He doesn’t see her following through, but it hurts him all the same. He deserves the pain for his actions. He does, but his wolf heart sings for her and wants her to want him too.
To taste him like he tasted her. To feel her come to life in his arms.
An impossibility.
“Look, you may or may not know this already,” Kade starts, his volume low, “but there are other wolf packs in the area now. Some are pretty close by. You've got to be careful.”
She purses her lips in between bites of a ripe, red apple. “I’ll take it into consideration.”
