VON

Outside, I stopped beside my bike, taking a moment to stretch my back. As bones cracked and my muscles ached, I realized how tense I had been in Cookieville.

First, there was her — the one who called herself Cassandra.

I couldn’t put a finger on what exactly it was about her that got to me. My wolf was still straining to back inside and claim her as my own, despite the fact that she was way too old for my tastes. Though there were some in my pack who would revel in the idea of hooking up with an old crone, I wasn’t one of them.

Second, she was a witch. And not a very good one at that.

Yet my wolf howled within me. All I could do was hope that the potion she sold me would work. Soon enough I would have my wolf under control and could go back to a world where she didn’t exist, if only because I didn’t have to see her again.

As I glanced towards the dark woods, I wondered how much control that border had. I glanced up at the full moon and exhaled heavily. As an Alpha, I held the strongest defenses against the pull of becoming feral. But I knew better than most that not every werewolf was able to resist the urge to give in to their wilder nature.

And I knew that I was losing my strength to resist. Every passing full moon was yet another test. I met each passing with a relief that I hadn’t allowed myself to become feral like so many others had.

But how long can I hold out? I wondered.

My eyes landed on the boarder’s bike and I instinctively bared my teeth. I didn’t like that the Cobalt were in our territory at all. Each one of their members was trouble, but it wasn’t my problem.

I glanced back at Cookieville. If the witch Cassandra was at all capable, she would be able to deal with the boarder just like she had insisted.

Well, unless the guy went feral.

I slid onto my bike and enjoyed the familiar feel of the leather seat beneath me. There was no freedom like the freedom I felt on my bike.

Suddenly, I was struck by the realization that I hadn’t thought about Willow since I had downed the potion. At least the witch could do that much for me. I allowed myself a small smile at the tiny victory. Being able to forget my late wife, even momentarily, was a good sign, but I wasn’t ready to return to my pack yet. I needed a few days of camping out in the woods first. I wanted to clear my mind before I came back as Alpha. I needed to be ready.

Just as I was about to kickstart my bike, something triggered my wolf. I sensed something behind me, and I whipped around towards the bakery.

CASSIE

The boarder took a menacing step towards me, but I held my ground. I knew that if I took a step back I would give myself away. Wasn’t it better to meet aggression with strength, rather than with the fear that was spreading through me like wildfire?

I had no idea, but stayed rooted to the spot I was in just in case I was right. My night was going from bad to worse and I wondered how the hell it would end. Hopefully with me not shredded to a thousand pieces…

First, the scary hot werewolf had come into Cookieville with all of his demands and his sexy gaze.

And now there was this creepy boarder asshole who seemed to have a bone he wanted to pick with me.

Welcome back to Konowa, I thought.

Willing myself not to panic, I squared my shoulders and stared at the boarder with fierce eyes. He could probably smell my fear, but that didn’t mean I had to show it. If he didn’t go back to his room, I would call the cops.

Whether or not the cops would get there to save me or recover my mutilated corpse was something else altogether.

As I tried to remember some of the spells that could help me, I tried to make light of the boarder’s claim that he wanted me. Maybe all the asshole needed was a good laugh before he went to bed.

“Now why would someone so young show any interest in an old witch like me?” I asked.

The boarder laughed. “ Killing a witch as wretched as you would be a benefit to the world.”

Well, shit.

Before I could say anything in my defense, the boarder shifted into a large, wild-looking werewolf. His jaws opened wide to reveal sharp teeth eager to tear into my flesh. He howled, then lunged at me.

Forgetting about my vow to not back away, I fell back in terror. I finally remembered a defensive spell that my Aunt Maggie had taught me years ago. I screamed the words out loud and got ready to hide behind the shield that I had conjured up.

Instead, I watched the magic sputter from me, dead on arrival. My magic was weak and useless in my time of need. Unfazed, the werewolf plowed into me. The two of us slammed into one of the shelves, knocking over vials and landing on shattered glass and wood as we fell to the ground.

Screaming and flailing around for dear life, I grabbed a potion and smashed it on the werewolf’s head.

He yelped in pain and backed off to wipe his eyes with his huge, clawed paws. Whatever I had used on him had only stunned him momentarily, but it was enough for me to be able to scramble away and put some distance between us.

The werewolf slashed at me and managed to catch the glamour pendant that hung around my neck. As soon as it came off of my body, the glamour began to dissipate. Moments later, my true form was standing in front of the werewolf.

His eyes glowed with sadistic pleasure. He took in my youthful appearance with unmitigated malice and a disturbing amount of lust. Yeah, it would be much more fun to kill a young witch with her whole life ahead of her instead of some old biddy who had her best years behind her.

The werewolf lunged again and pinned me to the floor, his breath was hot and foul as it blew over my face. His eyes were glassy with his desire to kill me. I struggled under his weight, but I didn’t stand a chance against him.

I’m going to die, I thought.

My life flashed before my eyes and left me wondering if anyone would even miss me. It was a sad thought and it made me struggle to stay alive, but it was only a matter of time before the werewolf would rip my throat out.

He opened his jaws wide, ready to end me, when a sudden, ground-shaking roar erupted behind him. I saw a shape moving behind the werewolf that was pinning me to the ground. Moments later, the sound of tearing flesh filled my ears. Bones crunched as the murderous werewolf’s next howl died in its throat.

A hot spray of blood hit my face and made it impossible for me to see anything. It took me a moment to realize that it wasn’t my blood, but the werewolf’s. His lifeless body tipped forward for a second before it was ripped off me and tossed to the floor in a bloodied, motionless heap.

Before I got the chance to celebrate not being dead, another wolf moved to stand over me. His eyes were fiery and narrowed on me as he growled. I screamed and held my hands up, not wanting to see my imminent death.

Then wolf shifted back into the massive man whom I had just sold the potion to. My next scream died in my throat as we looked at each other. The man stared at me, looking puzzled as he shook his head in disbelief. I vaguely remembered that I no longer looked like the old crone he had first met.

“You’re…” he started. “Who the hell are you?”

Ignoring his question, I turned to the dead wolf and watched in horror as a pool of his blood quickly spread from his lifeless body.

“You killed him,” I said.

The man laughed. I turned my head away from him, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. He looked far better than he had any right to.

Jesus, why is he so freaking hot?

He glanced at the dead wolf, then back at me and nodded. “That’s what I do. I take care of feral wolves.”

With his job done, he turned and walked away. Hold on, was he seriously just going to leave? I staggered to my feet as a wave of nausea hit me.

“Wait! What am I supposed to do with the body?” I asked.

The man shrugged. “You’re a witch. I’m sure you’ve got a spell for that.”