She must’ve worn gloves. But how was she planning to get a vision wearing gloves? It didn’t add up… Unless she really was just searching my room?
Once I was convinced everything I’d brought with me was right where I’d left it, I sat down on the bed. What was I supposed to do now? Luciana had made a move, and now I needed to make one back. I had to gain control of the situation. I was stuck in reaction mode. Ever since she’d showed up at the Full Moon Ceremony, I’d been on defense. It was time for a little offense.
It took a lot to get me angry, and the last person who’d gotten me this mad had almost had her throat ripped out.
I was way more fucking pissed at Luciana. She wasn’t just screwing with me. She was messing with the whole pack. And Rupert Hoel was helping her.
Tomorrow I was done playing nice. It was time for some action.
The witch was going down.
***
I’d had some rocking nightmares in my life, but as I laid in my bed, trapped in my dreams, a tiny part of me knew this was the worst one ever.
I was on campus, standing in the courtyard. The damp grass cool on my bare feet. I wore a pair of black cargo pants. A backpack weighed heavily on my shoulders. Glass jingled as I took a step. I reached into the pockets and pulled out a vial.
The same potion that made vampires explode.
The scent of the forest was suddenly dampened by the noxious fumes of rotting meat. Vampires swarmed the campus and the alarms sounded.
Wolves fled from the dorms and surrounding buildings.
A vampire approached me, and I threw the vial, saying the words to ignite it.
Another group rushed onto campus. Fire surrounded their hands.
The brujos were out in force. Spells flew through the air in little vials causing explosions that lit the night.
I reached out to Dastien, but his presence was gone. I couldn’t reach him. Something was wrong.
And then I didn’t have time to take in what was happening. The fight crescendoed and it took everything I had not to die.
I dodged a vampire while throwing spells as fast as I could.
A wolf took a running leap at me, and I dropped to the ground, letting it soar overhead.
I could barely stay ahead of what was going on. It was war. It was bloody. I was covered head to toe in black vampire goo.
A half-decayed heart still beat in my hand. I threw it on the ground and tossed a spell at it, turning it to ash.
My hands were half human and half wolf claws. I didn’t want to turn to fight like the rest of the Weres. I needed both abilities if we were going to survive.
As the vampires and witches advanced, wolves spilled around them, fighting as their allies.
Something slammed into my side and took my breath. A heavy, furred body landed on me. My hands caught around its neck as it lunged to bite my throat open.
From far away, Dastien’s howl rent the night. Finally. I could feel his howl echo through the bond as I tried to get the mass of fur and claws off me.
One of the traitorous Weres.
He started to shift, just enough so he could talk to me as his claws sunk into my neck. “You’re dead, mutt,” Mr. Hoel said.
I choked as hot blood spilled from my body.
***
I shot up from bed covered in sweat. My hands went to my throat, as I gasped for breath.
“Holy shit.” That had felt so real. My muscles actually ached from the fight. I went to the bathroom and splashed water on my face. When I looked in the mirror, I stumbled back a few steps.
Four red slashes lined my throat.
That wasn’t just a dream. That was something else. A vision of the future?
How could things get so bad that something like that could happen?
I didn’t want that future, but how did I stop it? I sat down on the edge of the tub, putting my head between my knees.
What was I supposed to do now? Confront Luciana or not?
My skin was itching. My wolf wanted to be free. Ached for it. She’d been pretty silent since I got here, but this was too much.
I went downstairs in the dark to hit the second fridge. The food was nearly all gone. I’d have to call Mom in the morning. I grabbed some ham, cheese, mustard, mayo, and bread. A few sandwiches later the wolf was okay. At least for now. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could eat her into submission.
My T-shirt was damp, sticking to my skin. I wished I could take a shower, but I didn’t want to wake Claudia and Raphael.
I wanted to call Dastien so badly. I ached to hear his voice. For him to tell me that it was nothing more than a really fucking bad nightmare. That we wouldn’t let this happen. It wasn’t our future.
The panic started back up, and I stood to pace the small kitchen. Five steps across, five steps back.
