the door while he buttoned his shirt. He didn’t meet my eyes.
What had I been thinking? Jaxson fucking Laurent? Attracted to a
werewolf? It was madness.
This is your doing, you hussy, I thought furiously at my wolf.
Nope. That was all you, you horny harlot.
I gasped at the foul-mouthed and foul-minded wolf.
Jaxson raised an eyebrow at my outburst, and I shook my head.
Swallowing hard, I let a long litany of denials flood into my mind. I was
not a werewolf. I didn’t have to listen to the savage beast inside me. And I
was not getting wrapped up with Jaxson Laurent. I plopped down on the
couch, tightly crossed my legs, and let the towel and shadows settle around
me.
With a click, Jaxson unlocked the door and swung it open.
Sam stepped in and cupped her hand to her mouth, covering a wide grin.
“What did I interrupt? It smells like a Brazilian steakhouse in here, and you
are a very rare steak, Savy!”
The scarlet drained from my hair and flooded across my face as my very
soul withered.
Oh. God.
I should have let the sorcerer kill me.
Sam clapped her hands, laughing. “Oh, shit, I am so, so sorry, you two.”
Jaxson closed the door behind her with a wry smile.
My neck burned with embarrassment and rage. Where had her enthusiasm
been when we’d kissed the last time? She’d ripped me a new one.
But I hadn’t been a werewolf then. Just a dirty, expendable LaSalle. Now
I was some sort of half-breed. Did that really make things better?
Sam gave me a wicked grin and waved the spare clothes at me. “Are you
sure you still need these? Should I come back later?”
“Cool it, Sam,” Jaxson growled. “We’re in fucking trouble, and we need
a plan.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I was just excited because you seem to be embracing
the m—”
Jaxson gave Sam a look that practically made the walls of the penthouse
shake. My skin chilled as his power washed over us both, and I was certain
the temperature had dropped twenty degrees.
She shrank back. “Right. Sorry.”
What the hell had that been about?
Clearly, I didn’t understand a fucking thing about these wolves.
31
Savannah
I grabbed the clothes from Sam and rushed into Jaxson’s bathroom while
the two of them muttered about what to do next. It was hard not to eavesdrop
with my keen hearing. Sam was distraught about the sleepers.
They were also talking around something else that they didn’t want me to
know about.
Ears burning, I tried to think of what to do as I slipped into Sam’s clothes.
Even though she was more toned, we were a decent enough size match. I
zipped up and admired myself in the mirror. While Jaxson had seen my bare
ass from plenty of angles now, I liked how taut it looked in Sam’s skinny
jeans.
I smiled when I unfolded the shirt. The front had an illustration of a derby
skater beside big bold letters that said, Warning: I Hit Like a Girl. I flipped it
over, and my smile melted. Bitches With Bite. 2018 Derby Champions. You
Can’t Skate With Us.
My canines started to inch down, but I held them back and pulled the shirt
over my head. It was plenty tight, and as I didn’t have a bra, Jaxson was
going to see exactly how ready I was every time I got near him.
I sighed. He could smell it, anyway. I had to figure out how to mask it or
get used to constantly being a horny beacon.
I returned to the kitchen and sat down on a stool at the high-top counter,
trying not to look at the powerfully built man as he stepped up right beside
me and poured me an espresso. “Have you eaten?”
I blushed. My wolf had stolen a snack of bacon strips off someone’s plate
at an outdoor café. Did that count?
“Sort of?” I breathed in the rich aroma that wafted up from the cup,
though it couldn’t mask his scent. “This is what I really needed. Thanks.”
Sam put her palms on the counter. “Forget coffee. We’re fucked and need
a new plan. You got lucky when you caught up with Kahanov in Italy. And
even if you find him again, he could slip away like last time. Meanwhile,
each night, dozens more wolves will likely go to sleep and not wake up.”
I cleared my throat. “It might not be wolves for long. If the pack doesn’t
hand me over, he might target someone more pliable. Vampires. Demons.
Other…crime families. Anyone he could pressure to take me out. We need a
way to break the spell.”
Jaxson nodded. “I had a curse diviner look at the sleepers this morning,
and I also called some folks in from the Order. They’re still researching.
Dream magic isn’t well understood, and the best source of information was
apparently that stolen grimoire.”
“We’ve got to do something,” Sam protested.
I chewed on my lip. “How old is the grimoire? Is the witch who wrote it
still alive? Could we go directly to the source and ask her what to do?”
Jaxson and Sam both stiffened. He flexed his fist. “That would be…
unwise. If the witch is still alive, she’s probably not someone we want to risk
dealing with. She could be worse than the sorcerer.”
“Why? Because a powerful woman wrote a book?” I scoffed.
Sam leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “Grimoires aren’t just books, Savy.
They’re tomes of dark, sinister magic that practically have a life of their own.
Some are written in blood and wrapped with human flesh.”
My skin prickled at the sudden chill that crept over me. I could smell the
danger in her words, and I shivered.
Shadows crossed Jaxson’s face. “Wolf legends say that witches and
warlocks write grimoires to snare the souls of curious readers whose lust for
power is greater than their common sense. Anyone who would create a thing
like that wouldn’t hesitate to trap us with their magic. It’s too dangerous.”
The two looked down at the table, and I swallowed hard. A long silence
stretched between us.
I tightened my fists. “The clock is ticking, and we can’t wait. If she can
tell us how to undo the curse, it’s worth the risk. Who knows? If this witch is
really as bad as you assume and she’s trying to snag powerful souls with that
book, then maybe she’ll help us just to get Kahanov’s.”
Jaxson frowned. “I don’t think—”
“Anyway,” I interjected, “you wolves have a pretty skewed sense of the
dark arts—a label that seems to include a broad array of things like scrying
and my own magic. So let’s maybe ask someone less superstitious and see
how crazy an idea this is.”
“We don’t even know if the witch is alive,” he said, a knife edge of
protest in his voice.
I raised my hands. “Who do we ask, then?”
Jaxson bared his teeth as he studied my face. Finally, he gave a reluctant
grunt. “Fine. Sam, call Neve. She was the one looking into the book. See
what she knows or can find out.”
Sam pulled out her cell phone and stepped away as Jaxson drummed his
fingers on the table in irritation.
I took a deep br
eath. “In the meantime, I have a stopgap plan.”
“What is it? Make a deal with a devil? Summon the minions of hell to
hunt him down?”
I froze. I hadn’t thought of that. My aunt could summon demons, and I
wondered…but no. I shook my head. “My aunt made a circle of protection
around my bed to keep the sorcerer out of my dreams. Maybe we could make
a big one where wolves could come sleep to protect them from Kahanov.”
He shook his head. “I’m not sure wolves would be willing to sleep in the
middle of a sorcerous enchantment, particularly one made by the LaSalles.
They’d assume it was a trap.”
“You’re alpha. King Wolf. Can’t you make them? By the second night,
everyone would know it worked.”
His eyes flashed gold, and I smelled his frustration and mistrust. His
canines dropped and claws began to push from his fingertips. “Yes. The pack
will do as I say, but I can’t make Laurel do anything, and she won’t help us.
There’s been too much bad blood over the years.”
“Maybe not my aunt, but I might be able to twist my cousin’s arm.”
Jaxson gave a bitter laugh. “The lead distributor of wolfsbane in the
world? I guarantee he’s not going to help, if he even knows how to do
anything else but blow things up.”
Images of the weapons manufacturing operation flooded my mind, and
my stomach twisted. But I knew deep down that my cousin was better than
that. He had to be. I’d seen it.
I could make this happen.
“You don’t know him,” I growled defensively.
Sam, who was still on the phone—but apparently monitoring our
conversation—just rolled her eyes.
Jaxson rose and stalked to the side of the room. “I know enough.”
Pangs of protectiveness shot through me, and I snarled. “It literally can’t
hurt to ask. And if he doesn’t know how to do it, maybe he knows someone
who does.”
I held my breath as Jaxson considered. His pack wasn’t going to like this.
They were in danger because of a LaSalle, and now the only way they were
going to be able to sleep safely was in the middle of a LaSalle’s hex.
Finally, Jaxson stirred. “Do it. Ask.”
“Give me your phone.” He handed it over, and I dialed Casey as I
swiveled around on my stool.
Ragged breathing came across the line as he picked up. “Laurent, you
motherfucker, is Savy with you?”
What was Casey doing? Running a marathon?
“Hey, Case, it’s me. I’m borrowing Jaxson’s phone.”
“Where the hell are you?”
I put my finger in my ear to block the sounds of Sam on the other line,
talking to Neve. “I’m in Dockside. And I need your help with some magic.”
“Cool. Great. Let’s play a different game. Do you know where the hell I
am?” he wheezed.
I sighed and rubbed my temples. “In my room, rummaging through my
shit like a drugged-out badger, by the sound of it.”
“Close. I’m on a ladder trying to get to your open window to check if
you’re dead or not. Unfortunately, it’s a little short and pretty unstable.”
I leapt off my stool. “Are you nuts?”
“You weren’t answering your phone, and your door is locked. When I
saw the open window, I was worried you’d been abducted or something!”
“I’m fine!” I snapped. “I’m in Dockside with Jaxson and Sam, and we—"
Casey made a strangled sound. “Oh, my gods, Savannah, you didn’t have
him over last night, did you? I thought I heard a man snoring this morning. It
was like a lumberjack choking to death on a muffin. Tell me you two weren’t
—”
“No! Seriously? I got up early and left. I locked my door without thinking
and then couldn’t get my cell.” I thanked God that we were talking on the
phone and that Casey never seemed able to pick up my lies.
“Okay. Good. Because Mom would kill you. What are you doing in
Dockside, anyway?”
I ran my hand through my hair in exasperation. “Shit is going down up
here, and we need your help. That circle of protection that Aunt Laurel made
around my bed, do you know how to make one of those?”
“Yes. But I’m not making one for your wolfy love den, if that’s what
you’re thinking.”
“No! Damn it, get your head out of the gutter.” My fingernails were
beginning to itch. I tried to steady my voice. “Last night, the sorcerer put
twenty-one wolves to sleep, and we don’t know how to break the spell. He’s
going to keep doing it. We need a way to protect these people while we bring
him down. Could you make a giant circle of protection in like, I don’t know,
a gymnasium? Somewhere a lot of people could gather.”
Casey paused, and I could hear him gently sucking on his teeth. “Shit,
Savannah. I don’t know. I’m pretty sure they want to skin me alive up there.”
“Tell the little punk he still owes us for the damage you two caused
during your car chase,” Jaxson snarled.
I bared my teeth at Jaxson and made a chopping motion in front of my
neck to cut him off, but it was already too late.
“Was that Jaxson in the background? Tell that creep to shove a stick up
his ass! He already stole our container to cover it! Screw this.”
Casey hung up.
I growled and felt my fangs erupt. “Damn it! I’m handling this, Jax. Keep
your mouth shut!”
Sam’s eyes went wide, and Jaxson bristled at my command. “I told you
he wouldn’t help. He’s a wolf-hating creep. He’s probably laughing his ass
off at the moment.”
“Stay quiet this time!” I snapped. Sam cringed again at my blatant
disrespect for her alpha, but I didn’t care. I dialed Casey back.
He picked up. “No.”
“Casey! Please.”
He was breathing hard, and it sounded like he was climbing down the
ladder. “No way, Jose! I’m not dealing with Jaxson and not coming to
Dockside.”
Jaxson looked ready to wolf out, so before he aggravated the situation
further, I stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door. “Look, Case, I’m
sorry about Jaxson. Please, do this for me, if not for the wolves. They’re
suffering because of me. Protecting them protects me.”
Silence hung in the air, and then he sighed. “Fine. But I’m not going to
Dockside.”
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, and the shirt sparked an idea.
“What about the roller derby rink? It’s big and has bathrooms. Could you
make something there?”
“I guess? What are you thinking?”
“Like a FEMA shelter. Big circle of protection where werewolves can
sleep safely.”
He whistled low. “There’s no way I can make one big enough to fit all the
werewolves in Dockside. There are thousands of them.”
“We’ve got to try something. There’s a lot at stake.”
Casey considered. “Okay. Fine. Tell Hairy that our debt is paid, and he’s
gotta release our stuff. He’ll know what I’m talking about. I’m bringing
backup to help make the circle, and if anyone looks like they’re going to bite,
we’ll blast everyone.”
�
�I’ll tell him something like that, in a diplomatic and courteous way,” I
grumbled.
“Fine. I’ll get my shit together and meet you all over there.” He hung up.
I stalked out of the bathroom and gave Jaxson a glare. “He’ll do it, no
thanks to you. Also, give him his container of shit back.” Before he could
protest, I swung to Sam, who’d finished her call. “What did you learn?”
“Neve is hunting down the author and will give you a call when she
knows more. She wanted me to remind you that the grimoire was committed
to the Archive of Bound Tomes because it was dangerous. Anyone capable of
committing that kind of knowledge to paper would be perilous, too.”
“I don’t see that we have any choice.” My mouth went dry, and I met
Jaxson’s eyes. He was brooding in the shadows of the back corner, arms
crossed. Waves of power poured out from him, and his scent gave off one
clear signature: protectiveness. For his pack. For Sam.
He didn’t like this plan. But I also sensed he would do anything to protect
the pack.
Finally, he nodded.
I took a deep breath. “Okay. We have a plan. Make a circle of protection.
Bargain with the witch. And stay alive long enough to hunt down Kahanov
and kill him.”
32
Jaxson
It took an hour to organize everyone and start setting up the shelter at the
roller derby rink. The old warehouse bustled with activity as werewolves
folded up bleachers and hauled in crates of water, food, and blankets. We’d
bought out every box store in the area.
It was like prepping for a hurricane.
No one liked the idea of sleeping in a giant circle of magic created by the
LaSalles, but as much as Savannah drove me to madness, I trusted her, and
she trusted her cousin. That was something.
Stephanie would be rolling over in her grave.
I’d gotten pushback from every direction, but people complied. I was
alpha. That was the way things worked.
Space was limited, so people would be sleeping here around the clock in
shifts. Most of the signups were families afraid for their pups. I assumed
many of the more conservative members of our pack would rather die in their
sleep than accept help from the LaSalles.
I wouldn’t make sleeping here mandatory, but I’d camp in the rink, and
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