The Better to Bite

by Cynthia Eden

  Her brows rose. “Rogue?”

  I fiddled with the sheet. “It’s what some folks call a wolf that turns on the pack.” So I’d heard from an animal expert during one boring Saturday afternoon while I watched a nature show.

  Silence. Then, “Do you really think they’ll stop the rogue? It seems so strong.”

  “My dad’s a good hunter.” Simple. True. “He’s not going to stop until he catches the wolf.”

  Valerie swallowed again. She looked like she might be battling tears. Another knock rapped at the door, and she jumped.

  A candy-stripper entered this time. A girl named Katie who I was pretty sure went to Haven. She had flowers in her hands. Big, bright, yellow flowers. “From an admirer,” she said with a grin.

  When she left, I took the card. Opened it quickly. I expected it to be from Rafe.

  It was from Brent. His bold scrawl slid across the crisp white card.

  “That’s Brent’s shirt,” Valerie said as Katie left.

  I blinked and followed her gaze. Sure enough, what was left of Brent’s shirt—stained with my blood—had been folded and put on a nearby chair.

  I heard the edge of sadness in Valerie’s voice and didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t the wicked witch of Haven anymore. Hell, with my family background, maybe I was the witch.

  Valerie was just a girl. Hurting. Scared. I wanted to make her feel better.

  But then she moved, too quickly, and grabbed the shirt. “Why is there blood on the shirt?” She spun back to face me. “Is Brent—”

  “The blood’s mine. He was just helping me.” This wasn’t my truth to share, oh, damn, it wasn’t, but I could tell by her expression that she understood—

  “He’s…one of them.” The shirt fell to the floor. She stepped back, fast, and she bumped one of the machines near me.

  I didn’t speak.

  “Tell me!” Her voice was close to a yell.

  “You need to talk to Brent.” I kept my own voice low.

  But she shook her head. “He was so mad at me this summer. He found out about me—me and Rafe. Brent knew that I’d cheated on him—”

  Whoa, whoa, hold up. She’d been with Brent and Rafe?

  Valerie stumbled toward the door. “I was going to meet Rafe that night, at the Fourth of July party. Maybe Brent knew, maybe—”

  “Brent is not the wolf who has been making the attacks!”

  She stopped her too-quick speech and blinked at me.

  “The car accident,” I dropped my voice, not sure just how thin the hospital walls were. “He was with me, remember? He was hurt in that accident, and while I was trapped in the truck, the wolf came at me. It’s not Brent. It’s not.”

  I noticed that her hands were shaking. “I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

  “You can trust me.”

  She held my stare.

  “I saw Brent that night. He’s not the wolf hurting those people. The wolf I saw then, it was big, black, with glowing yellow eyes—”

  “All of the wolves look the same,” she whispered. “Granny Helen told me that. When they change, it’s nearly impossible to tell them apart.”

  Was that true? That would sure make hunting the rogue a whole lot harder.

  “So maybe Brent wasn’t the wolf that night, but how do you know he didn’t go after Helen? Or some of the others? What if it’s more than one wolf?” Valerie’s face flushed. “What if it’s all of them?”

  Yeah, okay, that was not a good thought. Because if she was right, and my dad was heading out into the woods with those wolves, then he’d be heading right for death.

  “OhmyGod!”

  I’d know that shriek any place. Jenny, armed with two bright balloons, had just pushed into my room. “I heard you were shot! Shot!” She rushed toward the bed. “What can I do? What can I—”

  Valerie swiped beneath her eyes, and I knew she was trying to hide her tears. I forced a smile for Jenny. “Actually, could you do me one huge favor?”

  Jenny blinked her big, wide, blue eyes. “Anything.”

  “How about you let Valerie sleep over at your place tonight?” Because I didn’t want either of them alone. They were becoming my friends, and I wanted them safe.

  Jenny’s eyes got even bigger. “Uh, sure. But I don’t think Valerie’s gonna want to—”

  “I want to,” Valerie said quickly.

  Perfect. “And just stay in tonight, okay, Jenny? Watch a movie, eat popcorn, and stay in.”

  Jenny’s smile dimmed. “What’s going on, Anna?”

  I glanced at Valerie. Maybe Jenny wouldn’t believe us. It didn’t matter. She needed to know. “There are monsters in this town,” I told her. “And when the moon comes up, they’ll be hunting.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  My cell phone vibrated, then rang with a loud peel of sound. I reached for it, yanking too fast with my arm, and I felt the sting from the stitches immediately. Jenny’s number flashed on the screen.

  I shoved the phone up to my ear. “Hello? Jenny?”

  “She’s gone.” Jenny’s voice. Nervous, soft.

  “What?” I glanced toward the blinds. The sun had set, and I could see the darkness waiting outside.

  “Rafe came by and picked Valerie up a few minutes ago.”

  I frowned and my hold tightened on the phone.

  “It just it all seemed weird.” Her voice was hushed, and I had to strain to hear her. “I thought she was scared, so why’d she go and leave with him?”

  Because she thought Rafe was safe. Because she didn’t know he was a wolf, too. I hadn’t told her about him.

  “What should I do?” Jenny asked. She’d been scared after I told her about the wolves in town. Not just scared, freaking terrified, and she’d believed every word I said. What a change, to finally have someone who believed me so absolutely. “Should I get my dad’s car and go after—”

  “No!” Maybe that came out too hard, but I wouldn’t risk her, too. “Just stay home tonight, okay? I’m sure everything’s fine.”

  Rafe was the one I was sneaking out to meet. Valerie’s words whispered through my mind even as jealousy and worry were both tight in my gut. If Valerie and Rafe were sneaking out for a little couple time, that pissed me off. Because dammit, yes, I was getting interested in the guy.

  Not getting interested. I was interested. Falling fast.

  But if there was more…if something bad was happening…I ended the call with Jenny. I stared at my phone. A little bit of snooping had led to Rafe’s number days ago. I’d added him as a contact, and I scrolled through my list until I found him. I called his number.

  One ring. Two. Three.

  He didn’t answer.

  My gaze lifted to the darkened window.

  The worry came again. So much worry.

  Had I trusted the wrong boy?

  In the distance, a siren screamed.

  ***

  One hour passed. The longest hour of my life. When my phone rang again, I had it in my hand. I didn’t even look at caller ID, just yanked the phone right up to my ear. “Hello?”

  “Help…me.” Soft, broken. A female voice.

  “Valerie?”

  Static crackled over the line, and I knew our connection wouldn’t last long.

  “He’s…hunting me.”

  My blood iced. “Where are you, Valerie?”

  “Woods…help…”

  The line went dead, but Valerie didn’t have to say more. In that instant, I knew she was lost in the woods.

  Lost.

  Instantly, I saw Valerie in my mind. Hair tangled around her face as she ran, her clothes torn, blood trickling down her hands. The trees stretched behind her, bending and twisting in the dark as she fled.

  “I’m coming,” I whispered and jumped out of the bed.

  I yanked on my clothes—my blood stained jeans and torn shirt would have to do. I rushed to the door, but then had to carefully creep past the nurses’ station. I didn’t make eye contact with
any of the staff. I didn’t want anyone to remember me. And I sure didn’t want anyone looking at the blood on my clothes.

  I rounded the corner and yanked out my phone. I called my dad, but his phone just rang and rang.

  Out hunting.

  I hurried forward. The hospital entrance doors slid open. I ran through them—and plowed right into Brent.

  He grunted and his arms came up to hold me tight. “Anna?” He frowned. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be—”

  “Valerie’s in trouble.”

  His lips parted in surprise.

  “The wolf’s after her.”

  The surprise disappeared from his face. All expression disappeared from his face as he pulled me away from the hospital and any folks who might overhear us. “Are you sure?”

  “She called me.” I nodded quickly. “She’s in trouble, and she needs our help.” Or she won’t live to see dawn.

  “Tell me where she is. I’ll go find her and—”

  “It doesn’t work like that!” Frustration broke in my words. “I can’t tell you, I have to go to the woods. She’s lost, and I’ll be able to find her.”

  His breath eased out as his grip fell away from my arm. “So it’s true.”

  Why lie? “Yes.”

  “You’re a witch.”

  “No, dammit!” But the denial seemed wrong. “Maybe,” I said, softer, then, “look, I don’t know!” The only thing I knew for certain was that Valerie needed me. “Rafe’s out there, Valerie needs help, and please, please, take me to the woods.”

  He stared at me, one moment, two, and I thought about just slugging him and trying to take his keys, but he finally nodded. Then we were both running for his car, a fancy BMW that had to belong to his mom. We were running and my heart slammed into my chest and I prayed—

  Don’t let me be too late this time.

  ***

  “I don’t understand.” Brent’s hands were tight on the wheel and the scent of expensive leather filled the interior of the car even as my heartbeat thundered in my ears. “You think Rafe is the one who’s been doing all the killings?”

  I remembered a boy who kissed me and made me feel both excited and afraid. And I remembered a boy who’d run into a fire, without ever hesitating. “It’s not safe for any wolf to be out tonight,” I said, not really answering him. “My dad’s searching these woods. He’s armed.” Ready to put down a wolf. “We need to get to Rafe and Valerie and make sure they’re both safe.”

  “But you said Valerie called, that she told you she was being hunted—”

  My nails bit into my palms. “But I don’t know who’s hunting her. She left Jenny’s place with Rafe. As to what happened after that—” I don’t know.

  “They hooked up, you know.” Said without emotion. “I thought it was just once, over the summer, when we’d all been drinking, but then I found out that Valerie tried to go back to Rafe right before school started.”

  I could feel the weird pull working on my body. “Go left at the fork.”

  “That’s why I ended it with her. I wasn’t in to her games. She just tried to play us against each other.”

  I risked a fast glance at him. “Whatever’s happening tonight, it isn’t a game.”

  A muscle jerked in his jaw. “Sometimes, you can’t be sure.”

  I felt it then. The psychic punch right in my gut. “Here!”

  He slammed on the brakes, and I had a flash of the last night we’d raced up the mountain with the woods beside us. The seatbelt bit into my shoulder and the car slid sideways.

  Then the BMW shuddered to a stop. I jerked free of the seatbelt and jumped from the car. Brent’s footsteps thundered right behind me. My heart beat too fast, my breath seemed to saw out of my lungs, but I ran forward.

  I’d tried to call my dad on the way up the mountain—four times, I’d tried—but there was no signal now, and I didn’t have time to waste on another call that wouldn’t be answered.

  Brent and I rushed through the woods, turning left, right. Snaking deeper into the darkness where the trees were twisted and the leaves crackled beneath our feet.

  Deeper, deeper…

  I stopped. My hands lifted beside me, and I ignored the throb in my injured arm. I was close. So very close now.

  “Where is she?” Brent demanded, then he raised his voice and called out, “Valerie, we’re here!”

  A growl was the answer he got back. A low, menacing growl that raised the hairs on my neck.

  Brent leapt in front of me, but I could still see the dark shape of the wolf as it emerged from the woods. Its yellow eyes—glowing eyes—were locked on us.

  “Stay behind me, Anna,” Brent ordered as he yanked off his shirt and tossed it to the ground. “Whatever you do, don’t get between us.”

  Us. “Rafe?” I whispered as I stared at the menacing shadow of the beast.

  I could have sworn the wolf’s head jerked toward me.

  I locked my knees, the better not to fall right down on the ground. I could hear a popping sound. Snaps and cracks and my gaze darted to Brent. He’d fallen to the ground, and his body was changing, shifting, even as the big, black wolf lunged for him.

  “Rafe, no!” I called out, trying to stop the wolf that I thought was Rafe.

  The wolf’s head definitely jerked that time. But he continued his attack. He slammed into Brent, knocking him back on the ground. I scrambled away from them, aware of just how deadly a swipe from those razor-sharp claws could be.

  But Brent wasn’t a man anymore. Thick, black fur covered his body. His eyes had turned that wild yellow, and when the beast that he’d become tossed back his head, a long howl filled the night.

  The two wolves met in fury. Fighting, clawing.

  Rafe and Brent. I was sure of it now. I had to stop them.

  But I sure as hell wasn’t getting between them.

  A twig snapped behind me. It was the only warning I had. I spun around—

  Too late.

  A knife shoved into my stomach.

  “You’re gonna die, witch,” a cold voice snarled at me.

  The wolves growled behind me. My blood dripped onto the ground. I looked up and into the eyes of a killer.

  Valerie’s eyes. Valerie’s glowing, yellow eyes.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Valerie smiled at me as she yanked the knife out of my stomach. I covered the wound automatically, and the blood spilled from my fingertips.

  She lifted the knife to her lips and licked away my blood.

  Crazy psycho bitch.

  I pulled my strength together, and I kicked her as hard as I could. She yelped and stumbled back.

  Even hurt, I could kick the crap out of her.

  I turned then and tried to get away. Running wasn’t really an option because, oh, God, I hurt. But I’d rather face the wolves than her, any day and—

  “Stop her!” Valerie screamed and my blood iced even more. “Stop her or we’ll be like this forever!”

  The wolves weren’t fighting anymore. They were running right toward me, with their deadly fangs bared and their eyes bright with fury.

  I fell to the ground and covered my head. Two against one, unarmed, and, damn, I hadn’t wanted it to end this way. I hadn’t wanted my dad to have to find someone else he loved, covered in blood.

  One wolf thundered past me. The other rushed to me and…and licked me.

  “No!” Valerie’s scream. “No, no, no!”

  My head lifted. I heard the pops and the horrible cracks that were bones transforming. Fur melted from the wolf’s body as it huddled around me.

  Protecting me.

  The face shifted back into—into Rafe’s face. His eyes still glowed that wild yellow, but his face…that was Rafe.

  His arms curled around me. “It’s okay. I’m going to take care of—”

  A howl split the night. Pain-filled, enraged. My head whipped around, and I saw that Valerie had stabbed the other wolf. She’d stabbed Brent! His body lay on the
ground, and I knew those dark shadows beneath the wolf were actually pools of blood. She stood over him, the knife gripped in her hand.

  “See what you’ve done?” Valerie screamed at me and her face was already shifting and transforming, her cheeks becoming sharper, her jaw longer.

  I’d never suspected her. I hadn’t seen her name in the book, hadn’t realized—

  “This is your fault!” Her screeching voice echoed in the woods. “You put a spell on Brent, didn’t you? Just like you did to Rafe! Helen helped you, I knew she would, and now you’ve—”

  “You killed Granny Helen.” The words burst from me. Even now, I couldn’t hold myself back. Rafe had pulled me to my feet, and, strangely, I didn’t feel the pain in my stomach anymore. I could feel his arms around me. Warm and strong, but nothing else. No pain.

  She smiled at me. I saw her fangs. I saw the evil. Why hadn’t I seen it before? Why hadn’t anyone?

  “How?” The snapped question came from Rafe. “You weren’t born here in Haven, you weren’t—”

  “Seems my great-grandfather enjoyed seeking some fun times outside of his marriage.” Valerie’s sharpening teeth snapped together. “Of course, he never bothered telling his lovers about his little family trait of turning into a werewolf.”

  I started to shake, I couldn’t help it, and more of my blood dripped on the ground.

  Bleeding too much.

  “But I figured out how to stop the curse.” Leaves crunched, and I knew she was coming for me. “All we have to do is kill the witch.”

  I shook my head. Brent still wasn’t moving. Be alive.

  “Rafe…” Now Valerie’s voice had dropped and taken on a silken, almost seductive quality. “You like me, Rafe. You’ve met me under the moonlight and kissed me so many times.”

  First she’d stabbed me, now this? My back teeth locked. But I couldn’t move. If I did, I was pretty sure I’d fall on my face.

  “If we kill her,” Valerie, VIP, cheerleader, werewolf, killer—crazy bitch—continued, “then we can be free—together. I found a journal in Helen’s shop. The journal told me everything I needed to know.”

  She’d found the journal?