Wolf Cursed (Lone Wolf Series Book 1)

by Heather Hildenbrand

  She didn’t give him time to argue before leading me outside. Behind us, I could hear Isaac complaining, his voice rising steadily with each declaration.

  “This is why we have toxic gender roles,” was all I heard before the doors slid shut behind us.

  Outside, Idrissa stopped in front of a white convertible mustang. Shiny, vintage though new looking, definitely running—unlike my own car.

  “Wow, this is gorgeous,” I said.

  “I wanted red, but Isaac talked me into this instead,” she said. “I’m warming up to it. White for purity and all that.”

  I almost snorted. I didn’t know her well enough yet, but something told me no one would use the word “purity” in a sentence about Idrissa.

  “Well, I’m in that blue one over there,” I said, leading the way toward Oscar’s Honda.

  Isaac came walking out of the grocery store, arms laden with paper bags. I hurried to unlock the car and open the trunk for him.

  “Thanks,” I said when he’d set them all inside.

  “Of course, gorgeous.”

  “We’ll follow you back,” Idrissa called, sliding into the driver’s seat of the mustang and starting the engine.

  “See you there,” I said as Isaac blew me a kiss and jogged over to where his sister waited. The moment he hopped inside, she peeled out and disappeared onto the main road.

  I stared in shock at the crazy way she’d driven off then finally turned to my own borrowed car and got inside. Much slower than the twins, I left the parking lot and headed back to Oscar’s. If my kidnapping-slash-tour of the town meant riding with them, I wasn’t sure I wanted it anymore.

  By the time I walked inside the front office of Oscar’s shop—or Throttle, as Idrissa had called it—the twins were already inside, talking to Oscar, who stood behind the counter with his mug in hand. His expression was strained and a little thoughtful at whatever they’d been discussing. When they saw me, they all fell silent.

  I set the two bags of groceries on the counter and looked between them all, trying to read their faces.

  “Everything okay?” I asked warily.

  “Peachy,” Isaac announced. “Oh, I’ll get the rest of those.” He slipped out before I could argue.

  “I’ll help,” Idrissa said, heading for the door. “Gender roles and all that.” She rolled her eyes and followed her brother out.

  I turned to Oscar. “I met them at the store,” I said by way of explanation.

  “They want to take you for a drive,” he said.

  “Yeah, I think they want to interrogate me for gossip.”

  Oscar frowned.

  “I don’t have to go,” I began.

  “No, I think it’s actually a good idea. The Close twins are good kids.” He snorted. “Better than some others anyway. Just stay with them. No venturing off alone, especially today, all right?”

  “Sure.”

  “And be back by dark.”

  “I thought it was noon.”

  “If you’re with them, you can be out until dark. But only if you stay together and do what they say.”

  What the hell was with this guy? Did he really mean to treat me like a child?

  I lifted an eyebrow. “Look, I know it’s your house, your rules, but I am an adult.”

  “Just for tonight,” he added in a clipped voice. “It’s not safe.”

  I wanted to ask what the hell that meant, but the door opened and the twins returned with the rest of the groceries.

  “I’ll get these put away,” Oscar said. “You go on.”

  “Thanks.” I handed him back his debit card with a pointed look. “Feel free to check your account and the receipt.”

  His lips quirked. “I’m good. Oh, here. I found this.” He held out a phone charger. And my very dead cell phone. “So I can reach you.”

  “Thanks.”

  I gave him my number, and then Idrissa was practically pulling me out the door.

  “Y’all kids be careful,” Oscar called.

  Idrissa just laughed, which only scared me a little. It should have scared me a lot.

  Chapter Seven

  Idrissa drove. A fact that didn’t seem to actually upset Isaac so much as give him a reason to talk shit to his twin from the backseat. “I can sit in the back,” I said, trying to make peace, but Isaac waved me off.

  “Nah, I just like to give Idrissa a hard time.”

  “He’s a better backseat driver than an actual driver,” Idrissa said with a smirk as she revved the engine and slingshotted us into traffic.

  I gripped the armrest, knuckles white, as she zipped around slower cars on our way through downtown.

  Finally, Idrissa shot me a sideways look.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Is Isaac really a worse driver than you?” I asked.

  Isaac snorted from the backseat.

  Idrissa scowled. “I’m a fantastic driver,” she said gravely.

  This time, I snorted.

  “Fast and fantastic are not the same,” I told her, which only made Isaac openly cackle.

  “I’ve never been in an accident,” Idrissa said, her tone haughty though I could see the amusement in her eyes.

  “But how many have you caused?” Isaac shot back.

  “Bite me,” she said, and we all cracked up.

  Just ahead, I spotted a group of people my age crowded around a music store. Music blared from inside loud enough for those on the sidewalk to move to the beat. A blonde girl shouted something and grinned, lifting what looked like a beer high above her head as she danced up on some guy.

  “So,” I said, “What’s the actual deal with this town, anyway? Oscar acts like I need an escort for my own safety.” I almost mentioned Kai’s warnings but decided against it. Those felt more…personal. Like he was trying to protect the town from me instead of the other way around.

  Idrissa’s eyes flicked to the rearview as she and Isaac exchanged a look.

  “Is there a gang of pedophiles or serial killers nearby or something?” I asked, half-joking. But Idrissa didn’t laugh, which only made the question sound super dark and kinda scary.

  “What the hell, guys?” I said warily.

  “Okay,” Idrissa said as we came to a lurching stop at a red light. “Isaac and I have decided to make you a deal.”

  “What kind of deal?” I asked, instantly wary.

  Deals were for gamblers and loan sharks and people like Vorack. I didn’t want to do any deals.

  “We’ll show you around Ridley Falls. If you promise not to talk to anyone but us.”

  “Okay,” I said, drawing out the word as confusion replaced suspicion.

  “It’s for your own safety,” she added then frowned.

  “Are you saying talking to people puts me in danger?” I asked, my thoughts flitting to Kai. Talking to him certainly felt risky.

  “Danger’s a strong word. It’s for your own good,” she amended.

  “You sound like Oscar.” I frowned.

  “Sis, you’re digging yourself a hole,” Isaac put in.

  Idrissa looked over at me. “Those are the terms.”

  Frustration welled up. “Are you going to tell me why I can’t talk to anyone?”

  “We just did,” she said with a shrug. “For your own good.”

  My eyes narrowed. “That’s not an answer.”

  “Fine.” She batted her lashes. “Because we want to horde you all to ourselves. We’re people hoarders.”

  “Hot girl hoarders if you want to be specific,” Isaac added.

  “Yes, exactly.” Idrissa’s expression remained completely serious.

  “You two are insane.” I shook my head as the light changed and Idrissa took off fast enough that my body pressed into the seat from the momentum.

  “Look, there are a lot of people in this town who don’t like outsiders,” Idrissa said as she drove.

  Businesses and shops flew by on either side, and I wondered how she planned to give me a tour while speedin
g past all there was to see in this tiny town.

  “So I’ve been told,” I said wryly.

  “Relax, there are no pedophiles,” Isaac piped up.

  It should have made me feel better, but I couldn’t help noticing how he’d failed to mention the serial killer part.

  “The good news is,” Idrissa said, cutting a knowing look at Isaac in the rearview, “if Oscar said you can stay, that means you’re here for as long as you want. And that means you need to know a few things about how it works in Ridley Falls.”

  “How it works,” I repeated.

  She nodded.

  “For my own good,” I said again.

  “Exactly. Now you’re getting it.”

  I shook my head.

  I couldn’t help but think Operation Temporary had just taken a turn into left field. Staying, learning how things worked here, hanging with the twins—all of it felt a lot like permanence rather than temporary. And I couldn’t deny that it felt a hell of a lot better than living on the run did.

  Dad might have told me to come here for safety, but he couldn’t have meant for me to stay forever. Nowhere was safe, according to him. Not from whatever monsters supposedly hunted us.

  Curiosity, I told myself.

  That’s all this was. I’d figure out what they were hiding. Maybe save some money in the process. And then I would get the hell out.

  “Okay,” I said finally, “Deal.”

  At my agreement, Isaac cheered.

  “Where should we start?” he mused.

  “I’m thinking we start at the hub,” Idrissa said. “Work our way out.”

  “The…. Oh.” Isaac whistled. “Damn, sis. You’re starting off with a bang.”

  “Bad idea?” Idrissa shot him another look in the mirror.

  He shrugged. “It’s our funeral.”

  “Whoa. I don’t want to cause trouble,” I said, but Idrissa ignored me and shot Isaac a grin that showed way too much teeth.

  “Good thing we both like to live on the edge,” she said.

  Before I could argue, she hit the gas and we flew through town and out the other side. But not before I caught two kids, who couldn’t have been more than twelve, spray painting a van. Okay then. Crime in broad daylight. Constant partying. What the hell was with this place?

  I was just about to ask when I realized we’d left anything resembling civilization in the rearview. With the shops behind us, along with everything that looked like Ridley Falls, I turned to look at Idrissa.

  “Is this the part where you kidnap me?” I asked.

  “This is the part where we show you the real Ridley Falls,” she said.

  I had no idea what that meant, but soon enough, it made sense. Sort of. After a couple of miles that went by way quicker than the actual speed limit allowed, Idrissa pulled into the parking lot of a large, squat building with peeling brown paint.

  The sign above the door read Bo’s. No indication as to Bo’s “what.” Dive bar, from the looks of it. On all sides was an open field that gave way to thick forest. Behind it, an aging barn stood framed along the backside by mountains.

  I scanned the long line of bikes parked out front. Several of them were occupied by those either coming or going. A brunette covered in tattoos and piercings leaned over and planted a lingering kiss on a guy with a gray beard and a black bandanna wrapped around his head.

  Someone else whistled at them.

  The girl gave everyone the finger.

  The guy laughed and motioned for her to hop on the back of his motorcycle. As soon as she did, he started it up and sped out onto the main road. His exhaust was loud enough to drown out everything else.

  Well, almost everything.

  I had a strange feeling now; a slow sort of tingle starting at the base of my spine and working its way up. Still scanning the row of bikes, I felt him before I saw him, which was kind of insane, but also undeniable considering my eyes weren’t deceiving me. Standing beside the motorcycle on the end, short sleeves revealing arms covered in tattoos, was Kai.

  Chapter Eight

  Helpless to look away, I watched as Kai swung a leg over the side of his bike and started it up. Two girls walked over, blocking his exit. One of them leaned over and said something, a flirty smile on her mouth and enough cleavage spilling out of her top to choke a horse. The other girl had a hand on her hip and jean shorts that only covered the top half of her ass. Kai frowned at the girl who’d spoken. Then he shook his head. She jutted out her lip in a pout and backed away. From the group of others hanging out, one of the guys yelled something and motioned to the girl. Kai looked relieved when both of them retreated.

  Revving the engine, he kicked it into gear and glided out of the lot onto the road. When he was out of sight, I looked over and realized both twins had fallen silent to watch me.

  My face heated.

  “What?” I demanded.

  “Daaamn,” Idrissa said.

  Isaac whistled.

  “What?” I said again, this time more defensive.

  Idrissa got out of the car, and I did the same. Behind me, Isaac lifted himself out of the seat and swung his legs over the side, planting his feet on the gravel.

  They both stood and looked at me in the warm sunlight.

  “You’ve got it bad, girl,” Idrissa said with a sad shake of her head.

  “For Kai?” I snorted, but even I knew it wasn’t convincing. I tried again, looking directly into Isaac’s knowing eyes as I said, “He’s an asshole.”

  “So, you two have met then,” Idrissa said.

  “He works at the shop,” I said, hoping my tone sounded disgusted.

  “Kai Stone is someone you want to steer clear of,” Idrissa said, but the warning wasn’t necessary. I’d already learned the hard way.

  “Believe me, he’s not someone I plan to befriend.”

  Then another thought dawned.

  “You two haven’t… I mean.” I stopped, face heating as I felt the nosiness of my question.

  But Idrissa’s eyes widened. “Hell, no,” she said with enough conviction that I knew she meant it. Isaac hooted with laughter.

  “Idrissa and I used to be friends with Kai,” Isaac explained when he saw my expression.

  “Used to,” Idrissa echoed.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  She looked away, her expression hard.

  “Kai started running with Silas and Presley,” Isaac said with a shrug. As if that explained everything.

  “He parties, takes what he wants, and doesn’t care what anyone thinks,” Idrissa added.

  “Sounds like everyone else in this town,” I said.

  She snorted. “He’s angry as hell and doesn’t care who he takes it out on.”

  “Doesn’t mean he isn’t delicious,” Isaac said.

  I shrugged, refusing to allow them to see just how much I was fighting off the drool when it came to Kai. “I like my men without all that toxic rage,” I said.

  Isaac responded by making the sign of the cross. “The ovaries want what the ovaries want, though. Am I right?”

  I snorted. “You’re so dramatic.”

  He chuckled and threw an arm around my shoulders, leading me toward Bo’s. “Kai Stone makes us all dramatic,” he declared. “Now, come on. We’ll introduce you to the seedy underbelly that is Ridley Falls, North Carolina.”

  Before we could even make it to the door, the bikers sitting out front whistled. A few catcalled but the two girls from earlier only glared.

  “Hey, new girl,” called a male voice. “You want to stay in this town, you gotta earn it.”

  I averted my eyes, increasing my pace.

  Maybe the twins were used to places like this, but it only reminded me of a world I wanted to leave in the past.

  “Shut your cakehole, Devon,” Idrissa snapped.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I watched the guy grin. “Make me, Dris.”

  “You fucking wish,” she muttered and then to me, “Come on.”

&
nbsp; Idrissa held the door.

  The three of us walked inside, and I stopped, blinking to let my eyes adjust to the dim lighting. The smell of cigarettes and whiskey and stale bodies washed over me. It reminded me of my dad enough that I faltered.

  Grief hit me like a wave, pulling me under. The scent of our trailer after a night of one of his benders. The dirty laundry I’d carry to the laundromat when our car broke down. His pillow. All of it blended together into a scent memory that hit me like a brick now. I couldn’t breathe.

  Idrissa appeared in front of me, frowning.

  “Ash,” she said sharply, and I realized she’d called my name more than once already.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” I said, shaking off the nightmare still clinging to the edges of my mind.

  “You sure?” she said uncertainly.

  Isaac crowded in beside her. “We can go if you want. There are other places we can show you—”

  “I’m good,” I said again, more firmly this time. “I promise.”

  Neither one looked convinced, but they let it go. Idrissa led the way and very quickly, I realized everyone inside had stopped talking and turned to stare. At me.

  Several tables had been dragged together to accommodate a group of seven. Four guys and three girls. Every one of them had a drink in their hands, and something told me it wasn’t their first of the day. Cards had been dealt, and in the center was a pile of miscellaneous items. Money. Jewelry. Lottery tickets. Condoms.

  They all stopped their game to look at me.

  I did my best to ignore them, but the stares weren’t exactly friendly. It felt like being under a microscope. A very big, very hostile microscope.

  Idrissa sailed past them, ignoring their greetings to her, and sauntered up to the bar. She leaned forward and snapped her fingers at the bartender. Behind me, Isaac had stopped to say hi to the group playing cards and a few others who called his name.

  “Hey, Teddy,” Idrissa called as the bartender looked up.

  “Dris,” he said, offering her a chin nod. He glanced past Isaac and looked straight at me. His dark brown eyes were intent and direct. “Who’s your friend?”

  The entire bar remained quiet, and something about the not-so-subtle nosiness made my patience thin.