Wolfsbane: The Wolf Within

by Bethany Shay Porteous

  “Maybe,” I muttered grimly. “I want to shift and I want to run.”

  “There’s no trace man,” Josh sighed heavily. “You’d be running blind and probably in the wrong direction, wasting even more time. What if she comes back?”

  “I feel useless just sitting here!” I snarled as my wolf once again resumed his clawing.

  “Look if this was Hannah, I’d want to do the same thing. We’re thinking with clearer heads because it’s not our mate. Just trust us and listen to us Aiden.” Josh ran a hand down his face. “I know that your wolf must be on you so hard right now, but we wouldn’t be keeping you here if we knew you being out there would help.”

  The room went silent and I leaned forward in the armchair, the sound of the clock above the mantle ticking away and grating on my nerves with each obnoxious little tick-tock. Closing my eyes only made the sounds intensify and I could hear Hannah and Josh’s synchronized breaths, the tap in the basement dripping… there was a car going down the street, leaving the compound.

  Where is she? My wolf cut in with a throaty hiss.

  “Argh!” I groaned out loud just as my father came into the room. His face was drawn and his eyes weary as he regarded my mother standing by the window quietly.

  “Alpha Hudson called,” he started.

  “Did he find her?” I blurted out as I stood up, hope daring to rise in my chest.

  “No,” my father frowned and I sunk back into my seat. “But he has expanded his territory runs and has offered us help in killing anyone who touches her.”

  “I like him,” Josh grinned while Hannah flinched.

  “She couldn’t make it as far as Alaska,” my mother mumbled quietly. “Where would she go?”

  “When’s her dad due in?” Hannah asked.

  “About four hours,” my father said. “His entire family are coming. I’m hoping that much magic might be able to get a hold of her and find out where she is. That’s a lot of witches trying to reach one person.”

  “I’ll get my mom to help,” Hannah offered. “The more power we have the better.”

  “Where’s Grace?” my father asked.

  “She’s on the run with Trey,” Josh informed. “She’s not slept since the news broke—in fact her and Lucy have been in wolf form since, waiting to catch a scent of her coming back. They must be beat by now.”

  “Evelyn is like a sister for Grace,” Hannah said softly. “She was devastated.”

  A knock on the door stopped everyone and as that familiar scent hit my nostrils, for the first time I didn’t cringe in revulsion. That scent would soon change once Sam was given the pack mark and welcomed in. He wouldn’t smell like a wet, feral dog anymore.

  My mother left the sitting room and made her way to the front of the house, her voice not betraying the crippling anxiety she was feeling at this moment in time.

  “Sam,” she greeted warmly. “Karla. How can I help you both?”

  There was a tense pause on the other end and my skin prickled before Sam cleared his throat.

  “I need to talk to Aiden,” he managed to croak out. “Well, all of you I guess.”

  My mother paused for a moment before she regained herself. “Do come in, we’re just about to have a cup of coffee. Can I get you anything?”

  My mother, the politest hostess.

  Sam and Karla were ushered through to the sitting room and I stood up from my chair, relieved to have full movement of my body back. Getting the remainder of that Wolfsbane drained out of me had been hell but worth it. Evelyn had been gone now for more than twenty-four hours and the only consolation I had that she was alive, was that I hadn’t started a half-life.

  “Sam,” I greeted with warmth and something flickered on his features. “You look well.”

  “I’m getting better,” he agreed. “Wolf magic is some good stuff.”

  “You healed quite quickly,” Hannah commented with interest.

  “I’m used to getting injured,” Sam shrugged. “That’s rogue life, if you don’t heal fast you’re a dead wolf.”

  “Take a seat,” The Alpha gestured to the loveseat and Karla sat instantly, looking ghostly white as she clung to Sam’s hand. “Karla, are you well?”

  “No,” Sam answered for her and his demeanor changed entirely. “I am here for a reason… aside from checking to see you’re still alive Aiden. I haven’t been entirely honest with my reason for being here.”

  Josh’s eyes darted to mine instantly before his posture changed to a less relaxed and more defensive position. In fact, each wolf in the room changed their attitudes entirely. Hannah looked less the shy, timid girl and more strong and resolute as she stood a little taller, looking at Sam square on. My father crossed his arms with a frown and Karla looked positively deflated.

  “I was sent here,” Sam started dryly. “By the Rosewood sisters… those witches.”

  “Evelyn’s ancestors?” Hannah frowned. “Why?”

  “I was never given reasons, I was simply given money and told what I had to do. Get Evelyn and bring her to them, that was it. That was always my line of work. I’ve been doing stuff for those two for years. I never in my wildest dreams imagined it was the Evelyn that helped me that day.” Sam hung his head and I felt my blood boiling with deep rage.

  “Go on,” my father instructed calmly.

  My grip was so hard on the arm chair I could hear the wood bending and my father looked unfazed.

  Kill him, my wolf growled.

  “Look when I got here I met Karla straight away and it all changed!” Sam said in a panicked voice. “I didn’t know what to do or how to get out of it. They started threatening Karla, I didn’t know what to do.”

  “So those walks in the woods,” Hannah started. “Were you going to do it then?”

  Sam hung his head and a low growl rested deep in my chest as my teeth began to elongate and sharpen.

  “Aiden,” my father warned.

  “Look I never would have done it!” Sam said quickly. “I did get scared for a moment and then when I realized that they couldn’t hurt myself or Karla if we stayed in the compound, it got easier. The other night—that was them. They were trying to kill me and they nearly succeeded. They want me dead.”

  “That makes two of us,” I said in fury as I pulled myself up from my chair. I opened the pack link and called on two of the guards stationed outside. They were in the room within a second and even my father looked startled for a moment. “Sam, I accuse you of conspiring to kidnap the future Luna of Oregon. I accuse you of endangering her life for your own gain and I sentence you to death.”

  Yes, my wolf encouraged. Be the Alpha and protect your mate!

  “No Aiden!” Karla yelped out, jumping to her feet.

  “Karla,” my father said. “Don’t.”

  “You can’t do this!” she screamed bloody murder and I heard my mother’s quick footsteps down the hall.

  Traitor to the pack, my wolf interjected angrily. She would defend the wolf that aimed to hurt our mate and Luna. Kill her too.

  “If you don’t stand down you can go with him!” I threatened in blind rage as my wolf panted viciously within my mind.

  “I will!” Karla snarled defiantly.

  “Take her too,” I ordered instantly and my wolf grew two extra sizes from the rush of power that I was feeling. This is what it felt like to be Alpha, to make the decisions and to not be questioned. My father wasn’t stopping this—he backed me on this.

  I dare him not too, my wolf threatened as his ears went back. This will be our pack and we have every right to defend it.

  The pair were escorted from the house and when the front door shut my breathing became heavy, my blood boiled and I saw absolute red. In a motion of pure anger, I kicked over the arm chair, enjoying the feel of that satisfying crunch it made as it broke. My mother gasped in fright and possible offence at me ruining her chair.

  “I will never have another rogue step foot on this land,” I vowed as I stared my father dead on
. “Never again.”

  “Agreed,” my father said calmly as he stroked mom’s arm. “Now that we have a possible lead though, finding Evelyn might not be difficult.”

  “Her ancestors though?” Hannah frowned. “Why would they want her? The Rosewood witches are ruthless and twisted, everyone knows that. Why would they want someone like Evelyn? She’s too kind to be cruel.”

  “She’s young and powerful,” Josh said. “Maybe they want her power on their side.”

  “She wouldn’t have willingly left to join them,” The Luna said firmly.

  Evelyn, my wolf whined forlornly, no longer sounding the tough Alpha he had been behaving as. I want her.

  We’ll get her, I promised myself and my wolf.

  I would get her back.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I can drive, I told myself calmly as I sat behind the wheel of a rental. I didn’t know the make or the model, but I had demanded an automatic and with a lot of guilt, used my powers to get the keys handed over without question. Now as I sat behind the wheel of the daunting vehicle, my hands shook, and the keys jingled impatiently as my bouncing knee continuously hit them.

  My feet were so sore and so blistered that running had ceased to be an option and I knew I needed to drive. My wolf had tried multiple times to shift and take us back to Aiden but with little success. For once Salem and I were both working together to suppress her—but for entirely different reasons.

  Bringing my mind back to the matter at hand and away from the iron clad grip Salem had on my throat, I started the car, trying to ignore the looks from the workers inside the yard. They were probably wondering why it was taking me so long to get off the property. I was surprised when I’d been able to influence them into giving me the car and that flow of magic had felt so good—so powerful.

  I felt alive.

  This strength and energy was good, I needed it to be able to end this thing once and for all. I couldn’t go back home until I knew the people I loved were safe from me and the lies could stop. Aiden being hurt was the last straw and while I knew he would be freaking out right now… this was necessary for the safety of everyone in the pack, not just him or myself.

  Your attempts are futile, Salem taunted and I squeezed my eyes shut before I realized I needed them open to drive.

  Evelyn, my wolf broke through. Go back to our mate.

  Stop! I ordered.

  He can help us, you can’t do this alone!

  Clenching my jaw tight, I put the car into drive and took a deep breath before I eased my foot onto the accelerator. We lurched forward as my foot pressed into the ground hard and I eased off, a gasp emitting from my lips in surprise at the sudden movement.

  I quickly glanced inside the building and noticed the staff seemed to be wearing off my magical affects and they all looked confused as they stared at each other before back at me. Wasting no time, I spun the wheels on the gravel and tore wildly from of the lot, trying not to crash into anything on my way out.

  “Okay Evie,” I uttered breathlessly. “Take it easy!”

  The last thing I needed was to crash this thing. I needed to put as much distance between me and Oregon as fast as possible. A car accident would not help my cause right now. Already I felt happier that I was gone, my loved ones were safe from me and the threats Salem made. It would be worth it once this was all over. I felt void and cold without Aiden’s presence and I knew he would feel the same.

  Once I could explain all of this I knew it would be okay.

  I know why we’re doing this, my wolf whispered sullenly. Doesn’t mean I must like it or agree with it. You could have just told him.

  We’re protecting the people we love, I told her firmly. They never would have let me leave and if they found out they would have been killed.

  My wolf went quiet and I sighed heavily as I eased further into the motions of driving. I knew that if I didn’t have my magic right now I wouldn’t be able to do this. It was terrifying sitting here on some weird auto pilot, driving this car like nothing was wrong, when in fact everything was wrong right now. It felt so wrong to have run from Aiden and the pack but at the same time it was for their own good.

  I knew that at this point I was very exposed to rogue wolves and the Rosewood sisters themselves. If they wanted to finish me, now was the time and it was important I remained on guard for any possible attack from them. I knew that deep down they didn’t want to touch me. They wanted me to be my own demise and I would not let them have that. Salem could do what he wanted to try and manipulate my mind, I was not going down without a fight.

  Salem was being uncharacteristically quiet and I knew it wouldn’t be long until he tried to get into my mind again and squash me. My wolf was working tirelessly to keep him at bay, but I could feel her own exhaustion seeping through and I knew she wouldn’t be able to hold much longer. I just had to get a little further and then I knew I could get started on getting him out of my head.

  I wondered what Aiden would be doing now. I knew my family would have been called the instant they realized I was gone and I knew I had to be careful of them trying to trace my location and find me—that’s if Hannah hadn’t already attempted it and succeeded.

  My foot increased pressure on the accelerator at the idea.

  Evelyn.

  The voice startled me, and I swerved the car, losing focus on my magic. Suddenly, I was really driving and panic coursed through my veins. I screamed in fright, slamming my foot on the brake. The car sped up and I realized I hit the accelerator. Yanking the wheel to my left, I drove off the road and quickly hit the brake, jarring to a stop.

  Morgana, I nearly died.

  That was our mate! My wolf cheered in excitement. His voice was in our mind!

  How had he done that? I thought frantically. Someone was helping him connect with me… the thought alone made me get back on the road as fast as possible.

  Open your mind to him! My wolf bossed. Let him help us Evelyn, we can’t do this alone. Get your family to help us.

  You know exactly what would happen! I growled at her and grit my teeth. I can’t do that!

  I want our mate! She whined loudly.

  Be quiet, I ordered and I felt her get her back up instantly like the petty, untrained wolf she was. I realized I was in serious trouble with her here. She was getting stronger and I could feel the wolf instincts growing each day…I hadn’t learned how to control an immature wolf before and panic coated my insides.

  Mate!

  Stop!

  Mate!

  Don’t make me put you away, I threatened stupidly.

  Sure Evelyn, taunt an already irate wolf.

  It was enough to set her off on a tantrum worthy of a two-year-old. Howling and whining within my mind, making it near impossible for me to focus on the road and all the while I knew Salem would be sitting there in the background, rubbing his hands together and waiting for me to bring along my own demise.

  A deeply crushing thought that I would be my own end had me pull the car over on the side of the road, my body trembling with unreleased tears and anger.

  ∞

  Aiden

  “I felt her mind!” I choked triumphantly and Cornelius nodded his approval while his children looked at each other with hopeful expressions. “It was fuzzy, but she was definitely focusing hard on something and I felt her shock when she sensed my presence and heard her name.”

  “That’s good,” Cornelius approved. “We need to try again, continuously, until she loses control and has no choice to let us in. Once she does that, we’ll be able to track her and pinpoint her exact location. The only problem we have now is the distance she’s putting between us and herself. We don’t know how far she will be before we get that location.”

  “All we can do is be ready to run at a moment’s notice,” Grace piped up. “She can’t have gone too far. She can’t run as a wolf and she doesn’t have a car… she can’t even drive so…”

  “If Evelyn felt the need to leave yo
u can be assured she’s found a method of escape. That girl is smart and if she’s been as secretive as you all think she has we really shouldn’t underestimate her.” I couldn’t remember which brother that was, Evelyn had so many siblings I could hardly remember their names.

  Cornelius nodded seriously. “She could use her magic to get her wherever she needs to get to. If she’s worked that out, then we could be in for a harder time of getting her back here.”

  “Any word from your neighboring allies?” Stella asked. “Anyone scented her at all?”

  “We’ve heard nothing,” my father’s deep voice rumbled into the room. “But everyone is on watch and waiting to advise us at a moment’s notice if they see or hear anything about her being in the area.”

  I closed my eyes as the others began talking and focused solely on the image of Evelyn in my mind. My wolf was pining hard for her and had settled for resting deep in the back of my mind, only emitting a small whine every now and then. I had no ability to shift when he was like this and I could already feel myself growing weaker the further Evelyn got from us.

  Evelyn, I said into my mind.

  Evelyn.

  Evelyn, I tried again for the hope of feeling that small flutter of her minds presence.

  Mate.

  “Aiden?” Josh’s voice broke my concentration and I had to bite back the angry snarl that threatened to slip through my lips. “How about we go for a run? Let off some tension, you might be able to think clearer.”

  “Going for a run isn’t going to help,” I said firmly. “I have to be here in case we get some information.”

  “Actually, the best place to be would be out,” Trey said. “If you’re already out it means you could shift quicker than the rest of us.”

  “You should go Aiden,” The Alpha said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

  Feeling defeated and anxious I followed Josh from the house, swinging my arms in a long stretch behind me as my wolf anticipated the shift. In his mind the moment he took over would be the moment we found Evelyn and everything would be okay again. I wasn’t doing enough according to him—what he thought he could do better I have no idea.