I try to imagine his lips touching mine, and to my astonishment, it’s Seth’s face that flashes through my mind. His brown eyes fill my thoughts instead of James’ blue ones. What the heck?

  James’ eyebrows raise and he leans away from me. “Well, that’s a mood killer, isn’t it? How can I possibly kiss you now with some other bloke’s face in your head?” He tsks and shrugs. “And I was sure we’d have something good here.”

  He winks with a disappointed smile and pulls me toward the door, thoughts of kissing thrown out the window. We exit through the front door while Seth’s face continues to fill my mind, and I slam into James’ back when we reach the cool morning air outside.

  “Owww! What the…” I start to protest, but when I look past James, there’s Seth, in the flesh. And he’s about to shift into a wolf.

  Chapter 8

  ⟣⟡⟢

  Seth

  I stare at Bree, her wound completely healed now, at least outwardly. She should be waking up. A wolf can normally smell injury, but hers is gone now. “Why isn’t she waking up?” I growl the words into the large living room area of Maia’s house.

  Mathew steps to my side and hands me a warm cup of coffee. “Here. She just needs rest.”

  I nod and mutter a thanks, but I can’t stop staring at Bree. As soon as her eyes open, I’m going to demand to know where she sent Maia. The waiting is torture. It has been eight hours since the fight with the bruxsa demons. Mathew carried Bree into the house and laid her out on a sectional couch after she passed out on the porch. He then offered me some clothes, which I gratefully accepted.

  Mathew and I cleaned up the dead bodies in his yard and burned them in a bonfire. I have a lot of questions about the man’s knowledge of the supernatural, but it doesn’t feel right to ask. His daughter is missing, and it was my job to keep her safe. Gosh, I hope she’s safe.

  I’ve been staring at Bree since then, hoping that every flutter of her eyes is the one when she wakes up. She groans and turns to her side, but continues sleeping. I throw my head back and try to calm my rising wolf. My wolf has been just below the surface, obsessing over finding Maia.

  Mathew nudges my arm gently. “You haven’t slept and it’s nearly sunrise. You need sleep as much as the rest of us.”

  I sigh and close my eyes. “I know. I just can’t stop worrying. What if she’s lost and scared?” There’s no hiding the whine in my voice.

  I open my eyes again and Mathew is staring at me with his eyebrows pressed together. “It seems like you care an awful lot about my daughter. You understand what’s inside of her, right?”

  What does that mean!? I nod. “Well, yeah. She has the shifter cure inside of her blood.”

  Mathew shakes his head and sighs. “She doesn’t just have the cure inside of her blood, Seth. Maia’s blood is the cure. She so much as bleeds on your wounds, and you die.”

  My heart sinks at that thought. How can I truly protect her if I have to be so careful with her blood? Just last night I had open wounds all over my body from fighting the creatures who are after Maia’s blood. Would I have been unable to save her at that point if she was bleeding?

  A small groan pulls my attention back to Bree. She turns onto her back and her eyes open, scanning her surroundings. I rush to her side with Mathew. Bree looks at us worrying over her and her eyes go wide.

  “Oh my goddess! How long have I been out?” She sits up fast, not even getting dizzy in the process. Wow. Go witchy grandma. The healing spell worked wonders.

  Mathew feels her forehead and grabs her wrist as he counts her pulse. “You slept all night. It’s just about sunrise.”

  Bree smacks her head and looks at me with sorry eyes. “I sent Maia to Maine. I have a vampire friend there who I trust with my life. She is safe with him, I’m sure of it.”

  My jaw tightens and I bite my teeth together hard to keep from sprouting fur in the middle of the living room. “A vampire?” I practically shout at her through my teeth. Vampires are known to be seductive and lure women in with charm so they can drink from them. Why would Bree send her to one of them?

  Bree glares at me. “Yes, a vampire. I’m not stupid, wolf. I know this vampire personally and he doesn’t drink from humans.” Her narrowed eyes are steady and I have no choice but to trust her decision.

  “Fine. Send me there and I’ll bring her back.” It’s a command from me, and I can’t help the alpha voice that comes out. She doesn’t deserve to get snapped at, but I’m about to lose it.

  Bree sits higher and closes her eyes. She begins chanting some words and waving her arms in the air. Her body is strong after the miracle healing, and I can sense her excitement as she uses her magic.

  In the center of the room, a circle opens up in the air, a window to another world; Maine apparently. As soon as the door is big enough for me to climb through, I don’t hesitate. I fall to the other side, onto rocky ground, and I can hear Bree’s heavy panting words just before the portal closes again.

  “My power is depleted. Just bring her home.”

  ♢♢♢

  Maia

  “Snow.” Seth’s voice is low as he uses his pet name for me. His dark brown eyes are locked onto my hand where it’s wrapped tightly in James’. Fur ripples down his arms and disappears like a wave crashing back into the sea. I try to wrench my hand free but James keeps it in his grasp.

  “Stay back, love. There’s a wolf out here and he looks murderous.” James glances back at me but stays put, guarding me.

  Seth growls, the sound menacing and deep. “Let her go, bloodsucker. She’s my charge.” Seth’s voice isn’t entirely human, causing my knees to shake. Anger rolls through me at Seth’s possessive claim but I tamp it down.

  James laughs and then pulls me to his side. “I do believe she can make her own choices, chap. She hasn’t needed you while she’s been here with me all night.”

  My mouth drops open. What is he doing?!

  Seth starts to shake and black flashes across his eyes. Oh, damn. I finally pull my hand free from James and step closer to Seth. I hold my hands up trying to calm his anger. I don’t know what has him so wolfish, but I can’t let him try to hurt James. Even though he probably deserves it after goading him like that.

  “Seth, I’m fine, okay? Calm down. James has kept me safe.” I step closer to him and finally he pries his black eyes from James. They turn brown again and scan my body, maybe for injury.

  Seth’s breathing slows and he closes his eyes briefly before nodding and sighing. “Good. Now let’s go.” He grabs onto my hand and drags me behind him, not waiting for my approval.

  I dig my heels into the ground and yank my hand out of Seth’s. “Excuse me?” I’m mad now. How dare this man grab me and pull me around like a freakin’ caveman? If I knew I could get away with it, I’d punch him right in the face.

  Seth spins on me with narrowed eyes. “We’re going back to my pack where I can keep my eyes on you. I’m your protector.”

  I scoff and cross my arms. “I don’t give one tiny piece of crap about your assigned position as my protector, wolf boy! I’m grateful for your help and everything you’ve done for me, but if you try to command me like I’m some little pup under your control, I will not hesitate to kick your wannabe-alpha ass!”

  Seth’s eyebrows raise, lessening his intense glare and his lips twitch. Is he about to smile at my admittedly pathetic threat? I turn to look at James but he’s just grinning from ear to ear and leaning against his cabin door like he’s taking in a good show.

  When my eyes fall on Seth again, my heart flutters at his nearness. He’s standing just a foot from me and his hand is clenched in the air between us. “You’re right, Snow. I’m sorry, okay? I promised your father and Bree that I’d get you home, but I’ll give you a few minutes to say goodbye to the… to him.”

  He swallows hard and then walks a few yards into the forest to wait for me. I take a deep steadying breath and have to pry my eyes away from his large muscular back. Even in the winter cold, he only wears a t-shirt and fitted jeans. And it’s way too sexy.

  I turn back to James and I have to roll my eyes at his stupid, gorgeous, cocky grin. Of course he heard my private thoughts about Seth, and I should be mortified, but I can hardly care anymore. Stop looking at me like that, vampire.

  I glare at him and he only smiles wider. He steps close to me and grabs both of my hands in his cold ones. “Oh, we would’ve been so good together, love. Too bad your heart is taken.”

  He whispers the last part so quietly that I almost don’t hear it. I shake my head and speak in my mind so Seth doesn’t hear. My heart isn’t taken, James. I don’t even know him, just like I don’t know you. “Are you not coming with us?” I ask out loud.

  James shrugs. “I think it would be best if I stay here. You have a decent guide to get you back home, and I wouldn’t do well near humans anyways.” He leans into my ear and whispers softly, “Don’t believe what the angry wolf says. He’s in denial about his feelings, and because I am who I am, to speed things along…”

  He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes before his lips crash into mine. His kiss takes me off guard, but I let him press deeper for a moment, feeling the warmth in my belly grow into a flame. The low growl from behind me makes me pull away from James, my breath heavy.

  Best kiss I’ve ever had, I say in my mind, causing James to smile a perfectly happy smile. I’ve only been kissed twice before, by the same boy at school. Once in eighth grade and again in ninth. The boy eventually decided I was too weird to come back for a third. But kissing James felt like a whole new level of kissing, even if it was only a few seconds.

  James looks past me and then stands up straight. “You should get going then, love, before the angry wolf tries to kill me.” He raises a single eyebrow and then turns me toward Seth’s death glare. Can a wolf shifter kill a vampire? Best I don’t stay to find out.

  Chapter 9

  ⟣⟡⟢

  Maia

  Well, he’s mad again, of course. I don’t know how Seth can be constantly seething with anger, but it must be a wolf thing. I’ve always had a temper, but Seth’s is far beyond my own. He stalks ahead of me, hiking easily through the woods.

  I’m not bad at keeping up, but he’s purposely making me fight to stay on his tail. “Do you even know where we’re going?” I call after him and he just grunts as he continues forward.

  We’ve been traveling west for at least five hours and all I’ve gotten from him is a couple of grunts and shouts for me to keep up. He’d make a sucky trail guide, probably leaving the elderly behind for slowing him down.

  I’m crashing now, having only had small amounts of water from the streams in the area, and no food since the turkey eggs. I shout for Seth to stop, but he keeps moving forward so I stomp my foot and sit on a nearby log.

  Stupid alpha jerk.

  If he really does care about my well-being he’ll just have to backtrack to find me. “I’m still half human, your highness!” I yell in his direction and lay my head in my hands.

  Footsteps approach me and I snap my head up to see a predictable sight: Seth glaring down at me. “Oh, look. You do care,” I say with a sickening sweetness.

  He rolls his eyes and sits beside me on the thick downed trunk. Silence floats in the air between us, wanting to drive me crazy. I gather up my wild locks of white hair into the hair tie I keep on my wrist, tying it tightly.

  I’m about to freak out from the quiet tension when Seth speaks softly. “Why’d you let that walking dead creep kiss you, Snow?”

  I snap my head toward him and he’s looking sadly at the ground, his broad shoulders slumped forward. I click my tongue, figuring I should take the conversation when it’s given.

  “James isn’t a creep. He’s charming, thoughtful, and kind, unlike… others.” My jab at Seth’s attitude is clear.

  He finally looks my way, his eyes apologetic. “You’re right. I’ve been a total ass from minute one.” He rubs a large hand over his strong jaw. “I don’t know how to do this, Snow.”

  I shrug. “How to do what? Converse politely with strangers?” I tease him and an actual smile tugs gently at his plump lips.

  He nods. “Yeah, let’s go with that.” He chuckles quietly, his smile filling my heart with warmth.

  It’s quiet again for a minute, but I break the silence this time. “James is a good guy, but he’s not really my type.”

  Seth raises an eyebrow. “What is your type then?”

  I can feel a blush crawl up my neck as I think about what my type is. Amazingly, my type is exactly Seth, minus the attitude. But, will I say that? Absolutely not. Instead, I force myself to look away from him.

  “James is too cold. I guess I like… warmth.” My eyes find him again and he’s staring at my lips as I lick them. Keep it together, Mai. “And, you know. Tall, dark, hot, and rich. The four must-haves of any perfect man.” I smile so he can see that I’m joking.

  He smiles wide this time, and, holy cow, it is hot. He nods. “Funny. Those are the four must-haves for the perfect woman, as well.” He laughs at his own joke and I shake my head at him.

  “Har har,” I fake laugh and shove him in the shoulder.

  In an instant, he grabs the hand that just shoved him and he pulls me to my feet, so that my chest is pressed up against his. I suck in a sharp breath and I breathe in his piney scent. Yup. Sexy Christmas tree.

  I glance up at Seth’s face and he’s looking out into the woods with his eyes narrowed. He sniffs the air and I can feel his whole body tense. Please don’t be a bruxsa demon!

  “What…” My words are cut off as Seth shushes me. His arms tighten around me and he spins his head to the left.

  “You need to run, Snow.” He looks desperately into my eyes. “Now.”

  Seth moves me so my body is behind him, so easily that I don’t even see it happen. I finally decide to listen to his commands and I start to run, but every part of me stills when I see the incoming threat. A massive friggin’ bear! I gasp and stare as the bear stands on its hind legs and growls a deep and breathy snort sound. Then it lands on all four paws, shaking the ground from the heavy force of its weight.

  Seth’s body starts sprouting fur and his bones crack. “Go!” he yells at me in an animalistic voice.

  That snaps me out of my fog and I begin running in the same direction we’d been headed earlier. I run as fast and as far as I can while the sounds of growling and crashing bodies begin to fade with each step. A loud howl pierces the air and I slow my pace. Was that a pained howl, or a triumphant one?

  I curse my father under my breath for not letting me experience the wolf shifter world. I feel so confused and lost. Another howl reaches me. Definitely pain. I spin around, ready to go head to head with a bear in order to help Seth, as idiotic as the thought may seem. Before I make it even three steps, I fall to the ground as I trip over something. It’s not dark outside, so how did I not see whatever that was?

  I look down at my ankles and my foot is caught up in a tripwire. What on earth? Who would put a tripwire in the middle of the woods? Before I can think too much about it, a cloud of dust explodes in my face and I scream before feeling dizzy and blacking out completely.

  ♢♢♢

  Seth

  When Maia told me that she was attracted to warmth, I could feel my entire body want to reach out to hers and bathe her in my warmth. Was she hinting at me with that statement? Wolves are warmer than humans, but the look in her eyes could’ve just been in my imagination. Wishful thinking?

  I wanted to lean into her and take her beautiful lips between my teeth. I could hear her racing heart as we spoke, and I wanted to erase that vampire’s taste from her mouth. I wanted her to only know the taste of me. I might just be a little obsessed with the half-breed princess that drives me crazy.

  I pulled her scent into myself at the same time that a new scent approached us where we rested. I knew that smell, though it wasn’t something I was used to. And though I wanted to keep her safe in my arms, fighting a bear shifter has to be done with the whole body.

  I only hoped that telling Maia to run was the right choice. Anything better than letting a bear shifter get a hold of her. They’re a ruthless species that would discover the cure in her blood and do anything to keep it for themselves. Hearing her small footsteps run away from the danger made my heart instantly lighter as I allowed my wolf to come forward and face the massive bear.

  He charged me instantly, no hesitations, typical of his kind. I was ready for that, though. My wolf is good in a fight, and our minds mingled together makes us a lethal pair. I dove to the right, letting the bear stumble past, and then I spun to dig my teeth into his side.

  He roared against the bite, but was stronger than I anticipated, so he rolled his body onto mine, breaking at least three bones in the process. My wolf howled into the air before wiggling out from beneath the heavy creature.

  Kill. My wolf spoke only one word in my mind. He never said more than what you’d expect from a caveman learning English, but I understood completely.

  Yes, kill. I agreed.

  The bear slammed his head into my side, making me howl again before spinning on him with speed and agility, and finding my mark on his thick neck. My large canines sank into his throat, killing him in only seconds as my mouth filled with blood.

  I sat back on my haunches, resting momentarily before I could go and find Maia. Then her piercing scream filled my soul like a knife into my chest. No, no, no, no!

  ***

  Now I’m running on all fours through the trees, tracking Maia’s zesty scent. She is close, but something is carrying her, unless she’s running that fast. Her scent moves fast through the woods, too fast for a human. My wolf ears perk up as I listen to the forest, and I can hear multiple heartbeats and rustling in the trees.