“Okay. I hope this works.” We headed back toward the parade and made our way into the middle of a large group.

  A couple teens weaved their way through the crowd, handing out coupons for a restaurant. “These are good for tonight only.”

  I arched a brow at Stella. Plenty of people were bound to be there.

  She leaned close. “Do you have money?”

  “We can just hang out for a while. Maybe Verla and the wolves will give up.”

  Stella frowned. “You clearly don’t know Verla.”

  “Nor do I honestly expect the pack to give up, but maybe they’ll move on and we can lose them.”

  The crowd cheered. A group of motorcycle cops were headed our way, performing tricks on the bikes. They made their way in front of us, riding in circles around each other in formation. Some did wheelies. The audience went wild. The best part was that the motorcycles were loud and the fuel covered every other scent—including mine and Stella’s.

  All too soon, the police made their way past us, and the parade was over.

  Stella turned to me. “Now what?”

  “We follow everyone to Luigi’s and watch them eat.”

  “What are we going to eat? I’m already hungry, and smelling garlic bread isn’t going to help.”

  My stomach rumbled. “No, it isn’t. As much as I hate to suggest it, maybe we should dine and dash.”

  A slow smile spread across Stella’s face. “Really? You don’t strike me as that kind of girl.”

  I shrugged. “Hunger makes people do stupid things.”

  “Here,” said a voice behind me. I spun around. Elsie held out a fifty. “That should cover your dinner.”

  “But you—”

  “It’s not that I don’t care, Victoria. It’s the life I want to forget.” She shoved the bill into my hand and ran off.

  Stella arched a brow. “What was that all about?”

  I watched my sister disappear into a crowd. “I’m not sure.”

  “Let’s eat. I’m going to pass out soon.” She glanced down at the coupon which had a map on it. “Looks like we’re only about a block away.”

  “Good.” I shoved the money into my back pants pocket and followed her down the street.

  Once the restaurant came into view, so did a line out the door and around the building.

  Stella gave me an exasperated expression. “What should we do?”

  “Get in line before it gets worse. At least the food and crowd will cover our scents for a while.”

  She sniffed the air. “Verla’s still close.”

  “All the more reason to blend in with people.”

  We headed toward the line. She turned to me. “Should I have stayed in the longhouse?”

  “You were bored silly, right?”

  “Well, yeah. But I was also safe.”

  “This is probably the most fun you’ve had in years, isn’t it?”

  Stella nodded.

  “And your bite will kill Verla. It’s worth it.”

  “Will my bite hurt her if I’m in this form?” she asked.

  I opened my mouth, but no words came. “I actually don’t know.”

  “You don’t?” she exclaimed.

  “I’m hardly a vampire expert.”

  A girl turned around and gave me a weird look.

  “We’re talking about a club,” I said. “They turn people into vampires. Wanna go?”

  She turned her attention back to her friends.

  Stella smiled.

  Someone walked by carrying a takeout box smelling of garlic and spaghetti sauce. My mouth watered. I could eat twenty of those this close to a shift. Luckily my bones had stopped popping after talking with Elsie.

  The line inched forward.

  “How much longer?” asked someone ahead of us.

  “Ninety minutes,” said a girl even farther up.

  I groaned. Maybe this hadn’t been the best idea.

  “I’m going to the sub shop,” announced the guy behind us. “This is crazy.”

  Stella arched a brow at me. “Want to join him? That fifty will go a lot farther there.”

  That was true. I watched the guy as he headed into a door with just a short line.

  “What do you think?” Stella asked.

  I nodded, and then we burst into a run, keeping at a normal human pace. Several others from the line followed us.

  Stella stopped in her tracks. I nearly ran into her.

  The vampire odor was strong—practically on top of us.

  She spoke gibberish, staring behind me. I spun around and saw three angry girls, one with electric green hair.

  “Verla?” I whispered, turning back to Stella.

  She nodded, her face paling and she shook uncontrollably.

  I blinked and the three vampires appeared only inches from us.

  “Hand her over, wolf.” Verla stared me down with eyes that matched her hair exactly.

  “Not going to do it.” I stood taller.

  Verla’s sidekicks stepped closer to me, hissing.

  “Why don’t you release her from your ownership?” I asked. “Do you really want a pet werewolf?”

  The vampire’s eyes turned bright red, despite the colored contacts. “You didn’t.”

  “Can’t you smell the truth?” I asked.

  Verla sniffed the air. “I thought that stench was you.”

  The scent of Toby’s old pack wafted over. One or more of their members was close. Too close. My almost-shift must’ve made my scent stronger, and therefore easier for them to find me.

  I narrowed my eyes at Verla while checking the periphery for wolves. “Nope. That would be both of us.”

  She flashed her sharp teeth at me. “How dare you turn my possession into a wolf?”

  “Because she wants her freedom back.”

  “Well, she’s not getting it. Hand her over.”

  I shook my head. “People are staring. Why don’t you just leave?”

  “You think I came all this way to give her up? Move aside. I’ll find a way to beat the wolf out of her.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure that’ll work out real well for you.” I put my hands on my hips.

  “Look, wolf—”

  “Shut up.” I shoved her. Her minions moved closer. “Can you smell all the wolves in the area? One word from me, and someone will bite you. That’s all it’ll take to kill you.”

  “That’s only folklore.”

  I snorted and then jumped against her, shoving her into a stop sign. “Is that a risk you really want to take?” I opened my mouth and inched toward her arm.

  “Stop!” Verla shoved me and moved out of the way. “You don’t scare me.”

  A werewolf scent grew especially strong. I turned and saw Wilson, one of Toby’s uncles, walking toward us. He swung a spiked bat in one hand and he stared directly at me.

  My heart pounded out of control. Nobody else seemed to notice the other werewolf. Verla said something, but I couldn’t make out the words. Wilson shook his bat and nodded toward me.

  Verla took advantage of my distraction and lunged for Stella. I pulled my gaze from Wilson and threw myself at Verla, knocking both of us to the ground. The other two vampires jumped on top of us, screaming and clawing at me.

  I turned to Stella. “Run!”

  She shook her head and ran to us and yanked one of the vampires off me. She bared her fangs and lunged for Stella. I jumped up and threw the vampire aside. Someone grabbed my shoulders and pulled me away. All I could see was a mess of green hair.

  Wilson ran over and yanked Verla away from me. “You’re not going to harm Victoria—that’s our job.” He threw her against a tree and beat her with the spiked bat. The other two vampires shrieked and ran away.

  People screamed and ran in every direction. A few pulled out phones and dialed as they fled.

  One guy pulled a gun from his pocket and aimed it at Wilson. “Put the bat down, psycho!”

  I took advantage of the distraction and grabbed Stella’s arm. We ran through the street, darting around frenzied people who were crying and screaming. Stella pulled behind me, and I nearly lost my hold on her. I spun around. Wilson had her in a choke hold.

  “Let her go!” I demanded.

  “Why should I?” snarled Wilson.

  My throat nearly closed. I had to think of something fast. “Release her and I’ll go with you willingly. No struggle—I swear.”

  He glowered down at Stella. “Why’s this mutt so important?”

  “She’s my friend.”

  Wilson looked back and forth between Stella and me before shoving her away. He glared at me, his nostrils flaring.

  I turned to Stella. “Run to the safe house, and don’t stop until you get there.” I stepped closer to Wilson and held out my arms.

  He reached for me, and I ran the other way. Wilson swore. “Get back here!”

  Everything blew by in a blur as I ran so fast with no regard for humans seeing me run at such a speed. I darted down alleyways and side streets.

  Something caught on my hair. My head yanked back in a quick, violent motion. I fell to the ground, crashing on the cement. My elbow hit hard. I tried getting up, but I couldn’t move my head. However, I could crane my neck slightly. My hair was wrapped around Wilson’s spiked bat.

  He laughed, cackling. “Looks like you’re coming with me after all.” He kicked me in the back and stuck a burlap bag over my head.

  Chapter 87

  Victoria

  I fought against the burlap bag over my head as best I could. Wilson had tied my arms behind my back, and we’d been walking for what felt like hours. It wouldn’t have surprised me if we’d been going in circles just to confuse me. If that was their plan, it had worked. I had no idea where we were. The smells around me indicated we were in or near a forest and much of Toby’s old pack was close. Everything else was a big question mark.

  Finally, Wilson yanked me to a stop. I stumbled, tripping over something. My knees hit the ground first, followed by my face. Even through the burlap, a rock scratched my skin. He pulled me up, nearly taking my arm out of the socket. I cried out in pain.

  “Shut up.”

  “You got her?” asked a voice I could never forget—James, Toby’s father. The man who’d murdered me.

  Rage ran through me, and I shook.

  “Looks like you scared her good.” James laughed.

  “She put up a fight, but I frightened her into submission.”

  “Good man, Wilson. Take her to the cage.”

  I gulped. Cage?

  “And lock it tight. She’s never getting out of that.”

  It took every ounce of my self-control not to react. I was just glad they couldn’t see the tears pooling, ready to spill any moment.

  Why had I ever left the safety of the longhouse? Toby and our pack thought I was there and had no reason to come looking for me. I should’ve sent word to them somehow.

  It was too late to worry about that now. I had to focus on finding a way out of an inescapable cage. Fingers wrapped around my arm, nearly cutting off the circulation. I stumbled as I tried to keep up, not knowing what direction to walk.

  “Keep up,” Wilson ordered.

  “I can’t see or br—”

  “No talking.” The pressure on my arm increased.

  I stumbled over something again.

  “Clumsy thing, isn’t she?” Disgust filled Toby’s father’s voice.

  “What does Toby see in her?” Wilson asked.

  “He’s always liked broken things. Do you remember that bird with the broken wing?”

  Wilson laughed cruelly. “And how deflated he was after you put it out of its misery!”

  James joined in. “I always tried to toughen that kid up. Nothing ever worked.”

  “Killing Victoria—the first time—helped. He eventually came back and—”

  “You don’t have to remind me. But yes, though he annihilated us, he finally did me proud.”

  I rolled my eyes. It was too bad I hadn’t been around to see the world Toby had helped build that had no more traditional packs—where they all lived in peace and all the other alphas answered to him.

  “It’s amazing what my boy can do without her to distract him.”

  My mouth dropped open.

  “Once we get rid of her, we’ll finally be free to lead together as nature intended.”

  They thought Toby had accomplished what he did because I had been out of his life? A flash of anger hit me. Not only did I want to get away from them, but I wanted to show them what I was capable of—a mere girl.

  I struggled against the ropes tying my wrists together.

  The fingers around my arm dug into my flesh through my hoodie. “Quit fussing,” Wilson snapped. “We’re almost there.”

  “You’d better learn to wait quietly,” James snarled. “We have to wait until all the members of the tribunal arrive.”

  My blood ran cold. Tribunal?

  “When is Jesse getting here?” Wilson asked.

  “Last I heard, he was tying up loose ends in Nova Scotia.”

  “He’d better hurry. We need him.”

  “Patience. There’s still much we need to prepare, also.”

  They stopped walking without warning, and with Wilson grasping my arm, I yanked to a sudden stop. The sound of a large lock clicked and then squeaks from metal sounded as a door opened.

  My pulse raced. I squirmed, trying to get away. Why couldn’t I turn? I was more than upset enough to shift.

  Wilson dug his nails into my flesh. “Hold still, little girl.”

  I struggled all the harder to get away, not that I’d have much if I did break free. He slammed me against metal bars. The side of my head hit with a harsh thunk and the sound echoed around in my head.

  He shoved me again. “I said to hold still.”

  “Throw her in.”

  Wilson yanked me back and pushed me, finally letting go. I landed on concrete, sliding across until I crashed into more bars. I rolled over and moaned. The metal door slammed shut and the lock clicked into place.

  “Don’t make any sudden movements.” Toby’s father laughed.

  “Yeah. That wolfborn is starving and angry as a hornet.” Wilson laughed hysterically.

  I sat up and fought against the ties.

  A low growl sounded just feet away.

  My breath caught and I froze in place.

  Claws tapped on the concrete.

  Were they just trying to frighten me, or had they actually locked me in a cage with a furious, hungry wolfborn?

  “Hello?” I whispered.

  Tap, tap, tap.

  “M-maybe we can work t-together,” I said to the wolfborn.

  “Nice try,” Wilson said. “This one has lost his humanity. Can’t reason with this brute.”

  Something hit the cage with a loud thud, rattling the bars.

  Another growl, this time closer.

  Footsteps sounded, growing quieter as Wilson and his alpha walked away from the cage, laughing.

  I held still, only moving my fingers to find a way to untie the rope.

  The growl came even closer.

  My breathing grew labored, and having a burlap bag over my head only made it more challenging. I waited in expectation for the wolfborn to lunge at me and dig into my flesh, tearing me to shreds.

  He just continued growling.

  Frantic, I fought the rope while trying to keep the rest of my body still.

  “I’m not going to hurt you.” My voice shook. “W-we can work together.” I could’ve told him I would remain human during the full moon, but didn’t know if any of the other werewolves were within earshot. My erratic shifting was my only weapon, and I intended to keep that secret until I could actually shift.

  Finally, I relaxed a little. The wolfborn hadn’t attacked yet. If he was going to, he probably would have already. Could he sense that I meant him no harm? Or maybe he did hold onto his humanity and had understood what I said.

  I gave up on untying the knots. The bars digging into my back were rough. I might be able to cut through the ropes. It was a long shot and would take considerable time, but it was all I had. I rubbed the bindings against a bar, hoping it made a difference.

  Eventually, my eyelids grew heavy. My arms moved slower, rubbing the rope side to side and up and down. My eyelids won, and my head slumped forward, hitting my chest. I inched my way to lying. Despite being unable to get comfortable, I fell asleep.

  A sudden flash of light woke me. I scrambled to sit up, gasping in fresh air, struggling with my sore arms still tied behind me. My shoulders were horribly sore and something pinched in my upper back. I couldn’t open my eyes against the blinding light.

  “Don’t like the light?” Wilson laughed. “Want me to put the bag back over your head?”

  “No.” I moved away from the sound of his voice. My arms and back hurt all the more with each movement.

  My eyes opened a crack. Morning sunlight shone through the rusty bars all around me. Trees and bushes surrounded the cage on all sides. We were in some small clearing. I turned around and saw an adjoining cage. That was where the wolfborn sat. Not in my cage.

  “Hungry?” Wilson asked.

  “Yes. And thirsty.”

  “Good. We’re going to keep it that way.” He hit the cage with his hand and walked away.

  Anger pulsed through me. I stared at the gray and black wolf in the next cage. He slept soundly.

  Hammering sounded in the distance. A lot of it. My stomach twisted in knots as I remembered the mention of a tribunal the night before. What would they put me on trial for? I shuddered thinking of them as my judge and jury.

  My stomach rumbled and a wave of light-headedness struck me. I took a deep breath, determined to stay strong. I’d faced plenty in recent months. I could do this, too. But first, I needed to find a way to free myself of the rope. The pain in my back was growing more intense with each passing minute.

  All of the bars were rusty and rough, but nothing appeared sharp enough to really help. Not that I had any other options. It wasn’t like they’d left a knife lying around.

  Sighing, I made my way over to a bar with the roughest edge and ran the rope over it. The shard snapped off, bounced on the concrete, and landed outside on the dirt. All my hope seemed to follow it out there.