The Witch Who Cried Wolf (Cry Wolf, #1) (9 page)

I rested my forehead against the steering wheel. “Please don’t tell Mom and Dad.” I hated the fact Ethan had told Nolan. That was the last thing I needed.

“It’s okay. I won’t tell them. But just know if you need to talk, I’m here for you, okay?”

I looked at him, and he flashed a boyish grin, as if that would help. But I guess it did. He had his own way of making me feel better. I knew he cared. However, I refused to get anyone else involved in my problems.

Jessa had told me what to do, even if the advice had hurt. I needed to let go of my fear and practice my magic. No one else needed to be involved. No one. Not even Jessa. She’d said she would call, but so far, she hadn’t. I guess that could be expected. Maybe we had both mishandled the situation.

Whatever.

“Thanks, Nolan. I’ll be at home. Tell everyone I’m sorry. I just need my space, I guess.”

“Don’t be like those people who get really depressed around the holidays though, sis. That mugger was probably looking for money. People are crazier around this time of the year, you know?” He shrugged, then patted me on the shoulder. If one more person touched me, I swore I would hurt them. “Just be careful and stay safe.”

If only I’d been mugged, then I’d be happier. Random attacks happened all the time. But this had been due to some werewolf, who was pissed off about a potion I’d made. Some human guy who needed money for booze didn’t bother me, but a werewolf? That was serious business.

“Take care,” I said, pulling out of the driveway and onto the road. I didn’t want to go home. I wanted to go somewhere else. Somewhere far from my usual hangouts. Somewhere safe.

After driving around the neighborhood a little, I pulled into a fast food restaurant. Inside, I ordered a Coke, then sat in one of the booths trying to collect my thoughts, when the last person in the world I’d suspect to be there showed up.

Mr. Way-Too-Sexy...Werewolf.

My heart dropped in my stomach, and real terror bubbled up within me.

Jessa had warned me about letting go of fear. If I didn’t, I would be crippling my ability to protect myself. However, being in a public place like this would hinder both him and me. He wouldn’t be able to assault me, unless he didn’t care about revealing what he was to the general public, and I couldn’t cast spells. However, that was a lot better than him following me home. But he was here, and that either was a scary coincidence or he knew where my parents lived. How could that be?

He walked straight to my table, plopping down in the booth across from me.

“You did something to that potion, didn’t you? It’s not reacting as it was supposed to.” He didn’t sound mad; more, a cold and uncaring vibe came off him.

I opened my mouth to say something, but he shushed me.

“Make more. Not the creamy stuff. Make a liquid potion.” His gaze flicked to the people walking by the table. “If you don’t, I’ll kill you and your whole family.”

“You tried killing me at the airport. How can I expect you not try something, regardless?” I didn’t know for certain if that had been him at the airport, but it was a pretty good guess. He was the only werewolf I knew, and the visit from Jessa had pointed in that direction too.

“You’ve got it wrong. I wasn’t trying to kill you. If I had, you’d be dead already. Think of it more like I was gaining your attention. Besides, your friend is good stock. Our Pack needs numbers. We’re weak, and we need to remedy that.”

“By killing off your kind?” I shook my head. “I know why you’re coming to me, and it’s not to heal whoever you were talking about in my friend’s shop. You want to poison them. I’m not stupid.”

Sliding into my booth before I could react, he blocked my best path of escape. He circled his arm around my shoulders, either to intimidate me or make anyone watching think we were a couple. The desire to elbow him in the ribs rose within me, but he was a freaking werewolf, for crying out loud. The guy could probably crush me with his pinky finger.

“If you’re not stupid, you’ll do as I say. Because I am not all about talk. If you don’t help me out, then consider yourself and your family...and your werewolf boyfriend...all dead. No way else around it, girlie. Either do what I want, or you’re done for.” He squeezed my shoulder hard.

A whimper escaped my lips before I could stop it. The pain was truly reaching epic proportions.

“Fine. When do you need it by?” I asked, hoping he’d let me go on my way.

“Now.” He stared into my eyes from inches away, intimidating the hell out of me.

“I can’t right now. My friend’s store isn’t open right now. I can’t get the supplies I need if she’s not there.” I hoped he’d buy that excuse. Really hoped. Maybe if he did, I could reach Jessa between now and then, and we would figure out a way around this, so someone didn’t have to die.

“Tuesday then. If I don’t have it Tuesday, then expect her to be the first victim.”

“Um, where do you want to pick it up?”

He propped his feet on the opposite booth. “At the new age shop, and if you don’t show promptly at 6 pm, there will be consequences. Understand?”

I nodded, trying to figure out how I was going to get out of this. He wanted it on Christmas Eve. This was hell.

“Tuesday, at six o’clock. Be there.” He slid out of the booth, his shoes silent against the tile floor.

I rested my head in my hands, trying to keep my body from violently shivering. The fact he hadn’t been trying to kill me was something I hadn’t anticipated, but the sick feeling that he had changed Ethan into a werewolf on purpose disgusted me. I had to make sure Ethan was okay.

I grimaced. That meant I’d have to search for him, either at his house that he shared with Nolan, or at my parents’, and I refused to go back there. Mr. Sexy already knew where they were, but that didn’t mean I liked luring him there.

It didn’t take long to drive there. Nolan’s car wasn’t in the driveway, but maybe he stored it in the garage. Who knew? If I had any chance of talking to Ethan about what was going on, I needed to do it now before I chickened out.

I knocked on Ethan’s door, not at all feeling like I should be there. If Nolan answered, what would I say?
Hey bro, I wanted to talk about getting mugged, after all. Thanks for the brotherly advice, and by the way, stay out of my business in the future?
No, that would be—

The door swung open, and Ethan’s sexy body filled most of the doorframe.

I stumbled back a few steps. Heat shot through my veins at the sight of him. “Hi. I just....”

“Your brother isn’t home right now.” He started to shut the door, but I caught it.

“Please, I want to talk to you. I’m sorry, I didn’t know where else to go.” My mouth kept moving, even though nothing sensible came out. “I’ve just...I don’t know. This whole mess

is—”

Ethan pulled me inside, carefully missing any of the bruised flesh of my arms. “If you’re going to talk, don’t do it out there.” He pressed my back against the now closed door.

My body reacted to the closeness, and the urge to arch into him overrode all reason.
Head out of the gutter!
“After dinner, I went to this fast food joint and—” Keys rattled in the door behind me, and I jumped from the door, only to smack into Ethan’s hard chest.

He held me for a moment, and the heat of his palms warmed me after being out in the cold. “Want something to drink?”

“I guess so.” Frowning, I didn’t know what to do. Maybe I should escape out the back before Nolan got in here, but that would be awkward since he would see my car out front. How did I get myself into these kinds of situations? I sighed, and headed for the couch.

“Mia, I’m surprised to see you.” Nolan frowned at me as he came into the room, then glanced over to see Ethan arriving with three cans of beer. He threw one to my brother and set the other two on the coffee table. “What are you doing here?”

“I...I just didn’t feel safe at my house after the mugging, so I decided to hang out here for a few hours.” I tried to act casual, but my voice shook a little. Casual didn’t define the emotions raging inside me. Especially with both of them staring at me like I’d grown two heads.

“Yeah, she seemed pretty unnerved when I answered the door. Guess it’s all catching up with her. It’s easy to let it get to you. Just stay strong.” Ethan popped open his can of beer and took a sip.

Great. A pep talk. Exactly what I needed.

This was all too weird. I didn’t know what else to say or do. I just took a swing of beer. College football was on television again, so I sat in silence. The two of them went into the kitchen, and I heard their whispered voices, but I couldn’t catch what they were saying.

Within minutes, they returned with Nolan carrying a bag of tortilla chips and two bowls of salsa. We sat watching sports for what felt like hours. Football wasn’t my idea of a good time, but spending time with the two of them like this relaxed me.

Nolan glanced in my direction, but I tried to keep my gaze on the TV. I wanted to blend in with the couch. I probably shouldn’t even be here. I hated to think that I’d lured the werewolf to where my brother and Ethan lived too, but I couldn’t say that he didn’t already know, either.

I rested my head against the arm of the couch, and within minutes, all my cares just faded. The beer had helped relax me, and the delicious scent of Ethan warmed my body. I felt safe for the first time in the past couple days.

––––––––

A
fter Mia fell asleep on the couch last night, Nolan covered her with a blanket, and we slipped a pillow beneath her head. She was still out like a light. I’d anticipated her being awake and gone by the time I came down for breakfast, but there she was.

Her arm dangled toward the floor, and she made the softest, cutest snore I’d ever heard. Her red hair spread out around her head like a halo, and I wanted to bury my face in that thick mane, feeling the silk of it against my skin.

“No,” she whispered, rolling to her side. “Get off.”

I took a few steps closer, wondering if she was talking to me, but her eyes were shut. Should I wake her? I toyed with the thought, but she shot straight up into a sitting position. The sound of her rapidly beating heart filled my ears. Yet another werewolf attribute taking root.

I clenched my hands into fists, wanting to be mad, but I could only see how beautiful Mia was. “I’m brewing some coffee. Want would you like?”

She jumped nearly a foot off the couch and yipped. “You scared me, Ethan.”

“Sorry. Guess I thought you heard me come down stairs.” I walked toward my dad’s armchair, so she wouldn’t have to strain her neck to look at me. “Something to drink?”

She ran her gaze over my bare chest and her mouth dropped open. The fact she was as attracted to me as I was her made me happy. What made me happier was that Nolan had taken off for work already. Now I’d be able to figure out what she’d wanted to tell me last night.

Maybe we’d do something else, too.

I shoved the thought aside before my dick swelled. The last thing I needed was that kind of distraction.

She blinked, looking me in the eye. “Do you have any hot tea?”

That’s right. She didn’t drink coffee. She preferred tea. I should’ve remembered. Unfortunately, neither Nolan nor I kept any around. “No, sorry. We have apple juice, though.”

“Sure.” She climbed off the couch, yawning. “You guys could’ve woken me up and told me to go home.”

“Nah, we wouldn’t have done that. Truth be told, it’s better if you stay here. Safer. You can sleep in my room, if you want.” Her eyes widened. “I’ll sleep on the couch, of course.” Even if I would rather sleep in the same bed as her.

“No way. I wouldn’t want to impose. I can sleep on the couch.” Smiling, she ran her hand through her hair as if trying to brush it with her fingers. “I’ll need to stop by my place and get some toiletries and clothes, if I do that. We should probably ask Nolan about it, too?”

“It’s my house. Besides, he agrees with me.” I waved her toward the kitchen. “If you want some breakfast, we have eggs and bacon. There’s cereal, pancakes, you name it.”

“Are you sure? I don’t—”

“Stop. Just tell me what you’d like.”

She bit her lower lip. “At least let me help. I could wash dishes even.”

“Fine. Dishes it is.” I didn’t really like doing them anyway. That chore fell to Nolan, but he usually tries to put it back on me.

“Bacon and eggs sounds good.” She went to the fridge, grabbing the juice, while I measured the water for coffee. Nolan had drunk whatever he’d made this morning, but that worked since I preferred drinking it fresh.

I set a glass out for her on the counter, then scooped some grounds into the coffee pot’s filter. When I went to the fridge, I collided with Mia. She squeaked and the juice container slipped from her fingers. I grabbed it before it hit the floor.

My newfound reflexes surprised me. While I’d always had quick reaction times, I couldn’t help but stare at my hand as if they were someone else’s. I leaned against the counter, not knowing what else to do.

Mia placed her cool hand on my arm, tentatively at first, then she embraced me. Her hands circled my waist, and she pressed her cheek against my back. “It’ll be okay. I’m here for you.”

“I appreciate you trying to comfort me, but you said it yourself: ‘Werewolves have violent tendencies’. Who says I’ll be any different? What about my career?” I placed my hand over hers. Being this close to her felt right. The need to claim her overrode all reason.

“You’re different than him. Maybe not all werewolves are bad.” She tensed her grip on me a little.

Maybe I would be different, but I noticed how she said nothing about my career. “What did you want to tell me last night? You were at a fast food restaurant, and you saw someone or something.” Rage burned my insides.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew whom she’d seen. Why she’d come to me to talk. If only I had taken her aside and listened then, but I’d been concerned with Nolan becoming suspicious. The last thing I needed was him sticking his nose in our business. It was too dangerous for him to get involved. The less he knew the better.