Chapter Seven

Seline

“Seline!”

Austin’s voice is like a bucket of cold water being dumped on me. I find my conscious state fighting. I don’t want to pass out.

I can’t let him know!

However, the loss of blood has me woozy, and it’s difficult to hold on to the magic wrapped around me, concealing my Lycan self.

“Come on!” His voice is rough. “My pack healer will be able to help you.”

He picks me up so easily, as if I don’t weigh anything.

“I will"

“No!” It’s difficult for me to talk. “Leave inside”

He doesn’t seem to understand that I want him to leave me here and that I’ll go inside. But how can I expect him to be able to comprehend anything?

I’m barely making any sense as it is.

“My pack healer"

“Inside!” I try to move weakly, and he glances down at my neck and his face stiffens.

Before I can blink, he turns around, towards the alley door of the bar, and with one kick, the door shatters inward and some internal part of me winces, knowing that this is going to come out of my salary.

But I’m not exactly in a state to be protesting.

His voice is hard. “Where is the first aid kit?”

I can feel my vocal chords healing and I gasp, “Office back”

He puts me down on one of the kitchen metallic counters that Marty cleaned not two hours ago, after closing down the kitchen. I lay there with my eyes closed, struggling to draw in breath. The healing process is going faster now that I am no longer under attack and don’t have to use magic.

By the time Austin returns, my awareness is more acute and my bleeding has stopped. My skin is slowly healing, though it’ll probably take a few more hours. But it still hurts like a bitch, and I’m exhausted.

He stares at me, his eyes going to my neck. 

There’s no mistaking the stiffness in his voice, “You’re a shifter.”

Before I can say anything, he tilts his head. “And a warlock.”

The hunger and interest I had seen in his eyes for me is long gone, and it’s like a bitter slap in the face. All wolf shifters are hostile towards hybrids.

I don’t say anything, managing to sit up, and holding out my hand for the first aid kit. He approaches me and I manage, “You can go. Thank you.”

It’s easier to talk now. Painful, but easier.

“You’re a halfling,” he murmurs, a strange expression in his eyes as he draws closer. I suddenly don’t want him approaching me. The itching sensation is getting worse the closer he gets to me, and I’m beginning to

wonder if I’ve actually gone insane.

“It’s called half breed,” I snap back, my fingers scratching my arm, unable to stop. The minute I speak, I can feel my newly healed vocal chords stretch uncomfortably, and my face twists.

He must have seen my expression because he covers the distance between us and begins unpacking the first aid kit.

“Go.” I’m feeling crazy from this ugly combination of pain and itching. “I can do this. Please go!”

I’m near tears now, and my magic is fluctuating wildly.

“You may be a shifter, but your healing is still slower,” Austin says gently.

“If I leave you like this, you won’t heal until the sun is in the sky for a few hours. Let me patch you up.”

He clearly hasn’t realized what kind of shifter I am.

Which makes this whole situation even worse because my magic is fluctuating with his close proximity to me. At this point, I don’t even have to guess anymore. He is the reason why my magic that shields my Lycan self has been so unstable lately.

Whatever the reasoning may be, it can’t be good.

However, Austin is in no mood to listen to me.

But the minute he touches my skin, everything falls apart.