52

“Don’t kill the bitch yet!” one of them hoots in laughter. “I want to make her crawl!”

Others snicker as I stumble back. I glare at them through the strands of my hair, trying to breathe past the pain.

Crawl? Not fucking likely. I’ve crawled enough for other people to last me a lifetime!

I plant my hands on the ground, one of my fingers landing on some leaves growing out of the crack of the dirty floor. It’s difficult to use my warlock abilities right now because of how the drug is attacking my system. But I refuse to be a victim again. It’s a vow I made to myself all those years ago.

I summon all my strength and feel the ground rumble. As do the shifters.

Looks of alarm settle on their faces. “What the hell?”

I smile weakly, not hiding my rage. “Retribution, assholes,”

The ground bursts open and long thin vines race towards the panther shifters. They howl in fear and jump out of the way. I laugh angrily, as the vines change direction, almost as if they have a mind of their own and chase the shifters.

“It’s her!” one of them shouts. “She’s controlling them!”

“How?!” his companion hisses. “The dealer said—ugh!”

He’s thrown against a wall by one of the vines and there’s a loud cracking sound as he slumps to the ground, unconscious.

“Knock her out!” One of the panthers screams.

I see three of them rush towards me. While the vines manage to stop two of them, one of them manages to get through. His claws extended, he slashes against my neck, aiming for the most vulnerable part. Even as I try to defend myself, the already seeping blood has weakened me considerably.

I feel his claws slash through neck, and a gurgling sound echoes in my ears as my vision blurs. I see the vines suddenly fall to the ground, and I, too, slump down weakly.

Dammit!

My healing abilities are nowhere close to an actual shifter’s, but they’re fast. While these wounds are fatal, they might not kill me if I’m given enough time to heal.

They are advancing on me and my fingers twitch as I try to common up some strength. Just a small spell to buy myself some time, but it’s hard for me to even think.

Maybe I should consider releasing the magic that is subduing my Lycan side?

The decision has to be made fast. If they find out I’m a hybrid, I’ll have to kill them because if I let even one of them escape, it will come back to haunt me.

Just as I’m about to release the magic, I hear one of the panther shifters grunt before he is thrown against the wall by a moving shadow.

“You again?!”

My vision is too blurred to be able to make out anything concrete. All I can see is a large figure snarling and tossing around the panther shifters as if they are nothing more than rag dolls.

I’m struggling to breathe, feeling my skin stitch together at a very slow speed. My head is light from the blood loss.

I don’t know at what point I stop hearing the sounds of fighting, but something is nudging me before a hand cups my face and a familiar voice reaches my ears.

“Seline!”

There’s panic and worry in the voice, and underlying all that is a confused fear.

Austin?

Chapter 4

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’ll—"

“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.