My Wolf’s Bane(93)

“How do we block him?” I asked. We were moving again, but barely. Zack was stalling, probably since we were close to the shop and he had more to say.

“I’m guessing it’s the same way you morph. You visualize it happening. See it the way you want it to be.”

Apparently, he utilized his spare time trying to find a way to beat Daniel, while I used mine trying to get Zack to want me. His time had been much better spent. I slumped in my seat, feeling useless.

He eased up off the accelerator a little more. “On the other hand, it might not work and he might overhear everything we say to each other and he’ll know you’re not human.”

“So we don’t do it unless there’s no other way,” I said, recognizing the auto shop sign up ahead.

“Right. When we get there, we’ll open the garage, drive the car inside, then close and lock it.”

“Sounds simple enough,” I said.

Waiting in the turning lane, he glanced at me. “The timing will be tricky though. The garage door isn’t automatic. We’ll both have to leave the car to open it and come back together. I can’t leave you alone.”

With the Mustang’s top down, I felt vulnerable. “We should put the top up.”

“No, that would make your car higher and give Daniel something bigger to hide behind if he snuck in somehow. We need to see everything around us.”

The nausea became more intense and I swallowed to keep from gagging. As Zack pulled into the deserted lot, he squeezed my hand. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

I looked into his green eyes and, for that moment, I believed him.

“C’mon.” He opened the driver’s side door and got out, eyes scanning the lot. Not a soul in sight. In unison, we moved to the lock on the immense garage door. I kept my back to the wide door while Zack slipped a key into the padlock and pulled the chain through the thick brackets. Still hanging onto the chain, he pressed his back to the door and bent at the knee. Grabbing the handle, Zack rose, bringing the door up with him. He motioned to the car. On high alert, we got in at the same time.

Slowly, the car eased into the empty garage. To my right was ample room where five cars could park side by side.

As soon as Zack killed the engine, I smelled him.

Daniel.

I sucked in air to shout out a warning to Zack who was rounding the hood, but Daniel was already at my side, stuffing a rag over my mouth.





Instead of air, I sucked in something vile. He yanked me out of the passenger’s seat and snaked an arm around my neck.

Zack froze two feet away. Autumn, he drugged you.

I’d figured that out by the stink up my nose and the fog in my brain. But I wasn’t completely unconscious. Apparently, drugs didn’t affect me like they would a human.

Act like you’re out. Zack told me silently.

I pretended to go limp, resting the back of my head against Daniel’s chest. Knowing he couldn’t see my eyes with my back to him, I kept them open.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Zack. One move and I’ll snap her neck.”

If Daniel had heard our three-way calling, he would’ve skipped the threats and fast-forwarded to the snapping. I inwardly breathed a huge sigh of relief that Zack was able to block Daniel from our silent conversation.

“Okay.” Zack took a step back and held out his hands. “You’re the boss.”

“That’s right, I am.” I felt a tremor in Daniel’s chest as though he were laughing. “You should’ve walked away when you had the chance, moron.”

“So what now, Daniel? You think you can get away with her dead weight holding you back? You’d never make it.”

“You’re going to step aside and let me walk away, because you don’t want her to get hurt.”

“Hm.” Zack nodded thoughtfully. “Why would you think that?”

Daniel chuckled. “Because you like her. Duh.”

“Yeah, well, she is hot. But she’s just a girl. A human at that. You want to kill her, go ahead. You’re not leaving here alive though. Not after you’ve insulted me and tried to take what’s mine.”

With his free hand, Daniel picked a knife from his back pocket. He held its razor sharp edge to my neck below his arm. If he pressed any harder, he’d draw blood. “You sure about that, dude?”

“You went through all this trouble for her and now you’re okay with killing her?” Zack laughed. “You’re an idiot, Daniel. I can tell you though, she’s worth the wait,” Zack said, a slow smile spreading over his face.

Daniel’s arms stiffened, then he released me and I allowed my body to crumple the way I imagined an unconscious person would fall.