Darkest Wolf(21)

“We’re about to be in trouble. Sit up.” He moved her off his lap. “Put your seatbelt on.”

“But what about the twins?” Elizabeth felt unwelcome panic start to rise in her throat. How could Rex just decide to leave her swinging in the wind unprotected after he’d said he’d take care of her? Why was she surprised? The whole world turned against her eventually.

“This isn’t the twins. It’s my kind of trouble instead.”

“What?” She didn’t understand. Weren’t his issues happening on an island off the coast of Maine that any witch with half a brain knew to stay away from?

“My father has made a bunch of man-made wolves. He kidnaps the homeless or drug addicts. For some reason, others decide to sign up voluntarily. I’m not exactly sure why.

But he uses a combination of witch magic and science to make his wolf-army.” Rex scowled as he spoke. “The only problem is they don’t live very long. They’re addicted to a drug keeping them loyal to him. For the brief time they live as shifters, they are crazed, deranged and out for blood—specifically the blood of any member of the Westervelt Wolves.”

“How would they even know you were here? And how do you know they’re around?

We’re in a car, for goodness’ sake.”

“My nose. They’re out there.” He pointed to the woods on the side of the road.

“They’re running hard. They may tire themselves out and have to stop or they may catch up to us.”

“We’re going really fast.” She looked at the speedometer. It read sixty miles an hour.

“There’s no way a wolf can catch up to us.” She hoped. Elizabeth had never studied canines. It was possible they could run that fast but she doubted it.

“These aren’t regular wolves. I can catch this car as a wolf and I’m not magically enhanced by black magic.”



She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. He’d used the words that made every witch she knew cringe. Black magic. That was a pretty serious accusation. Even the coven leader who had cursed Elizabeth to look hideous wouldn’t be accused of black magic.

She might have crossed a line, but she hadn’t gone into the black zone.

Rex’s head jerked left. “Shit.”

“What?” She didn’t think he cursed very much. Most of the time he sounded pretty formal.

“I can see them. They’re very close.” His voice had gotten lower; his words sounding almost like a growl. She turned to stare at him. His eyes were all wolf. Gone were Rex’s remote depths holding a million secrets. In their place was the gaze of an animal intent on eliminating an enemy.

“Rex?” She hadn’t realized she could deal with the animal while the man was still present. Looking at a wolf when it appeared as a wolf was one thing, Rex in this mixed wolf-man phase scared her. If he wanted to, he could reach out and snap her neck.

“I can smell your fear.”

“I’m not surprised.” Was her voice shaking? “You say we’re under attack by some rabid wolves, and now in the car you are changing. How will you drive the car if you shift?”

Maybe she sounded insane. She didn’t care. Her life had gotten so out of control she couldn’t even recognize it anymore. Just years earlier she had been living a simple existence. Her whole life had been planned out in a way she liked. Now? She would probably be killed while she ran for her life with this wickedly handsome wolf driving her crazy.

“I am not going to shift, witch.” Rex smiled. “Not every wolf can do this.

Maintaining my human body while letting the wolf loose is not a big deal for me. I am of royal blood.”

Rex had just gotten finished telling her what his father had done to their entire pack.

His words about the strength of his lineage didn’t reassure her. But this really wasn’t the time to remind him of his background.

Elizabeth gasped as Rex pulled the car to the side of the highway. She looked around. It was dark and she had no idea where she was. They’d been on one turnpike or another for the entire night. How long had they been travelling? She had no idea. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Protecting the humans on this road.” Rex undid his seatbelt. “And apparently confusing the made-wolves. They’ve stopped moving. I don’t think they anticipated I would stop the car. Perhaps they are regrouping.”

“I don’t understand any of this. What do you mean protecting the humans?” She wanted to throw something.

“If I do not get out of this car and take down the wolves, they will leap out onto the car. I’ve been in one car accident recently. I do not crave another.” He shook his head.