“It’ll give Kara a taste of what she deserves,” Laila replies.
A few seconds later, the room fills with a mixture of earth magic and fae power. It circles all around me, and I can barely breathe from how strong it is. The moment Laila’s hand touches my bare skin, all of the magic in the room thrusts into my body. Time seems to float into nonexistence as I drift further and further into my mind. Instead of feeling the hard floor on my back, everything grows numb. I’m not in Amelie’s house when I open my eyes but in a dark room with no ending or beginning. I look down at my body, but I can see through myself like I’m just a haze. It’s as if I’m a ghost inside of myself, neither here nor there.
“What does the bracelet do?” Kami asks, her voice echoing all around me.
As soon as she says it, I glance at my wrist, and a silver bracelet appears with glowing green vines etched onto the surface. Laila whispers words in the ancient fae language, and the radiance intensifies to the point where I have to close my eyes.
Looking down at the bracelet, panic rises in my chest. “What does it do?” I shout as I desperately try to pry the bracelet off my wrist. I can’t get a grip on it. It’s like there’s an invisible force stopping me.
The vines glow again, and Laila’s voice rings loud in my ear. “This takes away all her power. She won’t be able to shift or use any of her wolf senses. She’ll be just like a human.”
Doubling over, I suck in a breath and clutch my stomach. Fear overtakes me, and I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. A blue haze floats away from my body, and it swirls like the wind is taking it. I reach inside of myself for my wolf, but I can’t feel her … it’s as if she never existed. The blue haze is her; it’s my power leaving me and floating into the darkness.
“No,” I cry, chasing after it. Tears trail down my cheeks faster than I can run. It reminds me of those kinds of dreams where you’re running from someone, but you stay in the same place, not making any distance. My magic slips farther and farther away from me, and my body gives out. I don’t have the energy to continue. “Stop,” I scream, reaching into the darkness. My magic disappears, and I can feel the emptiness inside of me. What Laila says is true. My power is gone.
Curling into myself, I close my eyes and hold my legs tight to my chest. No matter how loud I scream, no one is going to help. I’m a prisoner inside of my own body. I can listen to everyone around me, but they can’t hear me.
“Is there a way for it to come off?” Kami asks, her voice echoing all around me.
Quickly, I wipe away my tears and sit up, waiting to hear the answer.
“Oh, there’s a way,” Laila answers, “but only Kara or I can take it off.”
I glance down at the bracelet, wondering how the hell I can do it. How can I when I can’t even touch the fucking thing? It repels me.
Kami scoffs. “How can Kara do it?”
Laila sighs. “She will have to figure that out herself.”
“So you’re not going to tell me?” Kami asks.
“She’s laying right here, Kami,” Laila whispers. “For all we know, she can hear everything we’re saying.”
Kami chuckles lightly, and the sound makes the hair on my neck stand on end. “Well, in that case … Kara, if you can hear me, I hope you enjoy being a lesser wolf for a change. Maybe it’ll teach you a lesson or two. It’s a shame I won’t be there to watch you suffer.”
“No, no, no,” I shout, wailing at the top of my lungs even though neither one of them can hear me. “You can’t do this!” I get to my feet and circle around the darkness with nowhere to go.
My body trembles with fury, and I fall to my knees. No one should be able to take your wolf away. My wolf is who I am, and now she’s gone. Closing my eyes, I scream until all that comes out is nothing but a hoarse croak. I’m in hell.
2
CHASE
THREE WEEKS LATER
* * *
One would think wintertime in the wine country would be the least exciting part of the year, but it’s one of my favorites. Luckily, the weather here in California doesn’t affect my vines as much as it would if were in another part of the country. The winter season gives me more time to spend in the winery and hosting events until harvesting season returns. Plus, the downtime helps me to think up new wine recipes.
“Maheegan!”
Glancing over my shoulder, I see my second-in-command, Cameron Volk, headed my way through the vineyard. Every day I walk each aisle, inspecting my grapevines. Not that anything has changed since yesterday when I did it, but it’s what I’ve always done since I was a little boy. My parents walked the vineyards every day together; it was their time alone away from the pack and the duties that came with being the alpha male and female. I used to believe they never knew I was there with them, but it wasn’t until I was older that they came clean. They were happy to see I loved the vineyards as much as they did. It’s always been my legacy to take over the Timberwolf Creek Winery and Vineyards, and I knew the commitment it would take to keep our business afloat.
Cameron catches up to me and gives me that big, goofy smile of his. He’s the same age as me at thirty-two, and we’ve been inseparable since birth. Our families have been tied together for centuries. When my father became alpha, he partnered with the Volk family, and they took over the Timberwolf Bistro, which connects to the winery. Cameron manages the restaurant along with his sister, Ayla, while their parents work in the kitchen. Cameron is also a master chef and works in the kitchens when we don’t have events. Tonight, however, we have a huge event—a bachelorette party that Cameron desperately wants to be a part of.
“I see someone’s excited about tonight,” I say. Cameron’s light brown hair is combed to perfection, and he has on his favorite gray Tom Ford suit. He always says it brings out the bright gray in his eyes, and that’s what the women love.
A mischievous twinkle sparkles in Cameron’s eyes. “You could say that. But, then again, you should be thrilled, too.”
“Oh yeah, why is that?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
We walk side by side back toward the winery, and he snorts. “Please. Eight single women are coming to this party tonight, and each one will be jumping at the chance to ride your cock. So just make sure you send some my way. We both know I’m better at pleasuring the ladies than you are.”
Tilting my head back, I laugh. “And how the hell do you know that? I haven’t had any complaints.”
Cameron smirks. “Yeah, that’s what sucks. All the women want you.”
I slap him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, brother. I’ll be sure to be your wingman tonight.”
“Sounds good. I knew you’d have my back.” Cameron elbows me in the side. “Just look out for the bride, though. She was adamant that you be at the party tonight. I think she’s got the hots for you.”
I know she did. I could smell the lust on her when she came in a couple of weeks ago to pay the deposit on renting out the winery for her bachelorette party. Would I want to fuck her? You’re damn right I would. She’s sexy as hell, but …