heart stopped in my chest. My wolf noted my fear, but even as she retreated deeper inside of me, as something else built up. A new type of defense. I had to trust my instincts.
“Oh, are you a child about to have a tantrum?”
She waved her pretty manicured hand at me again, and the feeling building inside of me subsided. The whole thing felt unnatural, like I was violated. My insides felt like they were being caged, restricted to the most unpleasant of confined spaces.
“Come with me, love.”
“There is no way in hell I would go anywhere with a witch.”
This time I did bare my teeth. She must know I was a wolf. If I could help it, I didn’t want her to know about my other half, but I think she already might. With that dark gleam in her eye. She was somehow a part of these plans. I wasn’t sure how she knew. But I didn’t know much about witches in general; when I was growing up we didn’t study them. Hunter came into the picture the same time my powers did, they weren’t ever my concern then. Wolves usually knew instinctively when another wolf was around. Was it the same with witches? Is that how the warlock from the forest knew about me?
His face popped into my head. He was there, at the carnival. My thoughts moved rapidly to a dark place. Fear slipped into my veins.
Hunter.
“Where is he?”
My wolf rushed forward, knowing her mate might be in danger. But she hit a brick wall when she started to take more control. I wanted her to. I needed to feel her strength. My gaze narrowed on witch who was watching me with great concentration.
“None of that now.”
The woman snapped, her gaze turning arctic with her words. She threw the drawer on the desk casually as she crossed toward me, staring at me as she approached. She made a humming noise in the back of her throat. I eyed the potential weapon carefully, wondering if I could reach it. She straightened and seemed to come to a decision.
I didn’t know what she was planning, but I knew if she left the door would likely disappear when she passed through it. I would be stuck in this room with no answers with only the knowledge that witches were on the other side. Worst of all, I had no idea if they had Hunter and if they did what they would do to him.
“You will join us for dinner tonight, love. Please change into something else, you will find everything you need in there.”
She motioned to the wardrobe that hadn’t been there before. I was certain wasn’t there before. My eyes turned back to the woman.
“Behave my dear.”
With that she walked out of the room, and as she left the door molded back into a solid wall. I ran to it hoping I could somehow stop the transformation by touching it, but that didn’t work. The shape disappeared into the smooth, sky blue paint of the wall again. I was left alone with my fears ruling.
I looked around the small room that seemed to be getting smaller by the second. My thoughts were too big for this small place I was in. Fear that they had Hunter and they were hurting him. Fear that in a couple hours I would be forced to dine with witches. What would they do to me?
The walls were collapsing in on themselves. Collapsing in on me. I stood pacing the room trying to remind myself the space wasn’t closing in on me.
I had space. I had space.
My breathing was short now that my deep rooted fear was alive and impossible to ignore. I hated small spaces after those cages. I hated feeling like I couldn’t spread out and move. I touched the wall and walked around the room. I kept my other arm out reminding myself I always was touching air. I was safe. Sort of.
I sat down on the bed and rested my elbows on my jeans. My legs bounced restlessly. I closed my eyes and leaned my head between my knees. The terror in my body finally started to subside. I reclined onto my side and lay down.
****
I hadn’t realized I had fallen asleep again until I heard knocking where I the door was. I still hadn’t fully figured out where their spell ended and the door began, though I was sure of the general area. As I opened my eyes, I