Seducing The Wolf - By Marisa Chenery Page 0,56

landscaped grounds and large mansion, but she was too focused on what she needed to do.

The front door of the mansion opened before she could knock. Beowulf took one look at her face and ushered her inside. "What's wrong, Billie?"

"I need Roxie. I know she's here."

Beowulf grinned. "Roxie told me about that gift of yours. It must come in handy." He grew serious when she didn't elaborate on her gift. "Billie, where is Royce?"

"I really need to talk to Roxie first, then I'll tell you the rest."

"I'll get her for you."

"That won't be necessary." Roxie stood at the bottom of the large staircase. "I heard Billie's voice and came down to see what was going on. How about we go into the kitchen for our talk? There should be a fresh pot of coffee on."

Billie nodded. She followed Roxie into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Beowulf went to pour the coffee as Roxie sat down in the seat next to her. She didn't wait for the coffee. Instead, Billie got straight to the point. She knew time was ticking away for Royce and her brother. "I want you to try the spell on me. Now."

Roxie met Beowulf's gaze across the room before she turned back to Billie. "Why the rush? Wouldn't you like to wait until Royce can be here?"

Beowulf placed three cups of coffee on the table and sat down next to Roxie. "I think that is why Billie doesn't want to wait. Royce can't be here. Right, Billie?"

With her hands fisted on the tabletop, Billie nodded. "I need the spell to save them. I'm no match for a werewolf as a mortal."

Beowulf grew still. "Them?"

"Gren has Royce and my brother Finn. I have to get them back."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes. When I came home from the gym Royce wasn't there, but the front door was unlocked and his car was in the driveway. When I found an empty syringe lying on the floor in the entrance hallway I knew something was wrong. So I used my gift to find him. Gren is holding him and my brother in some abandoned warehouse."

Roxie turned to Beowulf. Billie saw the look of concern that passed between them before Roxie spoke to her. "Billie, you don't have to do this alone. The spell can wait. Beowulf will handle this. It will only take him a few minutes to call some other members of our pack to go with him."

"No. You don't understand. It has to be me. My father told me the truth about my mother. She has the gift of sight. When I was a baby she saw that I would turn into a wolf. And a few days ago she saw it again."

"That doesn't necessarily mean you have to be the one to take on Gren. It may just mean you are meant to try the spell."

"I know it has to be me." Billie kept the part of her mother seeing the wolf as a killer to herself. Beowulf and Roxie didn't need to know about that. To Billie it was all the proof she needed to know she had to be the one to save Royce and Finn. "Please, Roxie. They're safe for now, but I don't know for how much longer." When Roxie didn't quickly agree, she tried one more tactic. "What would you do if you were in my place and it was Beowulf that Gren had? I know you wouldn't stay behind and wait. You're like me. You protect what is yours."

Roxie gave her a small smile. "You're right, Billie. I didn't stay home when Beowulf decided he had to be the man and take care of Gren when we had our problems with him. Even though Beowulf won't admit it, I saved his butt that day. I cleaned Gren's clock, and the two thugs he had with him."

"Then you'll do it?"

"Yes, she will," Beowulf said as he stood up. "But you won't be going alone, Billie. Let me make a couple of phone calls, then Roxie can try the spell on you."

Billie felt her nerves stretch almost to the breaking point as she sat alone in the kitchen waiting for Beowulf and Roxie to return. Roxie had gone to get the supplies she needed to do the spell. Billie could only guess at what they were. Beowulf had left the room as well to make his phone calls.

Needing to do something, Billie closed her eyes and focused her thoughts inward.