Chapter 4

• I threw my elbow back, trying to hit his stomach. Tyler forced both my arms to my side, pinning me against him. He pulled me even closer to him and I could feel his hardness pressing into me.
• I felt his nose by my ear, his hot breath on my neck. He was panting and I wasn’t sure if he was in control or his wolf was. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t going to end well for me if I couldn’t get out of his grip.
• “Let me go, Tyler. Or I swear to the gods I will slit your throat in your sleep,” I hissed.
• His large hand grabbed my chin and roughly forced my head to turn so I was facing him. “You will be a ghost until the full moon. I don’t want to see your face. As soon as the magic lifts, you’re gone. If you stay, I will finish what I started.”
• He pushed me away and I stumbled forward, landing on the ground on my hands and knees. Shaking and terrified, I risked a glance behind me. When I realized that I was alone, my shoulders slumped and I let out a breath of relief.
• It wasn’t fair being a human surrounded by these powerful creatures who could snap me in half without even trying. The sooner I could get away from all things magic, the better.
• In the next few days, I can see Tyler everywhere without doubt. In the halls, at the store, even walking down the fucking street. As asked, I faded into the background, hiding behind other people and even once ducking behind a tree. It wasn’t like I was being stealthy, he saw me, but to his credit, he did his part to look away. And unless I was imagining things, he even distracted his friends a few times to keep them from seeing me.
• None of it made sense.
• But it was almost over. I was going to be free of this place tomorrow. Thank the gods.
• I walked into the empty, dim store. Jud was closing down the register for the night.
• “You have my last check, Jud?” I asked. “My apron is in the back along with my name tag.”
• Jud grunted. “You really going through with it?”
• “You say it as if you’re surprised,” I said. “I told you when you hired me I was out the day before the full moon.”
• “Yeah, but nobody ever leaves. Even your mother came back,” he pointed out.
• “I’m not my mom,” I reminded him.
• “That’s true, you’re not.” He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “Figured it might help if your last check was in cash. There’s some extra to help you get started but don’t tell anyone I helped you.”
• “I’d never dream of it,” I said. “Everyone knows you’re an uncaring asshole.”
• He grinned. “That’s exactly what I am.”
• I accepted the envelope from him. Jud really was an asshole, but in the same way most single wolf shifters were. He was gruff and unfriendly, but he wasn’t hurtful or mean. But he was the only one willing to hire me when I started looking for jobs at thirteen. I’d started a few hours a week sweeping then moved up to stocking and register. Thanks to Jud, I had a good chunk saved for my escape from this hellhole.
• “Thanks for everything, Jud,” I said.
• He nodded. “Can I give you one piece of advice?”
• “Sure.”