Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

Caia shifted uncomfortably.

Alexa grinned and ducked her head closer to Caia’s, as if they’d been best friends all their lives. “And I dunno, maybe we had too much to drink, but before I knew it, we were in his bedroom.”

It was like someone had slapped her across the face.

Alexa didn’t mean what Caia thought she meant, did she? Lucien wouldn’t kiss one girl, and then …

A white heat prickled across her skin, boiling her blood as it passed inch by inch from her feet up through her legs. It was a familiar heat she’d felt only once before.

“And there I was, waking up next to his gorgeous body. I think the pack will be celebrating another mating soon, and when we do”—she smiled and touched her flat belly—“this will be a whole lot rounder.”

At those last words, without warning and with no way to control it, even though she knew what would happen, the white heat blasted out from Caia’s body like a force and sent a horrified Alexa flying across the room. Her peers gasped and chairs scraped back as some went to help Alexa off the floor. Caia stared at Alexa in horror, her hands trembling, blood pounding in her head.

And then the worst began to happen.

A familiar wincing pain radiated from her left hand. She glanced down and saw her fair pelt pushing through the soft flesh. She slapped her other hand over it. No! Oh goddess. Not here.

She couldn’t breathe.

“What on earth?” she heard the teacher cry as Alexa stumbled to her feet.

She heard the “oh my Gods”, some snickering, but most of them were staring at her like she’d gone mad.

“Caia Ribeiro, what has gotten into you?” the teacher cried.

“I have to go.” She ignored Alexa’s snarl of her name as she fled past her classmates. Eyes on her left her hand, Caia watched, frightened, as more and more of her pelt pushed through. She swallowed a groan at the feel of her muscles burning, readying themselves for the change.

“Watch yourself, young lady.” Caia looked up as someone steadied her, at once realizing a small crowd had gathered in the hallway. “The water.” The janitor pointed to the floor a few feet ahead. “The pipes in this place have all gone crazy … water everywhere …”

Caia didn’t stop to hear him finish. The water was her fault, again, but with the change coming fast, she had no time to think about it. Her pelt was pushing through her legs now, her feet shifting in her shoes. Holy Artemis, she wasn’t going to make it out of here.

“Caia!”

Sebastian?

She whirled around to find him rushing toward her. He tried to halt her, locking onto her elbow. “Caia, I need to talk to you about Saturday night.”

“Sebastian,” she growled, her voice changing.

His eyes widened, and he gripped her tighter. “Caia?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she leaned into him, pleading with her eyes. “I’m changing, Sebastian. I can’t stop it. I didn’t … you have to get me out of here.”

She was never so thankful for his quick thinking. He didn’t say another word, just grabbed her and started running with her toward the parking lot. She tripped as her left foot completely changed inside her shoe and he swung her into his arms, running to his car. She was aware of him almost ripping off the car door, and then he none too gently threw her into the back seat.

The door slammed behind her and she clawed into the leather seats as her back rippled. She heard Sebastian climbing into the driver’s seat, and then a blanket was thrown over her, launching her into darkness as she changed completely, her clothes tearing with the transformation. Her heart slowed when she realized they’d made it, and she sat panting as the car spun around and sped off at high speed.

“Lucien,” she heard Sebastian say, and realized he must be on his cell, “we have a problem. It’s Caia. It’s happening. Meet me at your house.”

What is happening? she screamed inwardly and let out a low growl of anguish.

Did they know already? Did they know what was wrong with her?

Daddy, she thought for the first time since she was a little girl, when she would speak to him in her thoughts. Daddy, I’m scared. But unlike when she was little and an imaginary strong voice would always reply, Caia heard nothing—nothing but the steady thud of her heart and the squeal of Sebastian’s tires.

15

Time

Lucien flew up his driveway, the gravel rioting against his paintwork as he skidded to a stop two seconds behind Sebastian’s car. His heart hammered in his chest and blood whooshed in his ears as he jumped out of his car and hurried toward an anxious and flustered Sebastian.

I knew it, he cursed inwardly. He’d known yesterday something was wrong with her. But he’d been self-absorbed enough to think it had something to do with the kiss they’d shared.