My Best Friend's Werewolf

46 For Their Lives

"I'm not sure what else to do," I plead.

"Well—"

My phone beeps and I pull it away from my ear.

Call from Dad

"I've got to go. My Dad's calling." Everything is about to be sorted out and if I can get the car and get to Xavier's then chaining me up isn't as important. Okay, it still is. I did almost kill those people. I answer his call. "Dad? Where are you?"

"I'm so sorry we left without telling you but we didn't want to worry you because. . ."

"I get that but where are you?"

"Mom's in labor. We're at the hospital."

Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.

"This is going to sound really selfish, but I kind of need the car so I can get out of town before I. . . you know. . .change."

"I can't leave your mother."

I swallow. I have to say this. "Do you want me to end up killing everyone in the neighborhood?"

"I'll be there in thirty." He ends the call, and I race up stairs, grabbing a banana from a bowl on the counter. I peel it and bite into it and swallow. Seconds later I heave it back up into the sink.

I head outside and pace the driveway so I can get going the moment he gets here. I may have shifted at midnight last time but Jasper has already been through with me how I won't be able to hold it off very long once the sun sets. It will take awhile for me to be able to keep myself from shifting for as long as Jasper did last time.

My dad pulls up in our SUV, and I meet him at the driver's door. I switch places with him.

"I'd drop you off at the hospital, but I really don't have much time."

"Do what you have to do. I'll call a taxi." If only I could have done that, but I didn't want to risk slaughtering the driver.

I gag at that thought. The clock on the dashboard reads 3:27. I should get there around eight which I'm going to pray won't be too late. I back out of the driveway and push the boundaries of the speed limit.

The sky turns to a beautiful mix of pinks and oranges. It sickens me, and I push down on the gas pedal more. My headache grows and flashes go off in my head, causing me to jerk my neck. It's seven. I'm almost there.

When the sun finally disappears my head is pounding, and I've been swerving enough and speeding enough to give any police officer cause to pull me over.

I nearly cry out when I turn down Xavier's driveway. It's all I can do to shut the car off before I climb out, my body feeling like a brick. I push the car door shut and clamber up the stairs, my body shaking. I turn the knob on the front door, relieved to find Xavier remembered to leave it unlocked.

Entering the basement I collapse onto the floor at the top of the stairs. With my foot I close the door as I crawl forward. At least I can't turn the knob with paws so hopefully the door is strong enough to hold me. I pick up a set of the chains though my eyesight is blurry from the pain. I position the metal collar around my neck and grab the key lying next to where the collar was. I try to insert the key into the hole but my coordination is distorted. This isn't going to work. My arms give out and I crumble completely. I can't do this.

I hear a door and footsteps. I sniff, recognizing the scents but not able to place them. If I shifted, I'd be able to. This pain would go away.

The door flies open, my last true barrier from the outside world. I can probably break down the front door. Eliza and Hanna run toward me, their bodies blurry.

"You can't be here," I mumble.

"Hanna, get her clothes. I lock her in."

Hanna peels off my shirt, shorts, and underwear while Eliza works to chain me up. Once I'm locked in, they step back.

"Get out of here."

Hanna's fist tightens at her side. "We're not leaving you, Addy."

"Eliza, please."

She shakes her head. "I've been stupid."

"You're being stupid now."

She crosses her arms. "We're not leaving."

"They're going to kill me for this. . ." My back arches and hunches, my bones shrinking, and growing, melding and breaking. My hair and nails lengthen, my nails becoming sharper, blacker. My face molds into a snout, and I growl at the two humans before me. I lunge for them but the chains yank me back. They head for the exit, taking their time. I bark at them, snapping my teeth.

I crouch, my eyes not leaving my prey.

"Addy," the one with dark hair says.

I leap forward, the chains snapping. The humans stumble up the stairs.

"Addy," they both plead. I follow them up the stairs and out the door, snapping and growling at them.

The dark haired one looks me in the eyes. "Addy. It's me. Eliza."

They bump into the couch, and I stalk toward them. They're mine.

"Addy."

I lock eyes with the dark haired one, and they become familiar. Eliza.

A splintering crash ricochets around the room and two hard lumps slam into me, pinning me against the wall. I growl, unable to move because of the two blond wolves holding me down—Alpha and Hunter. A black wolf leaps at us—Jasper—and begins biting at the two wolves.

Eliza and the other human yell, but I can hardly make out what they say because of the snapping and growling and yipping taking place on top of me.

Alpha drags himself out of the fight and toward the girls. Toward Eliza. Toward his mate. He's going to mark her, but he'll lose control and kill her. I put all my strength into heaving Hunter and Jasper off of me and jump onto Alpha's back, sinking my teeth into his shoulder. He growls and bucks me off of him. I collapse onto the floor and release a small whimper. He pins me underneath him and bites my stomach. I howl trying to crawl away but he has me trapped. Blood drips from his teeth as he opens his mouth to bite again, but Jasper slams into him, freeing me.

A wolf whose scent I recognize as Travis' leaps over my head, landing in front of the two girls. Hunter attacks him and they become a ball of brown and blond fur. I rush toward Eliza and the other girl, past Jasper and Alpha, past Hunter and Travis. I jerk my head to the side, telling Eliza to follow me. They get the point and dart into the nearest room while I guard them. They close the door, and I station myself in front of it. Alpha tosses Jasper to the side and stalks toward me. I growl, my hackles raised. My stomach drips blood, but I have to stand my ground. He leaps on top of me, tearing into my skin. I bite back, bitting into his leg and his side, but I'm no match for him.

But I will die for my best friend. Human or wolf. Monster or beast.

As my strength seeps, Jasper and Hunter attack Alpha. Travis jumps in trying to defend his leader, not his sister.