She shook her head. “I’m too tired to run. Besides, Brother Wolf exists in the past, present, and future. He sees all roads and where they go. Whatever path you travel, come tomorrow when the sun passes the equator, William will find you.”
“What do I do?”
“You fight him.” She gestured to Doc. “But unlike me, you don’t have to fight him alone. You have the spirit talker, the spirit walker, and the song dog at your back.”
“And you?” I asked.
“I can’t.” Bette picked at her thumbnail. “My fear would only serve William’s cause. It would put Etta in greater danger.”
“We should go, then,” Doc said flatly. “We need to prepare.”
Bette nodded. “My parting advice. Surprise him. Hedges are healers and diviners. Our brand of magic is strong, but it isn’t meant for battle. You’ll need strategy and some luck to defeat him.”
I arched a brow. “What are my odds?”
She closed her eyes and leaned back, her face pointed to the sky. “He’s grown in strength and power over the years, but for the cunning, there’s always a way.”
Cunning people were devious by nature, like William, able to lie and manipulate to get what they wanted. I, on the other hand, had always been a blunt instrument. More hammer and nail than arts and crafts.
I still had one more question for Bette. “Why here? Why did you bring me here? You had to know William would come.”
“Can’t you feel it?” She held her hands out, palms up. “Wolf Creek is packed with moonstone. A mineral, when in abundance, interferes with certain types of supernatural activity.” She glanced at Doc. “Try to shift.”
His brows dipped. After a few moments of concentration, a fine gray fur sprouted on his arm.
Bette smiled. “You are strong,” she said, pride in her voice, “and even you struggled. Imagine how William’s going to react when his wolf is reluctant to come out and play.”
“You gave me a fighting chance,” I said.
Bette nodded. “I gave you a fighting chance.”
CHAPTERTEN
Jo Jo – You can’t keep what you can’t catch.
Her essence? Are you kidding me? I’d been the champion for Etta to hear Bette out, but that had been a huge mistake. William had been biding his time for twenty-five years in order to murder his own granddaughter, his flesh and blood, in order to gain power. Had we delivered Etta to him, signed and sealed?
Regardless of Chav’s connection with Brother Wolf and Billy Bob’s raw strength, Etta was in danger. If Bette was right about this moonstone dulling their abilities, it meant they wouldn’t be at full strength if it was needed. The same went for me. From what Etta had told me about War, he was an expert in weapons and a ruthless killer. It was going to take more than good intentions to keep Etta from harm’s way.
It was up to me. I would do what needed to be done to make sure he never got his hands on the woman I loved.
I blinked as the words tumbled through my head. The woman I love. I loved Etta. I loved her more than I thought it was possible to love another person. I loved her enough to give up everything if it meant keeping her safe, and giving up everything is exactly what I planned to do.
There was only one surefire way of avoiding William’s birthday surprise party, and that was by pulling a Bette and disappearing. My stomach clenched as worry gnawed at me when we returned to the cabin. I made my way back to the bedroom and dug my phone out of my back pocket.
Calling Willy was out of the question. Too many ears. Etta might not have wolf ears anymore, but I couldn’t take the chance that Doc and Chav might overhear.
Need an exit plan, I texted. My forearm started to itch. I absently scratched, then typed.Safe house for Etta until we can figure out what to do next. New identity for the two of us. No one can know.
Three bouncy dots appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again.Is that what Etta wants?Willy texted back.
Yes, I lied. Once I had everything in place, I would convince Etta to come with me.How soon can you arrange?
Give me half an hour.
That was faster than I expected but not fast enough to offer me any relief.We’ll get on the road soon. Please, don’t tell anyone. Not even dad. No one can know where we’re going.
More bouncy dots. They kept showing up and disappearing so much that I thought Willy was writing a book. Eventually, her text flashed on my screen. It was one word.
