"Newbies have to be chained up during the full moon," Beth said. "For the first few months at least. Until they learn to control it."
That sounded awful, the image flashing through my mind.
"Like animals," Beth said, her face darkening. "It's ugly, but it's necessary. Otherwise, they're a danger to themselves and others."
I sat back, my hands trembling. "Chained up... that’s awful?" I glanced around, half expecting chains to appear out of thin air.
Beth's face softened. "I know this is a lot to take in. But you don't need to worry about this tonight. It’s not like anyone who is out at night is being attacked. We’re still safe. We just have to be careful. Why don’t we all head home and try to get some sleep, okay?"
"Sleep?" I scoffed. "How can I sleep knowing?—"
"Hey," Buster, the cat, cut in, his voice low and gruff. "We've got bigger things to worry about than fairy tales. Python's been eyeing us all night." His gaze darted across the room.
"Python?" I followed his stare, and there he was—a white mouse, glaring at us from under a chair with beady little eyes.
I internally groaned. Everyone always talks about the hatred between cats and mice, but I’ve gotten a whole other view of their relationship since animals can talk around Beth. And their fight? It was ridiculous. Python was just a tiny little mouse. He wasn’t some evil mastermind like Buster thought.
It’s too late for this.
"See? He's planning something," Buster muttered as the mouse took off, a flash of white disappearing into a hole in the wall.
"Planning what, an escape?" I tried to laugh it off, but the tension in the room twisted my insides into knots.
We had bigger things to worry about than their cat and mouse game. Worries about things like werewolves and infections. Things concerning people being attacked, seemingly at random.
Beth reached out and gave Buster a gentle pat on the back. "Buster, you need to chill about Python. He's just a mouse."
"Chill? That furball is up to no good, and you’ll all regret not listening to me," Buster grumbled, but he leaned into Beth's touch despite his words.
"Let him scheme." I tried to find some humor in it all. "Worst he can do is nibble on some cheese."
"Or cables," Beth added with a smirk, her hand moving rhythmically as she soothed the upset cat.
"Or our toes," Deva joked, and we all let out a reluctant chuckle.
"Feisty little thing, isn't he?" I watched the hole where Python had vanished.
I just needed to take deep breaths and remember that we’ve faced a lot of challenges in Mystic Hollow, but I was given the powers of Karma for a reason. This werewolf case was important, and I was going to right the wrongs of whoever had been infecting innocent people… and make them pay.
FIVE
Emma
There was talking and laughter from the kitchen as I made my way toward it, stumbling along like the exhausted zombie I was. Yes, I’d managed to dress and do a basic job on my hair and makeup, but I’d had my eyes closed for most of it. For all I knew, I had lipstick in an uneven line across my cheek.
Blinking into the sunlight, I spotted Daniel, Alice, and Henry all gathered around the table, with food laid out in front of them. My heart rose just a little. This was my little family, and I loved them. But before I loved them too much, I needed coffee.
I slid into the chair at the breakfast table, my eyes still heavy from a short night's sleep. The smell of coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of toasted bread. "Morning." I reached for my mug, which had been conveniently set out by a certain sexy bear shifter, I was sure of it.
"Hey, you." Daniel greeted me with his easy smile, pushing the coffee pot toward me. "Sleep well?"
"Could've been better." I poured the dark liquid and took a grateful sip. "How about you?" He’d been awake for a whilebefore I’d even thought about rolling over. I might’ve tried to sleep longer if I hadn’t had to pee so badly.
"Like a log," he replied, crunching on a piece of toast and swallowing before adding. "Sometimes it takes me longer to go to sleep because I’m still getting used to the sound of rolling waves instead of the quiet woods, but it’s getting easier every night I live here.”
"How about you guys?” I asked Henry and Alice.
Alice smiled, looking ready for her day in a pink cardigan, her auburn locks in their typical tight bun at the back of her neck. "I always sleep well next to Henry. Everything about him is so quiet and peaceful.”
