“Let me out!” Trina screams.
“Nope,” I mutter, not even caring if she hears me or not. I head in the opposite direction down to my room, but I know I won’t be able to sleep under these circumstances. I lie on the bed with my hands behind my head, staring at the ceiling and listening to Trina’s shouts slowly winding down as she gives up banging on the door.
***
When light begins to creep into the room, I realize I’ve been dozing, and my body hasn’t really rested.
Before I’m ready for it, I hear Sadie knock on the front door. I hurry downstairs to let her in, and she looks fully refreshed and almost glowing as she enters the house.
Almost vibrating with power. I don’t know if I should be scared of her or not.
“I brought donuts,” she says, holding up a box. “Can you make some coffee?”
“Sure.”
“Where’s Trina?”
“Oh… in the spare bedroom.”
“Wait… did you lock her in?”
“I—well, I—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Sadie groans. “Go make the coffee.”
I shuffle off to the kitchen, feeling chastised. Trina yelps when Sadie opens the door, and I hear a brief exchange before the two girls come up the hall to the dining room.
“Here we go,” I say, putting three steaming cups down on the table. “I’ll let you do your own milk and sugar.”
“Thanks,” Sadie says, taking a donut. Trina takes one, too, and reaches for her coffee, taking a furtive sip as she looks over the edge of the mug.
“Okay, so, let me explain,” Sadie says to Trina. “You don’t know this, but I was brought here under the exact same circumstances as you.”
“What?” Trina asks, her voice soft.
“Rhys did, actually, kidnap me.”
“Oh, shit!” Trina gasps.
“Yeah. I was pretty pissed—like, seriously, you can’t imagine. But here’s the thing—the wolves are sick.”
“Sick?” Trina echoes.
“Yes. Very badly. There’s an old curse hanging around, and it’s robbing the wolves of their vitality. Once I came into my powers, I was able to save Rhys’s pack.”
“You’re serious right now, aren’t you?” Trina asks. “Like, fully fucking serious?”
“Yes, I am,” Sadie replies. “The alphas finding their mates is the only way to break the old curse. People are dying, Trina,” Sadie takes her friend’s hand and squeezes it.
“I… I don’t know what to say to that,” Trina says.
“Just stay, for now,” Sadie says. “I’ll teach you everything I know, and we’ll see if there’s any magic in you—and if you can help the pack the same way I did.”
“I…” Trina shakes her head. “Magic? In me?”
“Yeah,” Sadie replies, rubbing her shoulder. “There just might be.”
“Well, now that’s settled,” I say, slightly amazed by how easily Trina is taking this when it comes from Sadie and not me. “You’ll stay right here until we figure out—”
