“We were supposed to meet tonight to celebrate with him and now he’s too bloody upset to see me. What did you do, you fucking wanker?” Derek gets in my face and shoves me, sending me stumbling backward.
A growl surges up my throat. “Put your hands on me again, witch!” I dare him, fangs lengthening. I’m in no mood to be threatened. My wolf won’t tolerate it.
Derek curls his lip. “I told him you’d be trouble. Ulfhednar always are. Look at you. You’re practically feral!”
My claws puncture the fabric of his sweater as I wrench him closer. “You think I don’t know that I’m no good for him? I know that, but I want to be. Iwillbe. Stay away from him. The last thing he needs is you taking advantage of his emotions!”
“You motherfucker!”
Heat flares against my chest, scorching through my sweater to my flesh. Fire!
I leap back from Derek, patting my chest to extinguish the flames licking at my clothes. Around us, no one pays any attention. Derek must have cast a spell to keep people fromseeing us. My lips curl back from my fangs as the burned flesh heals.
Derek grins, twirling his finger, which is tipped in fire. “All you will ever be worthy of is a cage. Witches should have wiped you beasts out centuries ago!” He points at me, and I dodge the wave of fire that surges toward me. The berserker roars through my soul and I charge. Blood fills my mouth. Bones snap and crunch between my teeth. Screams pierce my ears as my claws rake through flesh.
“Get off me!”
A blast of wind sends me flying, but I land easily on my paws with a snarl.
The sour stench of terror floods my nose. Whatever spell Derek had used to divert attention away from us has stopped working. Humans look at me in terror, hearts racing, eyes wide. Some run, but many are frozen in fear.
Oh gods.
I lost control. Derek tricked me into losing my temper, and now every human here has witnessed my transformation. The Council will send agents from the TTA after me. If they catch me, they’ll never let me see Arlo again. Saliva floods my mouth as the urge to hunt and feast threatens to take hold. Shifting to this form has only brought me closer to becoming a berserker.
I’ve got to get away before I slaughter any innocents!
“Run, beast!” Derek hollers after me as I race away, claws scraping the pavement. “Nowhere you go will be far enough! I will see you put down like the dog you are!”
Chapter 20
Arlo
I feel awful aboutcanceling the party. Tonight was supposed to be fun. If I’d gone in the state I’m in, though, I would have brought everyone down. It’s for the best that I stay home and avoid all contact with people.
I told Gunnar I loved him, and he ran away. His reaction was exactly what I’d feared it would be. So why had I opened my big mouth? I’m the world’s biggest idiot.
Something scratches at the door of my alchemy shed. I sigh. “Not now, Truffles!”
“Bullocks! Let me in, you diva. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” I snap. When she paws at the door again, I resolve to ignore her and focus on the task at hand: making the first phial of my potion. There’s no excuse to put it off, not anymore.
I made it clear I wouldn’t be marrying Gunnar unless he loved me, and judging by the way he reacted…
A lump rises in my throat, and tears sting my nose. No, damn it. No more crying. Enough!
Gunnar… doesn’t want me. At least, that’s what I’ve interpreted from the way he ran off like his arse was on fire. He showed me how he really felt, and I’ve got to believe him.
I won’t compete with a ghost. Let him keep Leif in his heart as he promised. Once he has this potion, it won’t matter if we’re fated or not; he’ll no longer have any need for little old me. I got what I wanted when Nan gave me her flower. Our obligations to each other end here.
I should have learned from the first time he dropped me in the dirt and rejected me. I should have known Gunnar Erikson would break my heart. Fool me once, fuck you. Fool me twice, fuck me. Or however the saying goes.
Sniffling, I wipe my damp eyes so I can read the recipe more clearly. I’ve got all the ingredients I need. It’s time to get to work and pray to the goddess I don’t make any mistakes. I only have one flower, after all, and if I mess up, Gunnar and the other berserker wolves will suffer.
My phone rings and makes me jump out of my skin. I’d put it on Do Not Disturb. The only ones who can call me are family and work. I snatch up my phone and grimace when Councilwoman Kendrick’s name flashes across the screen. Why would the Council be calling me?
“Councilwoman! To what do I owe the pleasure?” I plaster on my fakest smile and code-switch to my I’m-a-happy-employee voice.
