Page 19 of Banished From the Pack

“Vampires,” he exclaims. “You don’t say!”

I nod groggily. “Right. I’ve heard of those before. But I’ve never met a vampire. Have you?”

“Oh, no,” Evan says. “Wouldn’t that be terrifying? I wonder what the wolves have in mind for their attack?” He strokes his temple with his long fingers.

“I don’t know,” I say, trying to answer him since he’s been nice to me, though I just want to sleep. I let my eyes fall closed, but my mouth keeps going. “I only heard a bit about wooden bullets.”

“Oh, that sounds awful. Did they say when it would happen?”

“Full moon,” I mumble, then sink into the cushion behind my head. I can’t stay awake another second, I’m sure.

When two arms wrap me in the black blanket and slide underneath me to heft me into the air, I can barely respond.

“Don’t,” I think I mutter, but I’m not sure. And when those two arms gently lower me onto a soft bed and tuck warm covers around me, I still can’t budge, falling into a sleep as deep as the dead.

Chapter Seven

Luna

I wake to the sound of crashing that shakes the floors. I sit up, blinking in the blinding sunlight that makes my head pound. For a second, I can’t remember where I am.

Then a familiar voice booms through the house, bringing the whole overwhelming day before back to me. It must be midday judging by the position of the sun, but I feel as groggy as if I barely slept. I can’t remember ever having slept so late. I must be sick. That explains the headache and the oversleeping.

“Give me back my mate,” a familiar voice thunders from another room. “Or you’ll wish you could die, you bloodthirsty leech!”

A rush of joy floods my heart at the sound of Axel’s voice, and the brand on my arm pierces me with fiery heat. But then I remember fleeing his house, hiding from him, the pain and confusion of the mating ritual he performed.

“I’m not keeping her from you,” Evan says. “I’m merely offering her rest. She chose to come here and did so of her own volition.”

Loud footsteps tromp in my direction. The door to my room flies open, and Axel looms over me, a frightening expression of fury marring his face.

I feel instantly, incredibly safe when surrounded by his arms—and because I know I’m not, it makes that feeling terrifying, as if my free will has fled like I did last night.

“Put me down,” I cry.

“Like hell.” Keeping a fierce grip on me, Axel throws me over his shoulder and carries me out into the bright sunshine, sliding into his truck and buckling me into the other side before powering on the vehicle and speeding away down the gravel drive through the woods.

“How did you find me?” I ask, staring at him, my heart galloping in my chest.

He says nothing, but pushes his foot down, making the truck leap forward and careen along the road even faster. I’m still not used to going so fast, and it’s exhilarating but scary, too. I grip the strap he bound across my chest, trying to catch my breath over the thrill of speed and sound roaring under us like a giant swamp monster.

“Where are you taking me?” I shout over the noise of the engine.

He still says nothing.

Only when he skids to a stop in front of his house and I lurch against the strap does he turn to me. I’m laughing at the sensation of flying, but it quickly dies when I see the blaze of fury in his eyes. “What did you do with the vampire?” he demands.

“What do you mean?” I ask, shrinking back against the door.

“Did you let him suck your blood?”

“N-no,” I say. “I didn’t know that’s what he was. He was nice to me, that’s all.”

His eyes narrow, his nostrils flaring. “Like I was nice to you last night?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you let him fuck you?”