The Wolf's Witch (book 1)

20. It Wasn't Tears

Kaitlin:

I headed for my truck with Seth in tow and noticed that he must've run all the way here after I hung up on him. I set my phone on silent and grimaced as he got in the passenger seat.

"Your place?" I asked. He nodded and I drove in unsettling silence. Sethan sat still for about a minute. Then every so often, I'd glance over at him repeatedly because he seemed unable to sit still. It started with him playing with the window followed by his fingers, then sudden tapping foot syndrome alternating with the occasional shifting in his seat and tugging the seatbelt.

"Will you quit fidgeting already?" I snapped and tried to meet his eyes but he was avoiding mine.

"Let me drive." he said, eyes glowing and set on the road before us. It dawned then. He'd been sitting with nothing to do beside me after just losing his father. He hadn't driven to my shop because he likely couldn't. Running was better for his wolf. It also explained the lack of shirt. Since I was driving, he fell passive or at least tried to. His wolf needed control, problem was so did I. Who knew where he'd drive me to if I let him in the driver seat. A major part of the reason I agreed to go was because of Javier.

"If you want my help, sit still." I told him. Sethan turned to me finally but I looked ahead when I turned to glance at him. I knew how losing a parent felt but he'd been the one to get in the car. He could've met me there. "You don't live much further." I added.

I remained glued to my seat when I pulled over to his place and wished I melted invisible to my chair. I'm an idiot. I'd been afraid to let him drive? I'd been driving towards a mansion full of hurt, hungry and tempered werewolves who surely hated my guts even more after hearing what happened with Leon and the others. They wanted revenge for their Alpha and here I was planning to walk in through the front door.

Was this a trap?

Did Gabriel really die?

Did they think I did this?

Were they trying to exterminate what they thought was the last blood witch?

Seth grabbed my hand. A hot shock ran through me. I hadn't noticed he'd leaned over until it was too late. I tried to relax.

"Thank you for coming with me." he said and there was such softness in his voice that I thawed. I hadn't read him wrong when he'd asked for help after all. Gabriel was dead and he thought I could help.

Sethan reached for the truck's door and stepped out. For a moment my anxiety and worry washed away as if Devlin had kissed me. But when my feet touched the ground, they returned twice folds. I could feel the wolves inside the house and see a few through the windows, curtains drawn. I lost the strength to walk and stood there.

Sethan, who'd been almost at his door turned, "Kate?" he called.

I nodded and traced my eyes over the bikes and cars parked half-hazardly on the lawn, trying to count how many wolves were inside. They might've been sad a moment ago but the moment I appeared, they had gained something to hate and to my dismay, possibly eat, when I'd arrived.

"Kate," Seth repeated and I realized I hadn't taken a step. "Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

My head snapped to his, not missing the double meaning in his words. If he hadn't doubted me before, he was now.

"I know I came here and all but right now I'm not feeling very suicidal." I rambled and caught the curtains on the top floor move. Whoever it was, I missed it as my full attention shifted to Sethan who decided to make his way back to me.

Mourning wolves often went feral. Sethan seemed to be holding onto his humanity for now but there was no telling how bloodthirsty the others were.

"Nobody here will hurt you. You're with me." Sethan held out his hand. I stared at his empty palm and thick callused fingers.