The Paranormal Side

Chapter 20

                                                                    **(Brian's POV)**

Paige, Danielle, Kayla, and I were standing around  Liam's desk when Kaden led Katie and Zach in. Katie's eyes were orange with fear, and she had her fingers knotted in her shirt. I ached to hold her and comfort her, but I remained in my position beside a seated Liam, knowing he would make me pay for it later if I got out of line.

Katie barely glanced at me before her eyes locked on Liam, her posturing straightening in an act of courage, though her eyes betrayed her. "Let me speak with her."

Liam stared at her coolly, his face betraying no emotion. He took the phone on his desk off the hook and sat it in the middle of the table, pushing the speaker button. He spread his hands in a go-ahead-gesture and sat back in his seat.

Katie swallowed and forced her hands to her sides, staring at the phone. Zach put an encouraging hand on her shoulder and she relaxed some, breathing out a sigh.

I felt my stomach go cold, wishing I could be the one to help her through this. As if hearing my thoughts, she met my eyes for a quick second, long enough to darken to gray so I knew how much I hurt her. Then she looked away.

"Brooke?" She asked tentatively, staring at the receiver. Silence.

"It's been too long, Kat."

I immediately stiffened along with Katie at the sound of Brooke's voice. It was all wrong. That was not the sound of my old friend's voice. It sounded evil, like she was smirking at the thought of us all crowded around the phone, holding our breaths.

"Where is Autumn?" Katie demanded, the gray quickly changing to an angry red. She took a step toward the phone, drawn forward in her anger.

A low chuckle wafted through the speaker. "Hanging out with wolves now, huh? I heard you even have yourself a pet. Brian is a much better dog than Dusty was, isn't he?"

A growl rose in my chest, causing everyone in the room to look at me, Katie with worried eyes, and Liam with a glare. I clenched the desk with my fingers, trying to quiet my anger.

Brooke laughed again. "Awh, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, Bri. I'll tell you what. How about when I see you, I give you a treat?"

My visioned darkened and my growl deepened with my anger. "And how about I rip your head off?"

"Have you forgot, dog? I'm already dead."

 My vision darkened further and my muscles rippled, begging for the change. I clenched my fists, trying to reign in my anger. 

"Brian.." Kayla whispered, a warning. Liam stared at me, his eyes narrowing. 

"Am I gonna have to take you out of here, cub?" Liam asked, the threat clear in his voice. He met my eyes, a challenge sparkling in his.

"Oh, I just love the drama. Don't you, Autumn?" Brooke said. A muffled cry came from the receiver. Autumn.

"Let her go!" Katie yelled. A picture flew off the wall to her left and crashed against the floor. Zach squeezed her shoulder.

Brooked chuckled again. "I can't do that until we get what we want. Don't worry, she's safe. For now. But if you don't give us what we want by midnight, then Autumn is gonna have to join the dead party."

Katie closed her eyes, her shoulders hunching. I gasped as the bond between us magnified once again, her distress leaking into me. I had to hold her. I had to.

I moved to the other side of the table and cautiously put my arm around her waist. The feeling was electric and soothing all at once. She leaned in to me and buried her face in my shoulder, and I wrapped my other arm around her. God, this felt so right. How could I live without this?