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MARIA SAT ON THE COUCH while Derrick spoke on the phone with Aiden. Her mind repeated what had happened at her parent’s house. Disbelief filled her body at her mother’s words. If Maria mated with a werewolf she understood there might be some backlash but this had broken her limit of understanding. She tried to come up with a reason behind her parent’s sudden rage against the werewolf species but nothing came to mind. What the hell is wrong with my mother? The question made her so angry.
Her hands shook and the light above her flickered. She barely noticed the light, as she focused on the sudden buzz of power under her skin. She stared at her hands in confusion. What the hell? She looked for Derrick, for a second his gaze locked with hers. He stood at the end of the couch watching her. Anger from her mother fueled the power. The light bulb above her burst plunging them into darkness. A little scream left Maria’s lips. The sudden buzz left her body faster than it had filled her.
“What the hell?” Maria tried to find Derrick in the shadows. He walked over to the kitchen and turned on the light.
“I don’t actually know.” Concern filled his beautiful blue eyes. “But I have an idea on who to ask.” He clicked a button on his phone and then his eyes returned to her.
“I’m going to use the bathroom.” Maria scurried off the couch and ran to the downstairs restroom. She studied her reflection in the mirror. Her hands shook as she scanned her body for some kind of change. Maybe you’re turning into a werewolf? Wait, did having sex with a wolf make you a shifter? Her mind pondered the idea for a moment. Panic filled her body. She opened the door to find Derrick about to walk in.
“How do you become a werewolf?” Maria snapped before she lost her nerve.
“A werewolf bites you while in their wolf form.” Derrick scratched his head.
“Then what the hell is going on?” Maria’s voice rose with fear. A light tap sounded in the living room before the front door opened. A man with no hair except on his face, walked in with three bags of food. The aroma of shrimp and alfredo reached Maria making her mouth water.
“Aiden set it on the table.” Derrick turned back to Maria. “Eat and our friend will be here in an hour.” Derrick pointed toward the table.
“Who?” Maria’s gaze flew from Aiden to Derrick wondering who would answer her question.
“Alia.” Derrick leaned in and kissed her. When he straightened, his stared up toward the ceiling like he had a thought.
“How can Alia help me? She’s the witch, right?” Maria’s mind raced at the potential problems only a witch would be able to solve.
“Dude, is she a witch too?” Aiden asked.
“I don’t know, Aiden,” Derrick growled. Aiden set the food on the table then shrugged.
“Would be pretty cool. I’ve seen Alia in action, she’s pretty bad ass.” Aiden’s body was so relaxed as he talked to the alpha. Maria wondered how long they had been friends for them to have such a close connection.
“I can’t be a witch. Can I?” Maria searched Derrick’s face for answers.
“Your scent has some similarities. We will figure this out after we eat.” Derrick slowly maneuvered Maria to the table.
I can’t be a witch, I just can’t... But then what the hell is happening to me?
Maria picked at her shrimp alfredo while she watched the clock as time slowly ticked by. Her mind kept going back to the same question. If she was a witch, why hadn’t she recognized it before? Her phone buzzed again with a message from one of her parents. She didn’t want to see what they had to say.
Her phone began to buzz continually just as a woman with a baby in her arms and a male walked into the house. The male caught her attention with his deep red hair, which seemed to be dyed. His wide shoulders and strong arms carried a little girl with the same red hair.
“How was the drive?” Aiden popped up and grabbed the baby. They inched closer and Maria noticed the little girl’s eyes were not the same dark blue as the guy. No they were a brighter shade like the woman with long blonde hair.
“Long.” The mom sighed and appeared exhausted as she took a seat next to Maria and dished up some of the food.
After a few more rings, she finally glanced down at her screen to see her older brother’s face on her phone.
“Excuse me.” Maria walked out to the back yard while the newcomers relaxed on the couches in the living room.
“Hello.”
“Come home, Maria.” Walter’s voice filled her ear.
“I can’t. I will see you tomorrow. I love you, but this is something I can’t waver on.” Maria hung up and watched the others inside. A chill ran down her body. She turned to search for the cause and a male walked up toward her. His lowered head sent up major red flags.
“Who are you?” Maria asked hoping he was a beta wolf coming in to give a report or something. His head snapped up, his eyes were red and his face pale as snow. Not a wolf. Run, Maria! Her body seemed frozen in place as she stared into those menacing eyes. She had seen the same features in a photo earlier in the day. Oh, fuck he’s a vampire.
“You smell good.” He called out. In a flash, he stood in front of her, the movement too fast for her eye to catch. Her heart pounded in her ears making it hard to think. A sharp nail dragged down her neck, making a small bead of blood fall toward her chest. The vampire leaned down and licked the blood and then leaned back.
“You taste good. I’m new around here so be a good girl and don’t scream,” he growled. Before Maria registered what he said, his mouth came down on her neck and bit down hard. She screamed from the pain. Her body finally started to work as she pushed on the vampire. Letting the anger she had before and the fear of being dead fill her, a buzz stronger than before returned under her flesh. She pushed against his chest and he stopped sucking on her neck.
A sudden howl of pain filled her ears, but she barely noticed as her eyes focused on his chest where she had pushed him. The clothes were charred and beneath them the skin was angry and red in the shape of her small hands. I did that! Her head spun. Large hands grabbed her before she fell over. The male in front of her, no longer had his head attached. Derrick’s strong body filled her vision but a deep need to sleep took over her body. Maria tried to push back against the darkness consuming her mind. Her eyes fluttered for a moment before the blackness consumed her.