A Cursed Embrace

remained unknown. So did the extent of his power. Everyone needed to be prepared to fight and kill. Everyone.

Koda veered along the dirt path until the forest became too dense with vegetation to maneuver the vehicle. I hopped out the moment he stopped, and narrowly missed stepping into an overgrowth of ferns. The forest was lush and thick with the scent of magic. The Den students paced close by, their collective excitement and were magic piercing through the stratum of the beautiful forest. My tigress stretched within, vitalized by our surroundings.

Thick tree branches blocked most of the sun and infused the air with freshness tangible enough to taste. Aric strode beside me, carrying a box of supplies. We followed the wolves down a winding path that ended at a vast open field surrounded by more forest. I shielded my eyes from the bright sun. The clearing seemed to go on forever.

“Is this private property?” I asked Aric.

“It belongs to us. It’s part of the many properties we’ve acquired for Den use.”

We moved forward to where the students assembled in human forms, dressed in their school-issued navy and silver sweats. They parted as we approached. And while I’d initially been eager to meet them, they quickly unnerved me. The crowd of young weres scrutinized me with challenging gazes as I passed, some of them snarling. As an outsider, I’d expected some resistance, but not such blatant animosity, especially in Aric’s presence.

My tigress chuffed restlessly in anticipation of a fight. Aric dropped the box he carried and let out a growl that made the students immediately lower their gazes. “This is my Celia,” he snapped, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. “You will respect her.”

Aric’s declaration flipped my emotions. I went from alert predator to shy tween in under a second. Aric didn’t bother to retrieve the box. Instead he took my hand and rubbed my palm with his thumb before leading me through the now quiet crowd.

“You’ll also show proper respect to her sisters when they arrive,” Koda added, looking meaner than ever. “Now let’s begin.”

Gemini and Liam divided the students into four groups of varying ages and athletic abilities. Gem had just begun to explain the testing exercises when I spotted my sisters walking toward us on the wooded path. I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Sisterhood, especially in our respect, truly was powerful.

Taran scraped her sandal on the ground, dragging her foot behind her in an odd way. I wasn’t sure why until the breeze carried a foul scent to my nose. She kicked her foot harder. “Son of a bitch, I just stepped in deer shit!”

“I think that’s chipmunk poop,” Emme clarified.

“I don’t care what the fu—”

“Woo-hoo! Look, there’s Koda. Hi, puppy!” Shayna waved excitedly, then skipped down the small hilltop.

Aric and I exchanged glances and tried not to laugh at her ultracheerleader enthusiasm. His lips tickled my ear. “Being that peppy must be exhausting,” he muttered.

Shayna threw her arms around Koda and wrapped her thin legs around his waist. The collection of students gaped at Koda; I’m sure they were surprised he didn’t eat her.

Koda nuzzled Shayna’s neck. “Hi, baby. I’ve been worried. Did you get lost?”

“Just a little.”

Koda kissed her lips and set her down. Not that the students noticed. Their eyes locked on to Taran’s skimpy denim shorts as she sashayed her way to Gemini. She tossed back her ebony waves so they draped over the tiny white T-shirt hugging her breasts, and gave him a “let’s have sex against a tree” smile. “What will you have me do?”

Gemini Hamamatsu. Beta wolf. Intelligent. Communicative. Eloquent. Usually. “Ahhh.”

The students burst out laughing, but Koda’s death glare quickly silenced them like an invisible slap. Despite his cuddly disposition with Shayna seconds before, his ferociousness returned with a vengeance.

Emme blushed sweetly when Liam jogged over and led her to his group. She’d stayed next to me, too timid to confront the crowd by herself.

Aric distributed a flag football belt to each of my sisters, keeping one as he returned to my side. His steel gaze took in the crowd of young weres, silencing them and bringing them to attention. “Last month, we lost three strong weres.” He paused. “This is unacceptable.” The wolves growled low in agreement. “We can’t bring them back. But we can kill what killed them. We believe a demon lord walks among us and has aligned himself with rogue vampires.”

A few students spit on the muddy ground at the word “vampire.” Good thing I didn’t invite the Catholic schoolgirls along.

Aric continued, his voice growing curt. “Our quandary remains that we don’t know where the demon is, or what he can do. We have to prepare for the unknown.” He put his arm around me. “Celia and her sisters represent the unknown. Each will wear a belt with two flags attached. To pull a flag represents proximity close enough to the enemy to cast a lethal blow.” Aric’s face turned fearsome. “I don’t have to remind you that these ladies are not the enemy. But I will. If you harm them in any way, you’ll have to deal with me.”

The students shuddered at his threat and lowered their heads. A wire-thin kid about fourteen raised a shaky hand. “Can we change?”

Aric gave a stiff nod. “Except if you’re chasing Celia. The belt won’t fit her if she’s in her other form.”

Koda stepped forward. “For those who choose to fight as beasts, no biting or clawing allowed. If we yell, ‘Freeze,’ everyone must immediately stop. Once we whistle, the exercise is immediately over.”

“Do we need both flags?” a big guy with a Mohawk asked.

Gemini came out of his Taran stupor. “No. One will suffice. As an incentive, those who succeed will be exempt from latrine and kitchen duties for the next month. Those who fail to catch a flag have to return to the Den on foot.”

An excited murmur spread across the crowd. Nothing like a challenge and a hunt to enthuse a pack of wolves.

Liam smiled down at Emme. “Don’t underestimate your opponents,” he said to the students. “The girls aren’t as innocent as they appear.” Emme could’ve set the field on fire with the heat from her cheeks. Liam laughed. “That’s not how I meant it, angel.”

Shayna stood apart by a battered lodgepole pine. She carefully scanned the ground before selecting two dead branches. Light flickered from her platinum necklace as she transferred the element into the pieces of muddy wood, transforming them into long silver staffs. She twirled them with the grace and speed of a cheetah, warming up her wrists. A few of the wolves nudged one another and pointed her way. Liam had cautioned them against underestimating our skills. Yet it took a little Shayna action to heed his warning.

Taran stepped along the field, careful to avoid the extra-squishy parts. “Celia, I’m not sitting in the goddamn mud. Do you have something I can use?”

“Take my sweatshirt. I don’t need it.” No sooner had I pulled it off than Aric had it wrapped back around me.

He zipped up the front. “What are you doing?” he asked firmly.

I zipped it back open. “I’m going to get hot once I start running.”

He leaned in close to my ear. “So will I if that’s all you wear.”

I considered my outfit. It was a perfectly respectable sports bra and a pair of cotton shorts. Granted my shorts were a little on the small side, but so was I. I laughed. Had I known this would spark Aric’s attention, I wouldn’t have spent so much on lingerie. I smiled playfully, and spoke just below a whisper. “I’ll tell you what, wolf. Pull my flag and I’ll wear whatever you want.”

I yanked the belt out of his hand and dashed into the woods. What sounded like a herd of elephants charged after me. I cleared a rusting barbed-wire fence with ease while wrapping the belt around my waist. Some of the students weren’t so graceful. They swore when they became ensnared in the wire, but I didn’t stop. They’d heal fast.

I sprinted amid the trees, weaving to the left before summoning extra speed to cut right. My tigress wanted to tackle and claw, but as her mischievous side spawned, she contentedly leapt and evaded, dodging fallen trees