Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Now, as he pulled away, he couldn’t help but stumble, but all too soon, he was struggling against a tree. The moment he felt the branches of the tree around his body, he realized this was exactly the premonition Lucinda had shared with him.
The fog dissipated and then he saw who it was. He had thought it would be Buddy. It was the only logical explanation. That asshole had been his target for a long time. Only, the person that stood between him and Casey was not a man, and was not Buddy, but sweet, kind Joanna Kingsley.
She worked at the diner, made amazing tea and coffee, and never once got his order wrong. Dex remembered her from high school. She had been one of the last to transition who had been born in the same year as him and Casey.
“What?” Dex asked.
“You!” Casey said.
“Stay back, if you know what is good for you,” Joanna said.
“We’re trying to look for who could have attacked Lucinda,” Casey said. “I know you and Lucinda were close, but what is going on?”
Dex looked toward Casey, and then his premonition replayed in his mind. Her long brown hair fell around her in waves, she wore a pair of Wellington boots, and the clothes she wore were an exact replica.
This was the vision come to life.
Joanna.
What the fuck was going on?
Joanna glared at Casey. “She found out I took something from her. She was going to tell Klaus, and nothing I could do was going to stop her. I couldn’t have that. There was no way she was coming in between my future, so I did what I had to do. I took care of it.”
“You attacked her.”
“She was going to tell the Alpha what I did. I couldn’t have that. I thought she would understand but like always, everyone looks at you and sees a damn princess. They see a woman who is worthy to be an Alpha’s queen.”
Dex looked toward Casey.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I saw the way he looked at you. It didn’t even matter if you didn’t give him the time of day, or even if it was just a soft, sweet smile. Dex would come running back for more. Everyone always talked about how sweet and fucking cute it was that Dex was head over heels in love with you. How you’d make an amazing couple. You’ll be strong and be able to take on anything together. The pack would grow from strength to fucking strength. Everyone was excited about you turning eighteen. Dex had already transitioned, but you hadn’t yet, and I knew what Lucinda was trying to do. She is always so helpful. She really should start to consider what other witches are like. They don’t take bullshit from anyone—”
“What did you do?” Casey yelled.
“Don’t you dare interrupt me!”
Casey held her hands out as if in surrender, but he saw the mocking way she did it. “Oh, I’m sorry. You attacked one of the pack. Lucinda is a witch, but she is still one of us, and now you’re complaining because people like me. Get over yourself.”
“And I knew if I stopped you from transitioning, then everyone would see the real you. That you’re weak. You are not worthy of Dex’s love or devotion. You would not make a good pack queen. You’re a horrible bitch, and you don’t deserve to live.”
“You!” Casey said. “You did something to me.”
Joanna laughed. “Yeah, I did. While you were giving me sweet smiles, I was brewing you a special tea. You see, Lucinda had been working hard on a new potion, one for pregnant pack females. The aim was to suppress the wolf, but she didn’t know what Klaus would think. She got nervous, doubted herself, and put the jar of tea far out of reach, but I knew it would work. Everything Lucinda did, worked. So I tested it on you and only you. You love coming to the diner for your coffee and tea, and I made sure to put a nice dose in any beverage you had. When it came time to transition, you couldn’t.” The glee in her face irritated Dex.
“Casey could transition,” Dex said.
“Oh, there is a good chance she might at some point, but I’ve been feeding her a lot of tea, and we don’t know the long-term side effects, so there is also—”
Joanna didn’t get to finish because Casey had moved, and she had done so at a speed that surprised Dex. She wrapped her fingers around Joanna’s throat, once again cutting her off.
“Why don’t we see?” Casey asked, and with a strength that took him by surprise, she threw Joanna across the forest.
He watched as Joanna hit one of the trees, and the force of it made the tree shake. The other woman fell to the ground, and clearly was taken aback by Casey’s strength.