Midnight Curse Read Online Free Page A

sounds good,” I
said harshly, and tried to pull away. “Just let me go, and I’ll
sneak out the back and run back home.”
    “ You won’t be allowed to go
home, for two reasons. One, you know the secret and cannot be
trusted, and two, this is our territory.” He tilted my chin yup and
gazed into my eyes. “But you should know, if you leave, I will go
with you.”
    This man was willing to
leave his pack for me. I was utterly astonished and
lost.
    Contemplating his words, I
accepted his protection and let my heart take over. My feelings and
instincts were all I had to go on at this point.
    “ Thank you,” I whispered,
before I let the darkness take me once more, sleep too difficult
for me to deny.
    When I awoke, Abel was
missing. My pa sat on the log in his place. His face was a mask of
emotions that I could not begin to understand. His actions, on the
other hand, left me with a burning need to hurt him.
    “ You are finally
awake.”
    “ I’m sorry to disappoint
you, Pa.” My sarcastic reply was a bit harsh, but I was as lost to
this fury as I was to wanting to destroy Harley.
    “ Do not sass me, girl!” His
deep voice shook the foundation. I was afraid the makeshift hut
would cave in on us.
    Ignoring him, I looked at
the wall and bit my tongue. If I said anything, one of us would get
hurt.
    “ You are part of my pack at
the moment, and you will not disrespect me!” he growled, making his
southern accent seem throaty. It was inhuman and scary.
    Why had I never noticed?
Seeing him in this new light made me notice several things. For
one, he was a burly, strong man, capable of taking down bears.
Plus, he commanded power and respect. He was also a leader of
men.
    But not of me, I thought,
angrily. “Fine, so now what?” I asked.
    “ You have twenty-four hours
to accept Harley’s challenge or run away with your tail between
your legs. As it stands, you will die. That is the way of the
pack.” He cared nothing for me or his other children, that much was
clear.
    Swallowing my pain, I
nodded. “Did you see Ma?”
    “ You’re Ma and the girls
will be fine. Had I known what my son had done, I would have
brought more food. They are not wolf, but they are still my flesh
and blood. I will provide.”
    That is when I remembered
that, when the wolf had attacked me, I’d stabbed her with all my
strength. I’d put everything I’d had left into shoving my knife as
deep as I could into her chest. At that angle, I should have killed
her.
    “ Which wolf attacked me,
Pa?”
    “ I done told ya, Harley
issued the challenge. Abel told ya, she was with him when she
attacked ya.”
    “ I stabbed the wolf that
attacked me, I know I did!” I retorted, feeling fury rise within
me.
    “ Yes, ya did. A good hit,
but not a killing blow. In wolf form we are just like the natural
wolves, but we heal a little faster and can take a little more
damage.”
    I’d sworn to kill Harley if
I had the chance. I would use this pack challenge to destroy her. I
just needed to heal, and work on accepting my wolf-self as natural
and not disconcerting.
    “ Consider the challenge
accepted. I need to speak with Abel,” I replied, dismissing
him.
    He obviously forgave my lack
of manners or was through with me. I could not face him any
longer.
    A few minutes later, Abel
came in. His presence soothed me.
    “ How long will it take me to
heal?” I asked him, trying to sit up.
    “ A few days at least. You
should not move yet,” he whispered, reaching for me.
    I held up a hand, stopping
him. I would not be swayed.
    “ I accept her challenge. I
owe her a painful death for what she did to me. Where is my bow and
knife?” I asked, reaching for my clothes. Healing, and torn by
indecision about my future or lack of one, I could not run around
naked, and I did not want or know how to change into my
wolf.
    “ Unfortunately, rules forbid
man-made weapons. Only tooth and claw are accepted,” he informed
me, handing me the black clothes I’d worn