in front of Jake.
Brenna saw the black energy pass through him. A tigerâs roar rose from deep in his chest.
Hair sprouted on his hands. She could see him pushing against the change, his eyes going blue, then silver again as he struggled. Forcing herself to remain calm, she said, âSteady, Jake. Steady.â
He leaned down, pressing his palms on the table. Like a bullet, the blackness flung itself out of him, bouncing around the room before disappearing.
Jakeâs white fur began to disappear and Brenna put her hand on top of his. âOkay now?â
He let his breath out slowly. âYeah, I think so. What was that?â
She shivered in apprehension. âNothing good, thatâs for sure.â
They turned back to the wolf, now rolling on the floor in the throes of changing back to human. As his naked body emerged, his wife pulled a red-checked tablecloth off a nearby booth to cover him. Then she eased down on the floor and cradled his head in her lap. He moaned and continued to shake. He was pale and in shock.
Jake headed toward the couple and Brenna went to her friends with the baby, who was now in his motherâs arms fast asleep. Brenna stroked the little oneâs fine, blond hair. âHeâll be fine. All I did was help him fall asleep.â
âThank you,â the father said earnestly. âYou may have saved his life.â
âAre you two all right?â
The mother nodded, though she looked shaken. âThis is all so odd. We know that werewolf. Heâd never do anything to harm us or the baby. Something made him lose control.â
Brenna agreed, but she didnât know what had passed through this diner. She plucked a glass of water from a table and took it to the were, who was now sitting up and talking to Jake.
âIt grabbed me all of sudden.â He accepted the water from Brenna. âThanks.â
âHe looked sick,â his wife added. âHe got up real fast and headed to the bathroom.â
âI was trying to stop it,â the man said. âBut whatever was inside me took over my wolf, and I didnât have enough strength to block the change. It was like I was watching a horror movie. The baby smelled so good. I knew it was wrong, but I almost couldnât keep myself from going for him. It was like I was a monster. Iâve never felt that way before.â
Jake put a hand on the other manâs shoulder. âI understand. It almost got me, too. I could see you were fighting it, whatever it was.â
âThe babyâs parents understand too,â Brenna assured her neighbors. âThey know it wasnât your fault. We all know something strange happened here.â
The werewolf pressed his face into his wifeâs belly and wept.
From the front door, the waitress called, âJake, I think youâre needed outside. Come quick.â
Brenna followed Jake to the door. They stepped outside and Jake pulled Brenna behind him. âWhat in the worldâ¦â
She pushed out of his protective grip and was stunned by the scene on Main Street. People up and down the sidewalks were arguing with one another. The music from the park had stopped and was now replaced by angry voices.
Jake barked orders into his radio, calling for backup.
A shoving match started between some men standing nearby and Jake rushed to intervene. Glass shattered in the distance and car alarms bleated far and near. Lights snapped on in the inn.
In the midst of this chaos, Brenna caught sight of her cousin Lauren, standing back, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Then she was gone in the crowd. Brenna blinked, wondering if it had seen Lauren at all.
But she knew one thing for certain. Black magic had now touched the whole town, not just her familyâs land.
Chapter Seven
The wind through her open window was warm on Brennaâs face as she guided her small SUV away from the Connelly home. For the first time since Garthâs death more than
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