Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Gianna

As the night progressed, my initial trepidation about hanging out with Stella began to abate. The three of us ordered delectable Creole dishes, savored more drinks, and danced to the lively jazz music. I didn't sense any other wolves in Voodoo Velvet, which allowed me to relax and enjoy the evening.

During a lull in the conversation, Stella leaned in close, her golden eyes glinting with an expression I couldn't quite pinpoint. "Don't tell anyone, Gianna, but I have heard whispers among the wolves about you. Some say you're the key to bringing down Angelo and the whole Santi family."

Instantly I felt the blood drain from my face, my heart pounding furiously in my chest as a wave of icy fear washed over me. My hands trembled and I clenched them into fists, struggling to maintain my composure. "W-what do you mean?" I managed to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper.

Stella shrugged, her gaze never leaving mine, a hint of amusement on her lips as she watched for my reaction. "There's a group within our pack that believes taking you out would be the ultimate revenge against your brother. They think it would shatter him and, in turn, make him vulnerable."

My stomach lurched and bile rose in my throat as what she was saying sank in. The room started to spin, and I reached out to steady myself, my fingers gripping the edge of the table so tightly my knuckles turned white.

Nancee gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "Stella, why would you say something so horrible?"

I held up a hand, silencing Nancee. "Is this group making concrete plans, Stella? Do you know?"

Stella leaned back, an enigmatic smile playing on her lips. "I'm just passing along what I've heard, Gianna. But if I were you, I'd watch my back. Wolves can be very persistent when we've caught a scent."

A chill raced down my spine. I knew there were those among the wolves who resented Angelo's power and influence, but I never dreamed they would target me directly. The thought of being used as a pawn in their schemes made my blood run cold.

I forced a smile, determined not to show her any weakness. "Thanks for the warning, Stella. But trust me, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. "

Stella raised her glass in a mock toast. "I don't doubt that, Gianna. But be careful. Even the strongest vampires can fall if they're caught off guard."

The ominous note in her voice hung in the air like the foul smell that lingered and was impossible to ignore when something got burned. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, stalked by unseen enemies.

Maybe coming out like this hadn't been the smartest idea after all. I glanced at the clock. Crap, it was almost two o'clock in the morning.

"Like Cinderella, I'd better get back home before I turn into a pumpkin," I said as I stood.

"I'm sorry," Stella said. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

Nancee reached out and took my hand comfortingly. "Do you want me to walk you back?"

I brushed away Nancee's hand and held my head high. "No. I'm not frightened, but Angelo will be home soon, and I know he'll check on me, so I'd better get back to my gilded cage." My voice was humorous, but my insides shook.

I suddenly wished I had brought my cell phone so I could call Jacques, but I had left it back in my room. I had been so confident I wouldn't need it. Now I was no better than one of those dumb heroines in a horror movie, about to get slaughtered.

The bar was still jamming, even thought it was so late. I wound my way through the packed dance floor, glancing over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being followed.

The cool night air prickled against my skin, raising goosebumps along my arms as I hurried around the corner. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the narrow, garbage-strewn alley. The stench of rotting food and stale urine assaulted my nostrils, making me want to gag.

I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes darting to the streets behind me. Lots of people were still milling about, their laughter and chatter carrying through the night air. I couldn't risk changing into a bat, not with so many witnesses. Angelo's words echoed in my mind: "If we live like humans, we won't be hunted." But suddenly I wasn't so sure. Right now, blending in felt more like a curse than a blessing.

As I ventured deeper into the alley, the moon disappeared behind the buildings, plunging me into darkness. The inky blackness closed in on me from all sides, and I briefly struggled to see as my vision adjusted.

Suddenly, a familiar scent hit me like a punch to the gut.

Wolf.

My blood ran cold and I froze, my muscles tensing as fear gripped my heart. Shit, this wasn't good. Not here. Not now.

I held my breath, listening intently for any movement. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant sounds of Bourbon Street and the pounding of my own heart. My palms grew slick with sweat, and I tensed up, fists clenched, ready to fight or flee at a moment's notice.

The seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. I waited, my body coiled like a spring, waiting for the attack I knew was imminent. The wolf scent grew stronger, closer, until I could almost imagine the hot breath of the predator on the back of my neck .

"Hey, princess," a rough voice growled in my ear.

Before I could even react, searing pain exploded in my neck as a white-hot needle was jabbed into my flesh. I screamed, the sound ripping from my throat as my hand flew to the source of the agony. My knees buckled and I stumbled, barely supporting myself against the rough brick wall. The pain was unlike anything I'd ever experienced—a burning torment that radiated out from the point of impact to spread through my veins like molten lava, consuming me.

I clawed at my neck, my fingers trembling as they brushed against the wound. My fingertips came away sticky, coated with warm blood, and a wave of nausea rose up my throat. My vision blurred, and I blinked furiously, trying to clear the haze that threatened to overwhelm me.

Through a fog of pain, I heard footsteps approaching, slow, heavy and deliberate. A tall, muscular man with golden eyes emerged from the shadows, looming over me like a nightmare come to life. As he stepped closer, his movements predatory and calculated, a sick realization dawned on me. Those golden eyes, the way he moved—this guy was a wolf.

Horror sliced through me like a knife, stealing the very breath from my lungs. Had Stella been right about the wolves targeting me to get to my brother? My heart pounded frantically in my chest, and I pressed myself harder against the wall, as if I could somehow disappear into the bricks and escape.

My attacker's lips curled into a cruel smile, his eyes glinting with a hunger that sent shivers down my spine. He reached for me, his fingers brushing against my cheek in a mockery of tenderness. I flinched, a soft whimper escaping my lips as the full reality of my situation crashed over me.

I was alone, wounded, and facing a creature that could easily tear me apart with his bare hands. The alley spun around me again and my stomach churned violently, my body sliding down the wall as darkness closed in.

"Yes, princess, I'm a wolf…and you're in serious trouble." His rough voice scraped over my nerves like sandpaper.

His gravelly voice would haunt my nightmares forever—if I ever got nightmares.

He dug his strong fingers into my chin cruelly as he forced me to look up at him, his grip cold and unyielding as steel. "A little gift from a witch, princess," he sneered, his eyes glinting with malicious satisfaction. "Wolfsbane elixir—it paralyzes vampires."

I tried to transform into a bat, desperate to escape, but my body wouldn't obey my mind. It was as if the paralytic injection had locked me in my human form. I opened my mouth to scream, but all that came out was a weak, pitiful whimper. My legs turned to jelly, and I collapsed onto the filthy concrete, my body wracked with agony as I hit the ground hard.

The wolf man loomed over me, his golden eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. He reached down and grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me up off the ground with a vicious tug, forcing me to my knees. I cried out in pain, my scalp burning. Before I could even attempt to defend myself, he drew back his fist and slammed it into my face, where it landed hard and with a sickening crack.

Pain exploded in my cheekbone, a white-hot agony that radiated through my skull. Stars swam in front of my vision, and I tasted blood in my mouth, its coppery tang tinged with the bitter sting of humiliation. I gasped for air, my lungs burning as I struggled to breathe through the pain.

The wolf man leaned in close, his hot breath washing over my face. "That was a message for your dear brother," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

A tremor ran through me as if someone put an ice cube down my bra. I was at the mercy of a monster who wanted nothing more than to see me suffer.

My attacker's eyes glinted with a sadistic hunger as he slowly and deliberately removed his clothes, tossing them one by one onto the ground. Each movement was calculated, a twisted display of dominance and control. I couldn't tear my gaze away, my eyes locked on his every action, a sickening sense of dread rising in my throat.

As he shifted into a large, snarling wolf, his fur rippling over powerful muscles, I felt a scream rising in my chest. Before I could release it, he lunged, his massive jaws clamping down on my shoulder. Searing pain exploded through my body, blistering and all-consuming. It was as if a thousand razor-sharp knives were tearing into my flesh, shredding my every muscle and sinew with ruthless precision.

I attempted futilely to thrash and writhe, my brain trying to escape the excruciating torment, but it was useless with the paralyzing effects of the wolfsbane elixir. The wolf's teeth sank deeper, his hot breath huffing against my skin as he brutally savaged my shoulder. Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the blood and grime on my cheeks.

Through a haze of pain, I heard the sound of claws clicking against the concrete, and my stomach plummeted. Suddenly, the alley was filled with yellow-eyed wolves, all snarling viciously, their fangs bared. They circled me like vultures, their hungry gazes fixed on my broken, bleeding body.

Fear and despair consumed me, even more than the searing pain in my shoulder. I knew what was coming, knew that there would be no mercy, no respite from the horrors that awaited me. As the wolves closed in, their jaws snapping and their eyes glowing with feral intensity, I closed my eyes, silently pleading for an end to the nightmare.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I waited to be ripped into a million pieces, the salty flavor mingling with the bitter taste of fear on my tongue. Every shuddered breath felt like it could be my last, and I found myself silently pleading for a miracle.