Page 11 of Sold Wolf Slave

I had been walking down the street with several bags of groceries in my hand. As I strolled, staring up at the bright blue sky, my foot caught on something. I stumbled and nearly lost my footing when a hand steadied me. I turned to see a handsome shifter with light brown hair and kind eyes.

“Hey, Kendra,” he said. Without asking if I needed help, he slipped two of the bags from my hand. “Here, let me.”

“Thanks,” I said.

“Here, let me walk you home. I’m sure I can help out around the house. You probably need it after everything you and your sister have been through.”

I beamed, my eyes crinkling as I smiled up at him. “Thanks, Erik.”

I had seen him around town on more than one occasion now. He seemed nice, with handsome features and kind eyes. He took another of my bags and followed me to our house.

“How are you and your sister holding up?” he asked.

“Oh, we’re doing okay,” I said. “Making it through.”

“I’m sure you could use some help around the house,” he said. “Do you have any family who can come help you?”

Shaking my head, I shifted my groceries in my bag and pulled out my keys. “No. It’s just me and Morgan. But we make do.”

“She's here right now?” he asked as I pushed open the door. He strolled in as I held the door for him.

“She should be soon,” I said.

“Well, let me see if there’s anything I can do around the place before I leave.”

I gave a warm grin. “That would be amazing. Thanks.”

As I began putting things up, I heard shuffling moving around outside near the front of the door. I frowned, turning toward the door, preparing to go and see who it was.

“Let me,” Erik offered, holding up his hand, that charming smile spreading across his face. Before I could even think of arguing, he had slipped out of the kitchen and was heading toward the door.

I turned back to the groceries, only half-listening as I heard the door open.

“Everything okay?” I called.

“All fine,” Erik answered as his voice grew closer. “Nothing there.”

“Weird,” I said. “Well, thanks for checking.”

“Anytime.”

I was reaching up to throw some cans on the top shelf when I first smelled the other shifters in the room and realized something was terribly, terribly wrong.

Before I could round on my heels or react in any way, one hand shot out, grabbing my outstretched one and forcing it behind my back as he shoved me forward, pressing my stomach into the counter as he grabbed my other hand, twisted it, and brought it to join my own. I heard a clink of metal as cold circlets bit into my wrist, holding them in place.

I tried to scream, but someone forced a rough cloth into my mouth as they pulled me upright. Someone spun me around to bring me face-to-face with several shifters. Erik stood in the middle of them all, a sleazy smile spread across his face. So unlike the charming one I had seen just a few moments ago.

“You’re right,” the guy holding me said. “She’s pretty.”

Three men other than Eric stood surrounding me. I screamed around the rag, trying to wrench myself from the guy’s grip.

“Careful. That one’s a witch,” Erik warned.

“That’s what we’ve got this for,” someone said. There was another snap as something long wrapped around my forearm.

I tried to cast an incantation to push them away, but nothing happened. I tried again, but the only thing that happened was that the thing wrapped around my arm began to burn hot until I stopped.

Rough hands steered me toward the couch, gripping my shoulders almost painfully as he shoved me down. Erik stood over me, that kind face replaced with a triumphant smirk.

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