Page 5 of Wicked Stranger

“Enough of that.” Wicked cut her off quickly. “How about telling us how in the hell you ended up in the woods? And where is your car?”

“It’s broken down out there somewhere, and I was trying to get service, so I started walking,” Raina explained with a frown. “Cell service here sucks.”

Just as she said that, her phone began to ring once again in the distance. Wicked cocked her eyebrow. “I take it that’s your phone ringing?”

“Yeah, smartass, it is.” Raina turned to go after it, but Wicked stopped her.

“Here.” Wicked held her phone out to her.

“Oh, yeah.” Raina laughed, shaking her head. “I forgot you’re a witch with tricks.”

Zane was still a little confused about who this woman was, but before he could think more about it, the wolf began to wake. “Why don’t you guys go ahead and leave before it wakes all the way up.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Bruce said as he walked toward Raina and Wicked.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Zane growled, glaring at Bruce.

“Don’t care,” Bruce said, stopping by Wicked. “My list is almost complete for the day, and I’m not adding shit to it…and I do mean that literally.”

Before Zane could say anything else, Wicked, Raina, and Bruce vanished. “You get used to it.” Thorne chuckled at the look on Zane’s face.

“What? Bruce or people appearing and disappearing in front of my eyes?” Zane grumbled and looked away from the empty space Raina had been to look at Thorne, who was watching him closely, too closely. “Can you ever get used to a talking cat?” Zane asked, his eyes narrowed slightly, waiting for that answer.

“Good point.” Thorne chuckled and then nudged the wolf, who was making whimpering noises. “What the fuck did you do to him?”

“What I didn’t do is kill him.” Zane countered with a shrug. “Figured you and Mac needed to question him on why he is terrorizing humans, female humans at that.”

“You figured right,” Mac said as he and Zelda appeared suddenly.

Not much startled Zane, but people appearing and disappearing in front of his eyes took some getting used to. Yeah, he was a Shifter, but this witch stuff was sometimes a little too much. Mac was King of the Shifters and a fair man. His mate/wife Zelda was the Shifter Whisperer or Shifter Wanker as she liked to be called. She was beautiful and very sweet unless you pissed her off or messed with her Shifters.

“Hi, Zane.” Zelda greeted him and then looked down at the wolf with a frown. “He’s definitely a Shifter.”

“What happened?” Mac asked, looking first at Thorne, then back to Zane.

“I was doing a run, heard a scream.” Zane began to explain. “I found Raina—”

“Raina?” Zelda frowned, glancing at Thorne. “Wicked’s friend?”

“She was coming for a visit and had car trouble,” Thorne explained, then nodded for Zane to continue.

“I found Raina and Bruce here.” Zane then glanced toward where the wolf had been. “Just as I was registering what was happening, the wolf made his move, and I made mine. He lost.”

“Obviously.” Zelda glanced down at the wolf. “Does he look familiar?” She asked, looking up at Mac.

“No.” Mac frowned, nudging the wolf again. “Transport us. I’ll question him and find out who he is and what he is doing here. I’ll keep you guys posted.”

“You need help?” Thorne asked as Mac put his foot on the wolf’s side so Zelda could transport them.

“I’ve got it,” Mac assured him with a nod. “I’ll come by later and let you know what I found out.”

“Sounds good,” Thorne replied just as Mac and the wolf disappeared.

“Is Raina okay?” Zelda asked with a concerned frown.

“A few scratches, but that’s it,” Zane answered, not looking directly at Zelda. She always stared at his scars when they showed, but not in a disgusted way. It was just uncomfortable for him, though he knew she didn’t mean anything by it. Honestly, he couldn’t fault anyone looking at the mess that was his face. She had asked him once if he wanted her to try to use her magic to fade the scars. He had refused the offer.

“The wolf didn’t scratch her, did it?” Zelda looked instantly concerned as their eyes met. “A wolf scratch or bite can be deadly, especially to a human.”

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