Page 55 of How to Stake a Vampire

“Abby,” Samuel warned softly.

Caroline and Kent’s eyes shifted to amber, their expressions growing hyperalert as they stared at me unblinkingly, their wolves just under their skins.

“Bloody hell,” Hugh muttered hoarsely.

I didn’t have to look in the mirror in the hallway to know my hair and face had changed again.

Victoria’s mouth tightened. “Is this what you meant?” she asked Samuel.

“Yes,” my alpha said tiredly.

“Abby,” Ellie whispered shakily.

I scowled at her, pain and rage warring inside me.

“It’s okay.” She straightened with a wince and grasped my hand with trembling fingers. “I’ll be okay, so calm down.”

I closed my eyes and tried to rein in the white wolf, but my anger was too strong. I ground my teeth.

Someone had hurt my best friend. They had stolen her humanity and left her to suffer through a transformation she never asked for. And I was going to make sure they paid a hefty price for their crime.

“Calm yourself, wolf.”

My eyes snapped open.

Pearl was sitting in front of me, her sapphire eyes glowing with the same pale light they’d radiated at the Holts’ ball.

Samuel made a worried noise and moved toward me. Victoria stopped him.

The fire in my blood slowly abated in the face of the power Pearl wielded. I could feel my wolf’s hackles settling. I released a shaky breath when I finally regained control of my emotions.

Caroline and Kent relaxed a fraction.

Pearl’s eyes returned to their normal color. She blinked and slowly swished her tail. “We’re going to have to do something about your wolf’s temper.”

“How did you do that, Fur Ball?” Bo asked, wide-eyed.

“It’s in the blood, Mutt,” Pearl muttered.

Lines furrowed Victoria’s brow as she studied me. I could tell she wanted to talk about what had just happened. She turned and led the way upstairs instead.

Virgil and I helped Ellie to the second floor.

“I have to say, this will be a first for the Hawthornes,” Pearl remarked steadily as she trailed in our steps. “We’ve never hosted a vampire transformation before.” She eyed Barney as he ascended beside her. “It’s been a while since you paid us a visit, Barnabas.”

“I would have preferred if it were longer,” the vampire grunted.

By the time we got Ellie into bed, her skin was clammy and she was as pale as a ghost. The hairs rose on my nape when a scream left her.

She arched her back, fingers clawing desperately at the sheets.

I bit the inside of my cheek hard and shut down my wolf as best as I could.

Virgil scowled. He sat on the edge of the mattress, bit his wrist without a second’s hesitation, and placed his bleeding flesh in front of Ellie’s mouth.

“Drink,” he ordered curtly.

The scent of the vampire’s blood made my wolf grow still and had amber flaring in the depths of Samuel and Kent’s pupils. Even Hugh looked alert.