Page 4 of The Tracker's Secret

I glanced back. Mom stood behind me. I took a step toward the front door, the anger in my gut rekindling. “How could you?!” I demanded.

“I’m—”

“No! Don’t talk to me. You ruined everything. I would have rather lost you than Dad.”

An injured expression etched her face. “Don’t say that.”

“I wish he was here and not you. I wish... I wish...”

Suddenly, there was only one thing I wanted, and it was to be as far away from Mom as possible. I took another step toward the door and was about to bolt out of the house when I remembered the mage’s business card.

Merely on instinct, I leaned over and snatched it from the coffee table. At that moment, I didn’t quite understand why I took it. But later, I would be grateful. He was the only one who could explain the spell that had kept my wolf caged.

And sooner or later, I would need those answers.

Chapter 2

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LYING IN BED IN THEspare bedroom of my best friend’s condo, I shook my head as the memories kept spiraling out of control, bringing back yesterday’s events with so much vividness that I could almost see the sneering mage staring at me over the edge of his round, dark glasses.

Fury surged as the image of Damien and Mom standing in that kitchen flashed before my eyes. My skin began to tingle, and my fingertips and gums grew tight to the point of bursting with claws and fangs.

I sat up and clutched the edge of the mattress, staring at myself in the full-length mirror that hung from the wall. I tried to will the anger away by breathing slowly and focusing on my face. Something was different about it, though I couldn’t say exactly what. Some subtle changes had honed my features, turning them... wild. It seemed my cheekbones and my nose were sharper, and my mouth protruded slightly forward.

God, don’t let me shift. Rosalina is in the next room.

She was getting ready for work. Her makeup routine took her a while. She was a genius with eyeshadow and concealer. As I thought of my friend, the tingling in my skin subsided a little, so I squeezed my eyes shut and thought more about her and our day ahead at the office.

We had a new client coming in today. Someone Celina Morelli had recommended to Sunder’s Mate Tracker Agency, which meant Rosalina and I were well on our way to turning our clientele to the most exclusive in St. Louis. The business goals we had set out for ourselves were coming to fruition. With this new type of client, we would be able to charge more for our services, and we would do more than stay afloat.

With a deep breath, I opened my eyes and stared at myself in the mirror again. My face had gone back to normal. It was rounder andnotwild.

Thank the witchlights.

I could do this. I could keep it together. I didn’t need someone ofmy kindto help me and teach me. I didn’t need to ask that mage any questions, for all I knew Mom would convince him to keep me in the dark again. At once, the anger returned and started bubbling like an already-boiling pot set back on the stove.