Page 171 of Whispers of Wisteria

My vision cleared, and Gloria’s figure came into focus. She was still sitting on her knees, palms open over her thighs, and her eyes wide as she stared blankly in front of her.

My stomach sank. Hadn’t it worked?

As the screeching of the closing gates rang through the room, when I thought we’d failed, something changed in the older woman.

Gloria blinked, gasping, as she fell forward and rested her head over her knees.

Not only had I failed, but I’d also hurt her with my inexperience. She was clutching at her chest, grasping at her flowery blouse, in apparent distress.

Dear God, I’d forgotten that she was elderly. Uncle Gregory would be extremely displeased if I’d caused her to go into cardiac arrest.

But my panic was cut short as an explosion of orange-red broke out over her skin, and her features twisted, before, an instant later, a massive wolf stood in her place.

She had a flawless coat, a black nose, and piercing gold eyes. She looked directly at me, then growled at something over my shoulder. A breath later, she’d lunged past me.

She’d shifted.

I was suddenly dizzy again as the tension fell from my shoulders.

Now, everything would be okay.

Gloria slid under the closing door and was on them before they could react. Her teeth flashed as blood sprayed through the air. There was another scream, and a second body was thrown aside like nothing.

Gloria didn’t wait, she moved to the control panel and pushed her blood-covered muzzle to the buttons, releasing the other cell doors.

Well, being kidnapped notwithstanding, I was glad my plan worked. We made a good team after all.

Now that the doors were opened, Ada and Maria also shifted, and the three wreaked havoc on the room and down the hallway.

Meanwhile, I just… stayed.

I laid there amid the bodies, dimly watching the two men I’d already killed. I should feel bad, but I didn’t.

I didn’t feel anything at all.

And that was scarier than everything else.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Maria was back.

“Bianca,” she said, and honey spread through me. “It’s okay now—they’re gone.”

She looked at me, her face haloed by her loose blond hair, while Gloria and Ada—still shifted—paced in the background. The lioness’s features were light and comforting, but even herupbeat expression couldn’t cover the tension from the other two women.

She was lying—it wasn’t okay at all. We still weren’t safe.

And I was making everyone wait for me.

I was so ashamed.

I stood, swaying, as I tried to keep up with the others.

“How do you feel?” Maria asked. She touched my chin, making me look at her face. Her sharp eyes moved over me, and her full lips turned down before she wrapped her arm around my waist and led me to the stairs.

Gloria looked back at us before she and Ada slipped into the hallway.

“We’re getting you out first,” Maria said. “Then we’ll come back and get Titus—”

My scattered thoughts froze. I stopped walking.