Chapter 2

I turned to pack my things, trying to push away the hollow feeling in my chest. My eyes fell on two tickets lying on the desk.

Hawaii.

The tickets Dean had finally agreed to after months of my pleading.

It was supposed to be our honeymoon trip. A chance to start fresh.

The door slammed open behind me.

Dean stormed in and snatched the tickets from my hands. He tore them into pieces with sharp, violent movements. The scraps fluttered down onto my face like bitter snow.

"Tara, I knew you hadn't given up." His voice was harsh with accusation. "Still fantasizing about dragging me on a honeymoon trip around the world?"

Before I could respond, his hand shot out and wrapped around my throat. His fingers dug into my skin as he pulled me close.

"Tell me. What did you do to Megan?"

My throat burned. I coughed, struggling to breathe. "Dean, you took her and left the wedding. I haven't seen her since. What could I possibly have done?"

His grip tightened. "You said you wouldn't force me to marry you. Right after that, Megan collapsed with terrible stomach pain. She's unconscious now. The pack doctors have run every test they can think of. Nothing. You're a witch, Tara. You must have cursed her with some kind of dark magic."

I clawed at his hand, gasping for air. My words came out broken and desperate. "Dean, my magic can only heal people. It requires my own blood. My own life force. Do you really think I'm insane enough to waste my life hurting Megan?"

Something flickered in his eyes. Disgust. He looked at me like I was something rotten.

"You gave up ten years of your life to heal me. That was all about greed, wasn't it? You wanted my status. My wealth. What wouldn't someone like you do for power?"

I stared at him, shock freezing me in place. This was how he saw my sacrifice. This was what my healing meant to him.

Dean took my silence as confirmation. His face twisted with righteous anger. He dragged me toward the door, his fingers still bruising my arm.

"You're going to heal Megan right now. If you don't, I'll make you regret it."

He shoved me into his car. The drive to the hospital was a blur of speed and silence.

The hospital room was crowded when we arrived. Megan lay on the bed, her face pale and twisted with pain. She clutched her stomach, soft moans escaping her lips. Doctors and nurses clustered around her, their voices low and worried.

Dean kicked me forward. I fell to my knees in front of Megan's bed. A knife clattered onto the floor beside me.

"Use your blood to save her. Now. Or you're not leaving this hospital alive."

I looked up at him. "Dean, I'm telling you. This wasn't my magic. I can't heal what I didn't cause."

Every eye in the room turned toward me. This was Dean's family hospital. No one would speak up for a witch. No one would defend me against the Alpha's son.

Before I could think of what to do next, Dean grabbed my arm. He picked up the blade. The metal bit deep into my skin, a long cut that made blood pour out in a hot rush.

"If you won't confess, I don't mind draining you dry." His voice was cold. Clinical. "Let's see if your magic still works without any blood left in your body."

Pain shot up my arm. I forced the words out through gritted teeth. "Dean. I'm telling you one more time. I cannot save her."

A bitter laugh escaped me. Anger burned through the pain. "But here's something to think about. If I die, how long do you think you'll last?"

His pupils contracted. His chest heaved with fury. Then his hand was around my throat again, squeezing.

"So it was you." His voice shook. "I need to teach you a lesson. Otherwise you'll never leave Megan alone."

He waved his hand. Several werewolf warriors entered the room. Dean's orders were simple.

"Teach this witch what happens when she hurts innocent people."

The warriors closed in. Fists and boots connected with my body. Someone produced an iron rod studded with small spikes. The first strike across my back made me cry out.

"Dean, I'll report you to the police!" My voice came out raw. Desperate. "I'll have all of you thrown in prison!"

He laughed. It was a cold, empty sound. "The police won't believe a witch. Everyone here will testify that you tried to murder Megan first. I'm only protecting my mate."

He took the spiked rod from one of the warriors. He raised it high.

The rod came down across my back with brutal force.

Agony exploded through my body. My vision went white.