CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
“It’s all clear. There’s no one here,” Tristan said, pulling the sliding glass door closed behind him.
“Any idea who it was?” Barbara asked.
“Definitely a feline shifter,” Tristan pulled out one of the dining room chairs and joined the women. “But no one I know of specifically.”
“This night keeps getting weirder and weirder,” Sara sighed, taking a large gulp of the coffee that was keeping her awake.
“It really does,” Barbara agreed. “Are you sure you don’t want to spend the night at our house? We have plenty of room for you.”
“No, but thank you. This is my home. No one is going to scare me away from it. I’ll do a few spells to add some layers of protection on top of the cameras and alarms your guy set up. I’ll be fine.”
There was no way she was about to be chased out of her home by God only knew what. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Barbara and Tristan. She did. Very much so. But she loved her freedom and independence, and she refused to be scared into anything. Right now, more than anything, she needed some time alone to wrap her head around everything.
“Okay, but please, call us if you need anything.” Barbara stood and hugged her.
“I will. I promise.” She quickly returned the hug and walked them to the front door.
“Lock up as soon as we leave. And don’t open your door unless you know who’s standing on the other side,” Tristan said.
“I won’t. I’ll be fine.”
“You better be,” Barbara warned.
“You two should get out of here. I’m sorry I turned your night upside down.” She honestly felt bad about dragging them into her mess.
“Hush. I won’t hear any kind of talk like that. That’s what we’re here for. We’d expect you to come to us when you need help,” Barbara said, giving her one last hug. “Try to get some rest.”
“I will.” Sara closed and locked the door the second they stepped over the threshold and headed to their SUV.
Her mind was a total disaster with everything that had taken place, from the hot sex with Rhett to the mating bite, and then the date with Bryce, to the whole shifting into a wolf thing. It was all too damn much. She felt like her head was about to explode.
She padded into the kitchen and grabbed the tea kettle. Filling it halfway, she turned the burner on and grabbed a pack of chamomile tea and her favorite mug, hoping it would help her relax enough to get a few hours of sleep.
Sara nearly jumped out of her skin when the whistle on the tea kettle sounded. Her anxiety really was getting the best of her. That was the last thing she needed, the long spiral into oblivion.
She’d seen it happen to one too many a witch when they lost their way, and she refused to become one of them, no matter how insane everything seemed at the moment.
She dipped her tea bag in and out of the steaming water several times before taking a few slow sips of the tea.
“Mmmm. Much better,” she said about a quarter of the way through her cup. She could already feel herself relaxing.
Setting the cup on the counter and flicking the lights off, she headed back to her bedroom to see if she could find the blackness she desperately needed.
* * *
Slowly opening her eyes,Sara yawned and stretched her arms above her head. She’d been exhausted the night before, and she didn’t even remember falling asleep. The second her head hit the pillows, she was out cold without a care in the world … despite how awful the night had ended.
She rolled over and checked her clock.
“Oh no!” Her stress quickly returned when she realized that Vera would be arriving soon for their daily lesson.
She quickly texted the apprentice to let her know that there were new security features around the house, but her key should still work to let her in. Then, Sara jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. She flew through her morning shower rituals, realizing that her body was a bit sore.
She thought it must be from the shifting, still partly unable to believe that it had been true and not a crazy dream.
Once done, she threw on the first outfit that she laid her hands on. She slapped on a bit of makeup … she didn’t need to scare her apprentice with her natural face … and tied her hair back in a scarf.