The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 124: Ayla

My wrists and shoulders stung. My head was pounding as I tried to open my eyes. Someone had stripped me down to my undergarments. I could feel my thighs touching cold stone and something hard against my back. The smell of wolfsbane burned my nostrils, but it was almost better than the fowl smell filling the rest of the room.

I finally pried my eyes open, lifting my head as my vision focused.

I was in a dimly lit large room with a high ceiling. It was too dark to see how high it went, but there was enough light to see the body that hung from it. I gasped at the gruesome scene. Bile rose in my throat as I recognized the tattoo on the forearm.

It was Conner Elkins. What was left of him.

“Ayla,” a terrified voice called.

I turned to see Kylee and Ma. They were locked up in a cage on the other side of the room.

“Kylee. Ma,” I croaked, wincing as I moved.

I managed to look up. My arms were tied over my head by thick, tight ropes. From the smell and the sting, they must have been soaked in wolfsbane. It was seeping into my bloodstream through the raw open sores on my wrists.

“Kylee,” I said hoarsely, “how long have I been out?”

“Over two days,” she said, tears running down her face.

“Are you hurt? Ma doesn’t look too good,” I said, hearing her writhe in

the cage next to Kylee.

“I’m okay,” Kylee replied. “Ma’s struggling. We’ve been here for four or five days now.”

Shit.

“She’s going through withdrawal, Kylee,” I told her.

“I know,” she said softly. She had finally accepted Ma’s addiction.

you have water?” I

giving

”

conscious. “Good,” I replied. “If she starts seizing, make sure to hold

wooden post with a metal ring fixed on it. I tried

glad you’re awake, my love,” a familiar voice echoed

toward me through the dark. A wave

***

Theo

took over the

back. We were both volatile as it was. For this asshole to show up in my territory after

into this wolf before

was smaller and leaner than us. Kieran almost relished how easy it would be to tear into

wouldn’t get the chance.

wolf appeared between us, stopping our confrontation.

this,‘ his voice echoed in my head. ‘We’re wasting time.‘

he didn’t have Ayla. Kieran growled one more time before relinquishing control, allowing me to shift back. Kingston

here?” I demanded through

said firmly. “You need

over and handed me a

he said. “Now’s not

shorts on and went back to

But I think I know what he’s using to mask his scent.” She pulled a labeled spray

he get it?”

but it may not be too hard. He’s not using this specifically. This stuff doesn’t eliminate our scent entirely. Just makes

large enough concentrations, but the user would risk major

does this help us?” Kingston inquired.

brought the rest of the stalker’s messages with her and she pulled a couple out of their evidence bag. “Something about these bothered me. I studied handwriting analysis in school. Whoever wrote these was trying to disguise their

the last statement