Chapter 5

The wolf on the line clearly hadn't seen that curveball coming.

But he rallied quick. "Plenty."

"How plenty?"

He paused, sensing the desperation leaking through. Voice dropping low, he nailed it. "Enough to burn the world down if that's your play."

I traced the ceiling cracks overhead, tears carving hot trails into my hairline.

Me? Alone as a winter moon, no moves left on the board.

Eyes squeezed shut, I whispered, "Done."

Per his instructions, I shipped off that bond-shattering paperwork—Joseph's signature and all.

"I'll rush it. Seven days, and I'll hand-deliver your freedom papers myself."

Discharge day dawned, and I set my sights on the bone yard for Shawn.

Joseph buzzed me out of the blue, offering a lift like we were still pack.

We were cruising smooth—almost there—when his phone chirped.

"Yeah, hang tight at the airstrip—be right there." Tires screeched as he whipped a U-ey.

My hands shot out, nails digging into his arm, jaws clenched so tight they ached. "Drop me at the graves first!"

He swatted me off like a fly, irritation rolling off him. "Zoe's back early—I gotta scoop her."

Rage boiled up, shaking me to my core.

If he'd stayed out of it, I'd have grabbed my own ride—no way I'd have climbed into his rig.

I twisted for the door handle.

Click—locked tight. "You lost it? Middle of nowhere out here—if something snags you, how do I face Shawn?"

Stubborn as ever, he wouldn't budge on the drop-off... or the bailout.

seven lousy minutes away, and he detours anyway, hauling me along to play fetch for Zoe.

She clocked me in the back seat, eyes widening like I'd crashed her party.

Joseph jumped in quick. "Bone yard run. Just dropping her."

Zoe flashed him a grin, all sunshine. "Aw, that's sweet—good karma won't ding your aura too bad."

I mustered a grin that didn't touch my eyes, sarcasm dripping like venom.

Then—thwump—something fuzzy and alive hit my lap.

I sneezed so hard my brains rattled.

Looked down? A damn cat, all whiskers and attitude.

"Gina, front's packed—mind holding Dolly for me?"

Two more sneezes exploded out of me before I could blink.

"Get it off!" I yeeted the furball back up front like it was cursed.

Chills erupted across my skin, goosebumps marching like an army.

Cat dander? My kryptonite—full-on allergy meltdown. Joseph knew it, etched in stone.

Some well-meaning wolf gifted me a kitten once; that night, I wheezed into the healer's ward on the brink, asthma flaring like a bonfire.

After? Joseph dropped to his knees, begging forgiveness, guiding my hand to slap sense into him.

Nurses gossiped about his freak-out for weeks—pacing like a caged beast, convinced he'd lost me.

From then on? No cats in my orbit. Ever.

Zoe blinked, thrown. "But... front's really jammed. Dolly's jet-lagged, all stressed—can't crate her again."

Joseph caught her pout, and his mood soured fast.

He scooped the cat back, plopping it rear-side, then iced me out. "It's temporary—suck it up."

Engine roared to life, no room for my vote.

My face went sheet-white, his words a barb twisting deep.

But worse? The itch creeping in, traitorous and fierce.

I wedged into the corner, as far from the beast as the seat allowed, but the scratches came anyway—frantic, clawing at my arms.

Rashes bloomed fast, angry red welts racing up my neck.

Breath hitched shorter, shallower; I raked harder, leaving bloody trails like war paint.

Up front? Giggles and chatter, like I was invisible back here.

At the light, Joseph's paw draped over Zoe's, all tender.

She whined about a crick; he jumped to rub her shoulders like a lackey.

She swatted him playful, laughing it off.

My nose clogged like a drain; I cranked the window, gulping air.

I'd barely caught my breath when—shriek!—a yowl split the air.

Zoe's cat went berserk, launching at me claws-first.

Sting—slash—blood welled, fur and fury flooding my senses.

Before I could swat back, the thing vaulted out the window in a blur of panic.

"Aaah—my Dolly!!!"