The Better to Bite (Howl #1)(28)

Back in 1692, witch hysteria had swept across Salem, Massachusetts. During the hysteria, nineteen people were hanged as witches, and one poor guy—he’d never confessed to being a witch—had been crushed to death with stones.

What a terrible way to go.

No one had been safe back then. Friends turned on friends. Arrests and tortures were common.

Witchcraft. The mark of the devil.

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Some words stayed with you long after the history lesson was over.

I cleared my throat. “What does Salem have to do with this town?”

She leaned toward me. “A group of witches fled Salem before they could be locked up. They fled and came here.”

I just stared at her.

“Don’t you get it?” She demanded. “This place was their haven!”

Okay. I got the name bit, but we needed to clarify something. “Those people who died back in Salem weren’t real witches.”

“No.”

Her fast agreement made me feel much better, but then she said—

“The real witches were smart enough to get out of there before the hangman got them.”

My head was starting to throb. “They got out, and they came here?” That was what she wanted me to believe? Crazy.

Her gaze held mine. “That’s how your family got here, anyway. Mine didn’t come here until pretty recently.”

No way. I grabbed my tray, ready to high-tail it out of there. I stood, turned, and—

Brent was in front of me. The guy didn’t have so much as a scratch on him. I was still bruised and scraped, and looking like hell, and he looked—he looked All-American. Like he hadn’t taken a life-or-death roll down a mountain.

What was going on?

And why was everyone around me acting like this was normal?

“Can we talk?” Brent asked me.

I managed to move my head in a nod.

He pulled me away from the table—I left my tray behind—and deeper into the shadows of the swaying trees. Leaves fell lightly around us. After a moment, he looked up and finally met my stare. “I’m sorry, Anna.”

I hadn’t expected that line. “For what?”

He glanced away, obviously uncomfortable. “I don’t remember what happened. The last thing…the last thing I can recall is driving in the truck with you—and then waking up in the hospital.”

“Brent—”

“I didn’t mean to wreck, Anna, and I’m sorry. I don’t know what—”

I grabbed his hand. “It wasn’t your fault!”

His brows rose. “I was driving.”

“A freaking wolf was running at the truck! You swerved to get away from it!”

His eyes widened. “A wolf?”

“Yes!” He’d better believe me. “Look, stop being sorry. It was an accident. I’m okay.” Mostly. “And you…” My gaze darted down him. “I don’t even know how you’re standing. I thought your ankle was broken or your knee smashed and—”

“Things just look worse at night,” he said, voice smooth. “I barely had a sprain. I’m already good as new.” But his sharp gaze was on my face once more. “You’re sure you saw a wolf? Not a deer or—”

“It was a wolf.” Deer, my ass. Like I couldn’t tell the difference between Bambi and a wolf? Folks really needed to start believing me. “That same wolf came at me when I was trapped in the truck. If Rafe hadn’t come to get us out—”

“Good thing he was there.” Only Brent didn’t exactly sound like it had been a good thing.

“He got me out,” I continued doggedly, “then we got you back to your house.”

He studied me a moment, then inclined his head. “I guess I owe him.”

“We both do.”

I became aware of the eyes then. Folks were watching us, but trying to pretend they weren’t. I stepped a little closer to Brent. “Everyone’s pissed at me.” And I was tired of the hate stares. My dad was the sheriff, taking the beer away had been his job. If he hadn’t, he would have found himself kicked out of the office.

Brent stared down at me a moment. “I didn’t even realize…” His breath blew out. “I was so busy feeling like shit, thinking I’d caused you to get hurt.” His hand cupped my chin. “I got this.”

What?

He turned then and stood in front of me, facing the juniors and seniors. “If they’re pissed, they can just get over it,” his voice was loud, carrying easily, and immediately capturing everyone’s attention. “If anyone has a problem with you, then they’ve got one with me.”

Wow. Standing up for me in front of the class. Telling them to kiss off. That was awful white knight of him.

And it was hot.

I peered over his shoulder. Most folks were looking away now and acting like they hadn’t been gossiping about us minutes before.

I expected to see Valerie doing her glare routine. But, actually, I didn’t see her at all. I didn’t see Rafe either. I was kind of glad about that. Kind of.

Brent looked back to me. “My mom flew back into town.” A little wince flickered over his face. “She’s not too happy about the party scene, and she’s trying to play mother.” There was a world of strain and suffering in the word. “So I’m supposed to be housebound for the next week.”