"Wearing a hole in our floor won't make the lab tests come back any faster."

My eyes flicked over to the sheriff. He sat at his desk, facing his computer and was typing away. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought he wasn't paying any attention to what I was doing.

"I'm sure your floor will be fine."

He pulled his eyes away from the computer monitor to look at me with a raised brow. I gave him a flat stare back. I could see the laughter in his eyes, although everything else about his expression was stoic. I was glad he found it so funny that I couldn't sit still.

I was waiting for the results on the syringe from the lab. He sent it off to his lab guys to test it right away. He warned me that it would take a while, even though he put it as top priority. I'd gone home for a couple of hours and tried to keep myself busy, but time seemed to slow to a crawl. I kept glancing at the clock, willing it to speed up.

It didn't help that my schedule was so off. I always picked up the kids in the afternoon, and not doing so felt wrong. When it reached the time I would normally go pick Caleb up from school, I had to find something distract myself. I planted the herbs Mrs. Greenhaven gave me, but that didn't take nearly long enough, so I ate an early dinner.

I was so restless that I even baked some cookies and brownies. I returned to the sheriff’s office with those treats in hand, distracting myself for a little while longer by handing them out to the staff. I even got a smile from Marion, the gatekeeper who didn't want to let me in earlier.

I had run out of things to do, though and all I could think about was how badly I wanted to know what Jude had done with that needle. Jeremy had told me it was highly unlikely Rhonda was under a spell or drugged. He said her behavior sounded nothing like what he had heard of before. What was with the syringe then?

I shoved my hands in my pockets in irritation. I frowned as my fingers encountered something odd. I pulled out my hand and looked at the small branch from the Angelica plant. It had snapped off when I was planting it earlier. I'd stuffed it in my pocket and had forgotten about it. With a shrug, I pushed it back where I found it. I'd deal with it later.

"Why don't you go back home? I'll call you when the results come in."

"No, I'm good waiting." I resumed pacing.

"Sam, go home."

His serious tone drew my eyes to him. "Look, Jeremy, I meant it when I said I was good waiting. I'll drive myself crazy whether I'm here or there."

"These tests aren't a simple one and done, you know. We'll be lucky to have any results until tomorrow."

"Yeah, I know," I muttered. "You said it'd take a while."

A deep sigh answered my comment. "I'd say let's go grab a drink, but I've got reports to finish and can't leave until I do. I'll never get them done with you pacing like a caged bear. If you don't want to go home, fine. Go someplace else. You just can't stay here."

"I'll go pace in the hallway. Maybe I'll go clean your staff kitchen again."

"You already reorganized everything in there. No one will be able to find anything for weeks."

"It's more efficient now."

"You've been here for hours and nothing has happened. I'm telling you that won't change until tomorrow."

The sharp ring of my phone cut him off. I frowned. Who would be calling me now? I dug into my pocket and pulled it out. I didn't recognize the number on the screen.

"Hello?" I answered, confusion in my voice.

"Sam?" I instantly recognized Izzy's worried voice over the line.

"Izzy? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't sure who else to call."

"No need to apologize. What's going on?"

She let out a trembling breath, then I heard shuffling. The sound of the television in the background faded. A door clicked, cutting off the sound completely.

"It's Rhonda," she said in a low, soft voice. "She called me earlier today and asked if I would watch the kids this evening."

"Really?" My stomach sank. What was going on? Why was Izzy calling me about this? I felt a prickle on the back of my neck and met Jeremy's concerned gaze. He must have thought something was off, too.

"Yeah. I don't usually watch kids at the end of the day, but it sounded like she really needed the help, so I agreed. She dropped them off about an hour after Caleb got out of school, and she said she would only be a couple of hours."

I remembered the sound of cartoons in the background before Izzy moved to another room. Her hushed voice. My heart constricted in my chest. "Has she not picked the kids up yet?"

"She's late. Really late. I thought she was just busy, so I fed the kids dinner when I couldn't reach her—"

"You couldn't reach her?" I interrupted.

"No. I called her cell but got her voicemail. I left her a message and even sent her a text. No reply."

"Did she say where she was going?"

"Um . . ." Izzy paused for a moment, thinking, "I think she was going to meet a friend at The Busy Bean."

"Did she say who?"

"No, she didn't." She let out a trembling sigh. "I'm really worried. I didn't think much of it at the time, but she seemed really preoccupied when she left. Like something was really bothering her. Since you two are so close, I figured you might know what's going on, or at least who else I should call. I think I might call the sheriff, honestly."

"She didn't say anything to me, but I'm glad you called, Izzy. I'll look into it. I'll let the sheriff know what's going on, too."

"It was Abby's idea, actually. When I couldn't get hold of Rhonda, she said you would know what to do"

That kid, I thought with a faint smile. She seemed to think I could solve any problem. No matter what, I had to figure out what was going on. This wasn't like Rhonda at all. Her kids were everything to her. Everything. I didn't want to alarm Izzy, but I had a bad feeling. I gripped my phone a little tighter as thoughts of Jude and that coven swirled darkly in the back of my mind.

"Thanks for calling," I said, trying to keep the tension out of my voice. "Are you okay to keep the kids until I figure this out? Rhonda's phone may have died or something. I'll head over to The Busy Bean and see if I can find her."

"Yeah, no problem. I'll throw on some popcorn and tell them we're having a sleepover." Izzy paused. "Keep me updated, okay? I'm sure it's nothing, but . . ."

"Of course. Thanks again, Izzy."

"Take care, Sam."

"You too."

I ended the call and looked at Jeremy. I knew he'd heard both sides of the call with his shifter hearing, so I didn't recap anything.

"Feel like ditching those reports to be backup? I'm going to head over to The Busy Bean to check this out."

His grin was feral. The guy loved his job and it showed. "I thought you'd never ask."

He stepped out from behind his desk and paused when I frowned at him.

"What?"

"You're going like that?"

"Like what?"

"Uniform and all?"

"I'm an officer. Officers wear uniforms."

"Don't you think it might tip them off?"

"Who, Sam? For all we know, Rhonda's phone died and you're all tied up in knots over nothing."

"It's not nothing," I grumbled. "Rhonda would've asked someone to use their phone if she had to. She never would've left Izzy in the dark. Not with her kids involved."

"I'm actually with you on that. Something's up." He checked his gun, then nodded toward the door. "Let the hunt begin."

* * *

I pulled into the parking lot for The Busy Bean and my eyes locked onto Rhonda's car. It was parked off to the side, all alone, clearly illuminated by the lights in the parking lot. I parked a few spaces away from it. I wanted to catch any scents in the air on the car and the smell of my hot engine might mask things. In my rearview mirror, I could see Jeremy pull in with his cruiser.

I didn't wait for him. I threw open my door and jogged over to Rhonda's car. I took a deep breath. The lingering scent of coffee and pastries in the air. The blooming plants nearby. The dumpster in the back of the café. I quickly sorted through all of that. The only scent on Rhonda's car was her own. I walked all the way around, scenting deeply, but I got the same results.

The engine wasn't warm. Just as Izzy had said, it had been parked here for a while. I couldn't think of a reason for Rhonda to leave her car here unless it had broken down. There was still the issue that she hadn't contacted anyone, though. That told me something was very wrong here. With a sickening feeling, I knew Jude was behind it.

All of those suspicions simmering in the back of my mind slammed to the forefront. The clincher was the way he threatened her in the locker room. I clenched my fists and ground my teeth together. I should've dealt with him when I had the chance.

I turned and headed to the entrance of The Busy Bean. I saw Jeremy get out of his cruiser and jog over to me, falling into step beside me as I approached the doors. He jerked his head behind us.

"That her car?"

"Unfortunately."

"Get anything from it?"

"Nope. Not a thing."

He sucked air between his teeth. "You thinking it's the ex with the needle?"

"I can't think of anyone else."

I stopped in front of the doors and took a deep breath.

"Did she go in?" Jeremy asked from behind me. I could hear him making small sniffing noises as he tried to pick up the various scents, too.

"Yes," I said slowly, "but she left."

"Let's go in, see if anyone recognizes her."

My bear chafed at the delay. It wanted to follow her trail, but I knew Jeremy was right. Maybe someone had seen something that could help. I reluctantly nodded.

He stepped around me and opened the door. I blinked as I saw how dim the interior was. Was the electricity off?

I followed him inside, and as the door closed behind us, I realized that small orange lights were on each table. I felt my eyes shift just a tiny bit so I could see. Why was it so dark in here?

Jeremy looked around and shook his head. "No. This is a waste of time. No one here could see anything. Not unless they were a shifter. Let's follow the trail. If necessary, I'll send someone here later."

The light from the parking lot was startling after the dimness of the café. I'm sure they'd call it ambiance, but I thought it was just plain creepy.

"Lead the way," Jeremy said.

I took a deep breath and turned to the right, following the strongest trail. "She went this way."

I started following the scent trail, only vaguely noting the businesses I passed were mostly closed. All my attention was on following the trail. Another female’s scent I didn’t recognize at all mixed with Rhonda’s. At first, I thought maybe they left together by coincidence. But the scent stayed with Rhonda's. Whoever it was, she went with Rhonda somewhere.

My instincts were screaming at me and I rushed down the sidewalk, barely keeping myself from breaking into a run. There was no way Rhonda wouldn't have checked in with Izzy. Even if she'd only been at the café for a few minutes, once she knew she was going to be late she would have called or sent a text. Her fear earlier today just added to my growing suspicion.

She would have found a way to let Izzy know she had been delayed. If she would call me when her class ran only five minutes late, there was no way she wouldn't call when she was hours beyond when she was expected. Something had to have happened to her. My bear focused all of its attention on following the scent trail. We'd find Rhonda, no matter what.

I started to pay attention to where I was when I caught sight of the toy store from the other night. Alarm shot through me. Too late. I slammed hard into an invisible wall. The same invisible wall as before. I recoiled like I'd been punched. A roar of anger poured out of me.

Rhonda's scent continued past the barrier. Light glowed from the windows of the occult shop, and as I watched the door closed behind someone. I knew Rhonda was in there. I just had to get to her.

My bear raged inside me. I started beating against the invisible barrier. When that didn't work, I slammed my shoulder into it. That had no effect, either, so I took a few steps back, then rammed it again and again. My shoulder started to throb, but I didn't care.

My feral side was taking control. I would break down this barrier. My bear pushed at my mind. It wanted out, convinced it could shred the magic barrier to pieces with teeth and claw.

Suddenly, I couldn't remember why it was a bad idea to shift in public. It didn't matter. Rhonda was in trouble and I had to get to her.

Seconds before I shifted, Jeremy shouted, "Sam!"

I forced myself to look at him. As I focused on him, I slowly became aware of how heavy my breathing was. My aching shoulders heaved with each breath. The remnants of a growl rumbled through my chest.

I knew my eyes were the bright topaz of my bear. Right now, I was a bear in a man's body. I couldn't even remember how to speak, although I could understand what he said. Another low growl rolled out of me.

"Sam, I need you to come back," he ordered.

My bear didn't recognize his right to give me orders. It told me that he wasn't my Alpha, therefore he couldn't tell me what to do. But it did know he was a friend. I growled at him again, curling back my upper lip with a snarl. My claws pushed at my fingertips. The barrier. I had to get through the barrier.

"I get it, but you have to keep it under control."

I let out another snarl and whirled back around to face the barrier. My eyes darted up and down, then to the side, trying to find where it ended and began. I couldn't see anything. No edges, no ripples. Nothing. A growl ripped out of me as I slammed a fist out in front of me, futilely bashing the barrier.

"Sam. I can help you, but you gotta talk to me."

His words finally penetrated. He could help me. He could help me save Rhonda. Reluctantly, my bear pulled back. It had one focus. Save. Rhonda. Nothing else mattered.

I took a deep breath and dropped my head to stare at the ground as I tried to pull myself together. My eyes widened when I saw my hands. Giant, curled claws stuck out of my fingertips. Fear ran up my spine. How did I get so out of control that my hands shifted? I let out a quiet curse and focused on my hands, urging them back to their human form. The claws slowly withdrew back into my fingers.

That taken care of, I took another deep breath and lifted my head to look at Every Witch Way. The lit windows mocked me. So close, yet so far.

"How?" I asked in a guttural voice. My bear still wasn't fully caged. "How do I get to her?"

"Look at me."

It took more effort than I wanted to admit to pull my attention away from my prey. Whoever had coerced Rhonda was in there. I would find her, rescue her, then make them pay.

Jeremy's stoic look told me I was still more bear than man. I closed my eyes, then took another deep breath and slowly let it out. My bear receded, but not without a fight. It was backed into a corner of my mind, swiping and growling in protest, but I finally had control. Feeling more human, I opened my eyes and met his gaze.

"Can you get past this barrier?" I asked.

He took a step forward and reached out with his hand. His palm stopped at the barrier and gave it a shove. "Nope."

I only barely resisted a growl. "How can you help me if you can't get past it either?"

"Well, for one, I kept you from shifting in public and getting caught by animal control. Being thrown into a cage would definitely keep you from getting in there. Second, you were making a spectacle of yourself. Do you want them to know you're coming?"

"No," I replied, gritting my teeth as I looked toward the entrance to the shop that was just out of reach. "But Rhonda is in there. I know it. I have to get in there."

As I spoke, I realized how helpless I was in this situation. Terror coursed through my veins. I was afraid for her. Afraid of what Jude could be putting her through in there. There was nothing I could do to save her. I just had to suffer as the nightmarish possibilities ran through an endless loop in my mind.

My jaw and fists were clenched so tight I feared I might break both. No, I told myself. I wasn't helpless. I was a bear-shifter. I would find a way in. They couldn't keep me out.

My fear morphed back to anger as I thought about the audacity someone had to abduct Rhonda. My Rhonda. My rage grew again, but I tried to fight it.

I was about to lose that battle when I caught a familiar scent behind us. I whipped my head around and saw Paige hurrying across the street toward us. She glanced around nervously, then ducked into the shadows of an alley just behind us.

"Come here," she whispered tersely.

Did she know what happened to Rhonda? My bear pushed to the forefront of my mind with a ferocious growl. I managed to catch the sound in my throat as I wrestled for control.

The sheriff and I exchanged looks. He placed a hand on his holster and nodded for me to proceed. We cautiously approached the alley. For all I knew, this was a trap. I had seen Paige talking to Jude in Every Witch Way. She had warned me to leave that night, but I couldn't trust anyone in this damn coven.

Paige nervously wrung her hands together, and her gaze darted around as if she was afraid someone was watching.

Her eyes widened when she saw Jeremy's hand on his holster. "Whoa, no, I'm here to help. I promise."

"Where the hell is she?" I growled.

"They've got her in there. From the stuff they were gathering, I'd say they're preparing for a ritual." Paige let out a frustrated sigh. "Not that I would know for sure because nobody tells me anything anymore."

"I have to get in there," I said through clenched teeth.

"You can't. They'll kill her if you just barge in there."

Fury tore through me. I felt my eyes shift. Paige flinched and took a step back.

"I'm sorry," Paige whispered hurriedly. "I was just going to go get help when I saw you, I swear. I don't like this any more than you do."

"Don't apologize. Just get me in there."

"Who will kill her?" Jeremy interrupted, his voice hard.

She turned her attention to the sheriff, swallowing rapidly. "The coven. They’re all in there.”

"This just became a matter for law enforcement," he said.

"Officers barging in there would be even worse. You have to be careful about this." She took a deep breath and seemed to come to a decision. "I can get you in."

"How?" I asked through clenched teeth. I was getting tired of all this talking. She said she could get me in. I wanted to go. Now.

Paige met my gaze. "Witch's blood."

"What do you mean?" Jeremy asked in a cold voice.

She furtively looked around. I could smell her fear. "Not blood blood. It's a potion we call witch's blood."

"I might have heard of something like it before. Do you have any?" Jeremy asked.

Paige nodded and pulled a small vial out of her purse. "I grabbed some before I came out to get help. Just in case. You'll have to drink it."

I shook my head. "No."

Her chin trembled. "You have to."

"I don't drink unknown substances. There has to be another way."

Paige swallowed. "This is the only way for a non-witch to pass the barrier."

I didn't trust her. But my bear was anxiously pacing in my mind. I had to get past this barrier. This was taking too long.

"Sam," Jeremy said, his calm tone firmly pulling my attention to him, "take a sniff. You should be able to tell the herbs that went into its brew. Your nose is better than mine, and the key herb will be more difficult for me to scent."

She held out the small glass vial, her hand shaking and her eyes darting around.

I blew out air through my nose. I may not quite trust Paige, but I did trust Jeremy. I held out my hand and took the vial. I gently worked off the stopper and carefully inhaled. With a sensitive nose like mine, you quickly learn not to inhale anything unknown too fast.

"Mint, rosemary," I turned my head to the side and blew out from my nose a couple of times to clear those scents. I inhaled again and told Jeremy the other herbs I smelled.

"That's it? Anything else?"

I shook my head, and his face tightened. I could see anger in his eyes.

"Nothing else I can clearly name."

"What? You smell something else?"

"Yeah, but I'm not sure what it is. I've smelled it recently."

"Describe it."

"Woodsy. Musky maybe?"

Then it hit me. I knew where I'd smelled it before. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the sprig of Angelica. I took a careful sniff from the plant, then the vial. Match. I tucked the plant back in my pocket.

"And?" Jeremy asked.

"Angelica."

A calculating look crossed Jeremy's face. "Let's do this, then." He took the vial from my hand and took a small sip, then handed it to me.

I clenched my jaw. I didn't like this. At all. I sighed angrily.

"Fine. How much do I have to drink?"

"Just a sip," Paige whispered, glancing behind me nervously at Every Witch Way.

I looked at Jeremy and he shrugged. "It'll get us in. Until we know what we're facing, we can't really make a plan. I don't have any better ideas. You?"

I shook my head.

"Drink up."

I waited a few seconds after drinking the potion but didn't feel any different. No burning in my gut. No pain. I felt normal. I guess she didn't poison us.

Paige motioned toward the shop. "You should be able to get in now."

Without another word, I turned away from them and headed back to the barrier. I reached out where the barrier had been before and met no resistance.

I took a step forward, completely passing through where the barrier had stopped me before. I paused when I heard Paige behind me. I turned to see her and Jeremy both an inch away from grabbing me.

"Stop. I told you that you have to go in with me," Paige said.

"I meant it. They'll kill her if they get spooked."

"I have to get to her," I growled.

"I know." Paige took a deep breath. "I'll get you in."

"How?" I asked as I took a step closer to her. The stench of her fear surrounded her, but there wasn't much I could do about it. I was barely holding my bear in check. It was all for barreling into the occult shop, but even though I was strong, I knew I wouldn't win against overwhelming odds.

"I have a plan," she insisted. "At least, one that's good enough to get you as close to her as you can. You two will follow me in."

Jeremy snorted. "And they'll just believe we're what . . . your trained pets?"

"Yes, they will."

"Why would they think that?" I asked suspiciously. I still wasn't sure I trusted Paige, but her potion did let me pass through the barrier.

"I'm a telepath. A strong one. If you walk behind me, just staring blankly ahead, they'll think I managed to capture you somehow. By the time anyone really thinks about it, we'll be in."

"Let's just do this already." My anger and worry grew with each passing moment.

Paige looked intently at me. "Remember, don't look around, just stare at me. Got it?"

I nodded briskly, itching to get inside already. She glanced over at Jeremy and he nodded. "Got it."

She took a deep breath, then forced her face into a calm expression. "Let's go."

I followed a few steps behind her as she started walking. Behind me, I heard the static click of a radio, then Jeremy talking in a low voice. He told someone the address and said something about a possible magical hostage situation.

"There are so many freaking things that could go wrong with this," Paige muttered in a panicked voice in front of me.

I was glad Jeremy was calling in backup, because something told me we would need it.