Taken by the Outcast Alpha (Whispers of Fate)

2. Sage

Chapter two

Sage

I grip the steering wheel tighter as I pass the tourists posing for pictures by the "Welcome to Salem" sign. Their pointed hats and cheesy grins make my stomach churn.

The town government loves this circus—it's all about the revenue. But for me? It's a relief to have an excuse to bail this year.

I nearly fell to my knees to thank my cousin Sylvie when she shared the note about the Moonflowers at Mount Washington. I stopped myself because I knew Sylvie regretted not being able to search for the Moonflower nectar herself, but her injured ankle made it impossible to hike the trail in the moonlight. My mom probably would have put up more of a fight about me leaving now, but she knows how rare and potent that stuff is. Sending no one out to retrieve it would have been the most foolish thing we could have done.

The worry lines that creased her face as she helped me pack almost made me ask if she knew I wanted to get away from more than the tourists this year. Every year, I want to escape the spectacle. Every year, she tells me I should spend Halloween here where my ancestors lived and died for their magic, and I always cave, always stay. This year though, her hands lingered a little too long on each charm and talisman she insisted I take. She knew I couldn’t, or maybe wouldn’t, stay this time, and settled on protecting me the only way she knew how to instead.

Moonflower nectar, for crying out loud. The potential for protection spells alone makes my fingers tingle with anticipation. It's exactly what I need right now. And maybe Mom knows more than she's admitted to me? Then again, maybe she doesn’t. Maybe I’m just trying to find meaning behind the lingering look she gave me as I climbed in my car when there wasn’t any at all.

My eyes flick to the rearview mirror, checking for any signs of pursuit. Old habits. I take a deep breath, trying to relax my shoulders. I'm safe.

For now.

Damien.

The name slips into my thoughts unbidden, and I flinch. Even alone in the car, it feels dangerous to think about him. My hands clench on the wheel, knuckles white.

There is no reason why he should recognize this car. I just got it off of Craigslist last week. It isn't even in my name. Dad didn't ask a lot of questions when I asked if he'd put the car in his name, at least for a while. Does that mean Dad suspects the trouble I'm in as well?

I crank up the radio, desperate for a distraction. The familiar notes of "Rhiannon" fill the car, and I let out a shaky laugh. How fitting. A song about a powerful witch, misunderstood and feared. Nox, my faithful bat companion, glances at me sidelong from her perch on the passenger seat. A part of me wonders what she'd say if she could talk. Since she hid every time Damien was near, she'd probably say she made her opinion known. I just didn't listen.

As Salem fades in my rearview mirror, a knot of tension in my chest loosens. I'm not na?ve enough to think running will solve everything, but putting some distance between me and the memories feels like the first step toward reclaiming my life.

The winding road to Laconia unfolds before me, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through a sea of autumnal glory. I marvel at the vibrant hues painting the landscape. Fiery reds, warm oranges, and rich golds blend together in a breathtaking tapestry that seems to set the world ablaze.

I take a deep breath, inhaling the crisp fall air through my open window. The scent of earth and leaves fills my lungs, momentarily soothing the knot of anxiety that's been twisting in my gut since I left Salem.

You're safe, Sage. He can't find you here.

But even as I try to reassure myself, my eyes dart to the rearview mirror for the hundredth time. No sign of pursuit, just the empty road behind me.

The sun hangs low on the horizon, its golden light filtering through the trees and casting long shadows across the road. A shiver runs down my spine that has nothing to do with the cooling air.

Please, just let me make it to town before dark.

I press my foot a little harder on the accelerator. The beautiful foliage that had been so comforting in the daylight now feels ominous. Each shadow seems to stretch towards me, as if Damien or one of his cronies might step out from behind any tree.

My fingers tighten on the steering wheel. "Not today," I mutter, glancing at Nox hanging upside down from the handle over the passenger door. My familiar's eyes are alert, scanning the side of the road over my shoulder. Her presence is reassuring, but I know we're both on edge. She keeps her leathery wings tucked in tight, however—a sign that she doesn’t sense there’s anything to worry about. If Nox isn’t prepared to fly, then I know that at least at this moment, we’re safe.

The fading light paints the world in shades of twilight, and I find myself counting the minutes until I reach the safety of the next town. Those pools of darkness between the trees are the perfect hiding spots for someone who doesn't want to be seen.

I glance down at the dashboard, and my heart sinks. The temperature gauge is creeping into the red zone.

"No, no, not today. Please, not today. Not here."

The words tumble from my lips, a desperate prayer to whatever forces might be listening. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back furiously. Crying has never solved anything before, and it sure as hell won't fix my car now.

With a resigned sigh, I ease onto the shoulder of the road, smacking the hazard button with barely restrained frustration. Gravel crunches under the tires as I come to a stop.

I pop the hood and step out of the car, the cooling evening air raising goosebumps on my skin. The fading light casts long shadows across the road, and the trees loom ominously on either side. I suppress a shudder and focus on the task at hand.

Lifting the hood, I'm confronted with a jumble of metal, hoses, and wires that might as well be written in ancient Sumerian for all the sense it makes to me. I stare helplessly at the engine, willing some spark of mechanical knowledge to magically appear in my brain.

"Bloody temperature gauge," I mutter, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "Which part of you is even responsible for that?"

The engine offers no answers, of course, just sits there radiating heat and mocking my ignorance. I'm a witch, for goddess' sake. I can brew potions that can heal wounds, cast spells that can ward off evil spirits, but faced with this mundane problem, I'm completely useless. If it isn’t covered in a grimoire, I have no idea what I’m doing.

A low rumble cuts through the silence, and my heart leaps into my throat. An engine slows behind my car, then cuts off. My hands start to shake, and I whip my head around as I watch Nox head to the darkening woods. “Thanks for the help,” I mutter to her fleeing form. Could I hide in those same shadows I feared just moments ago?

"Can I help?" An unfamiliar voice calls out, footsteps crunching on gravel as someone approaches the passenger side of my car.

I turn, my breath catching as I take in the newcomer. He's tall, broad-shouldered, with deep amber eyes that seem to glow in the fading light. My traitorous heart skips a beat, but I quickly squash that thought. Damien was attractive too, until he wasn't.

"I don't know," I manage, my voice steadier than I feel. "The temperature gauge went to the red..."

He walks up to the engine, clearly knowing what he's looking for. His eyes narrow as he opens one lid, then he looks back at me. "You're completely out of coolant."

I blink, feeling a bit lost. Coolant? Is that important?

He must see the confusion on my face because he asks, "How long have you had this car?"

"Not long," I admit, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I eye him warily, trying to gauge if he's genuinely here to help or if there's some hidden agenda. My fingers twitch, ready to cast a protection spell at a moment's notice.

But for now, I can’t afford to turn his help away. I just have to be on alert and hope for the best.

And oh, am I hoping.