Winter Wolf (A New Dawn Novel Book 1) by Rachel M Raithby Page A

Katalina snap alert. She looked at the house across from them. Several members of River Run were hanging around.
    “They’ve not sensed us yet, but they will shortly.” As the words left his mouth, she saw someone look right at them and shout to Jackson.
    Bass put her down. She wrapped her arms around herself tightly. Cage started to run toward them, a look of pure fury on his face, others followed.
    “Bass?” Katalina gasped, frightened.
    He kissed her gently. “Don’t worry about me. Be ready to leave at first dark. I will come for you.”
    Bass took off into the trees, changing as he ran. Cage raced past her a second later, others following him. She didn’t know what to do or say; she felt too weak to protest. She just hoped Bass was as good as he said.
    “Kat?”
    Katalina turned toward Toby’s voice as he offered her a blanket. She’d barely registered the cold seeping into her bare skin.
    “I thought you’d need this. Are you feeling okay? The first change can be rough.”
    “Thanks, Toby.” She smiled, covering her naked body with the blanket. “I’m just tired and so hungry.”
    “Come on.” He wrapped his arm around her and helped her into the house. Katalina stopped off at the kitchen for food and then went to the bedroom. As she climbed onto the bed, she called out to Toby as he was closing the door.
    “Toby.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Thank you.”
    “For what?”
    “For always being there, for not judging me.”
    “It’s all right, Kat.”
    “I’m going to miss you,” she whispered as she closed the door.
    She couldn’t be certain, but she thought he whispered back, ‘I’ll miss you too, Kat.’

Chapter 9
     
    With a full belly, Katalina fell instantly into a deep sleep. She woke up at midday, her stomach growling as she climbed out of bed.
    God, I’m starving.
    She turned the handle, intending to go find food, but the door was locked. Katalina rattled on the handle and then banged against the door. Her heart pounded. They’ve locked me in. She’d felt like a prisoner from the moment she’d arrived, but in that instant, she really was. She banged again and started shouting.
    Jackson’s voice drifted through the door a moment later.
    “This is for your own good, Katalina. As soon as that wolf is caught, you’ll be free to leave your room.”
    She felt sick, her head fuzzy. Each pound of her heart boomed through her skull; she had to be careful. She needed to make them think she’d behave or she’d never get away.
    “Jackson, please, I won’t leave the house. I’m hungry and bored,” she said in her sweetest voice.
    “I’ll send Toby up with food. Sorry, Kat, you’re staying put.”
    A surge of anger raced through her and then a sharp pain spread through her fingers. She gasped at the hand she had pressed against the door. Changing and cracking, it morphed into a wolf’s paw. With great effort, Katalina managed to regain control of her body and keep her wolf at bay, but she knew only the smallest thing would set it off again.
    Oh, my God, what has happened to me? Anger consumed her.
    She paced the room, feeling more agitated by the second. Her body didn’t feel like her own anymore. There was a rage, a wildness inside of her and it scared Katalina. Glancing out of the window, she realized Bass would come for her in a few hours. She needed to get out of the room. I need to go home .
    The door clicked and then opened. Toby looked miserable when he walked in carrying a tray of food.
    ‘ Sorry,’ he mouthed. The door closed behind him and clicked, locking Toby inside with her.
    Katalina sat in silence eating the food, racking her brain for some semblance of a plan, or at least some idea of how to escape. She could barge past when they let Toby out, or climb out the window when he left. She stood and walked over to the window. Cage was circling the house, keeping her in and Bass out. Can I get past Cage?
    She watched him as he vanished from view lapping around the back; it took