Андреа Кремер - Nightshade

“He’s not going anywhere,” Monroe said with a grunt. “Stop struggling. Connor didn’t mean anything by it, Shay. You don’t need to fight him.”

“Let me go!”

“Scrappy one, isn’t he?” Connor said. “You’re sweet on this girl, huh? Interesting.”

“If you touch her, I swear—”

“Calm down,” Connor muttered. “I was just joking around.”

I forced my eyes open, but everything remained blurry. My throat was parched and I struggled to swallow, to find my voice.

“We had a deal, Shay,” Monroe said firmly. “You can’t stay here any longer.”

“But—”

“You’ll see her again. You have my word.”

“When?”

“That depends on you.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You will. Now it’s time to go. Today is the day your real life begins.”

The light winked out and shadows engulfed the room. The long screech of a rusty metal hinge was followed by a dull clang. The voices began to fade.

I parted my lips, my voice emerging in a quiet rasp.

“Shay?”

Silence. I was alone in the darkness.

Maybe it was a dream.

Anger seized me and I screamed at the shadows that filled the room, but there was no enemy to fight, save my gnawing fear of the unknown. I began to tremble.

You’re an alpha, Calla. Get it together.

The unyielding darkness pooled in the pit of my stomach.

What does it mean to be an alpha if you’ve abandoned your pack?

I was glad to be alone when the tears finally came. At least no one would witness the shame that rolled swift and hot down my cheeks. Streaks of moisture reached my lips and tasted sharp and bitter, reminding me of the choices I’d made. Of how I’d taken so many turns that brought me here—to a place so unfamiliar that it felt like the end of everything.

Where did running away lead me? Straight into the arms of the only enemy I’ve ever known? To my own death?

For the first time I could remember, I was truly alone. I stared into the empty room, grasping for a sliver of hope.

I’d risked everything to save Shay. Letting stillness ease my trembling limbs, I closed my eyes and saw his face, remembering the freedom I’d felt in his arms, the possibility of a life unlike any I’d imagined. I wondered if my capture had snuffed out that dream . . . if it had ever stood the chance of becoming real.

Despair threatened to drag me down, but I fought back, clinging to a single, flickering thought. Shay loves me. He would risk everything to find his way back to my side and set me free. Because that’s what love is, isn’t it? It has to be.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgment doesn’t phonetically evoke the grace and fortitude provided by colleagues, friends, and family, whose presence made this novel possible. Richard Pine and Charlie Olsen of Inkwell are my knights in shining armor. Charlie—thank you for loving this book, guiding me, and indulging phone conversations conducted fully in Star Wars metaphors. Richard—I’m still dazzled whenever you call! I couldn’t have better writing mentors than

Michael Green and Jill Santopolo at Philomel. Michael, thank you for your wonderful words and questions as I started this journey. I’d especially like to thank Jill for bringing incredible skill and kindness to our work together. The entire team at Penguin Young Readers has been wonderful. Thank you Don

Weisberg, Jennifer Haller, Emily Romero, Erin Dempsey, Shanta Newlin, Jackie Engel, Linda McCarthy, Katrina Damkoehler, Felicia Frazier, Scottie

Bowditch, and Julia Johnson for your incredible support and enthusiasm. I’m thrilled to be part of the Penguin family!

I’m indebted to Stephanie Howard and Lisa Desrochers for being great critique partners. Lindsey Adams and Gina Monroe made my Internet digs fabulous by sharing their artistic gifts. John and Natalie Occhipinti taught me that strangers on a plane can become your first fans. Corby Kelly, thanks for lending your mad language skills. Kristin Naca, you are a goddess, keep it up. Casey Jarrin, your brilliance makes everything around you sparkle, this book being no exception. This writer’s mind flourished in a little-known corner of the globe: Ashland, Wisconsin, I love you like no other place in the world.

FISH CAMP! Ed and Maribeth, thank you for reading from the first hope. Katie, thank you for knowing.

None of this would have happened without the love and support of my family. Aunt Helen, thanks for all the books. Mom, Dad, Garth, you are the threads that weave through everything, always. And for Will, who dances with me whenever I am sad—I may not like The Young Ones, but I love you more every day.

Visit

NightshadeBook.com to read a sneak peek of

Wolfsbane, Book 2 in the Nightshade series.