Heart Of The Bear (Appalachian Shifters #1) Read Free Page B

growled. Clearly, Ivy was no more enthused to hear from Anna than I was.
    “What the hell are you doing in here? You’ve got trash detail today!” Anna demanded.
    “Caleb asked me to sit with Penny,” Ivy said.
    “Doesn’t he realize you’re too stupid for that?” Anna snarled. “God, your blabby little mouth would say anything!”
    “I’m not stupid, Anna!” Ivy shouted.
    “Don’t you dare raise your voice to me, you impudent little bitch!” Anna snarled.
    I heard Ivy yelp and I craned my neck painfully to see what was happening. Anna had her by the hair and was pulling her across the room.
    “Ow! Stop it; you’re hurting me!” Ivy whined.
    “I’m going to teach you a lesson, you stupid little…”
    “Stop!” I shouted.
    Despite more pain that I’d ever felt in my life, I managed to roll off into the floor. I landed with a thud, and a jolt of excruciating agony shot through my entire body. I ignored the pain and used the stool to pull myself into a precariously wobbly standing position.
    “Let her go!” I groaned.
    Anna turned to me, a set of jade green eyes flashing viciously underneath a mane of bright red hair. She narrowed her eyes at me and her lip twitched upward in a snarl.
    “How dare you speak to me that way,” she growled. “This is none of your business, so stay out of it!”
    She yanked Ivy’s hair harder, and Ivy shrieked in pain. Anna started to drag her outside again, and I dove across the room and wrapped my arms around Anna, causing her to release Ivy and knocking Anna into the doorframe.
    “You stupid bitch!” Anna shouted.
    Before I knew it, Anna turned to face me and backhanded me in one smooth motion. I felt the fiery rush of pain searing through me as I toppled backward and stumbled over the stool, landing against the wall with a thud. My head was swimming, and I struggled to hang onto consciousness.
    “Caleb was a fool to bring her here,” Anna muttered. She snatched Ivy by her hair again, growling, “Just like he was a fool to bring you here.”
    “Ow!” Ivy screeched as Anna pulled her along by her hair.
    “I said stop!” I shouted, trying to pull myself back to my feet.
    “Alright, I tried to be nice,” Anna said.
    The next thing I knew, Anna bridged the distance between us and slammed me against the wall. My ears began to ring, and my whole body went numb. I assume shock was setting in. She tried to wrap her hand around my throat, but the neck brace was in her way. This must have really pissed her off, because all I remember was seeing flesh headed toward my face in a blur and I was out cold.

Chapter Three

     
    I felt the pain before I even woke up. Somewhere in my dreams I was groaning in agony, and it finally yanked be back into the real world with a scream.
    “Caleb!”
    Ivy’s voice echoed all around me as though I were in a tunnel. My vision was so blurred that I couldn’t distinguish anything but shadowy flickers.
    “Don’t move!”
    Caleb’s voice was sharp, but laced with nothing but concern. I felt his hands on my shoulders, and I instantly knew they were his. The tension in my muscles began to ease slightly, but the pain had brought the bitter sting of tears into my eyes.
    “Stay calm,” Caleb said gently. “You’re going to be alright. I’ve sent someone for some pain medication for you.”
    “Please,” I groaned. “I need something… anything. Tylenol. Aspirin. Something to take the edge off.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Caleb said. “We don’t really keep many medications around here.”
    “Please!” I begged, clutching the sheets with both hands until they ached.
    “Get her some brandy,” Caleb said.
    A few moments later, I heard the clink of glass against glass, and then the coolness of it pressed against my lips.
    “Drink,” he ordered.
    I parted my lips and accepted the fiery liquid. It burned its way down my throat and I felt a wave of nausea. Then my legs felt warm, and the pain eased slightly.
    “More,” I