BITTEN BY TREACHERY

Chapter 1
Crouched low on the ground, Charly seethed. With her wrists bound in front of her and her legs tucked in, she fought to maintain the pose shed been taught as a child. Her thighs clenched tight from sitting on the cold, wooden floor for so long. All of this was her covens punishment for her mothers deeds, and now hers, a daughter atoning for her mothers sins. The coven was never mercifulespecially for those who tried to disrupt their plans. Theyd make her pay just to warn others not to even try to break the covens laws in the future. A thin line of sweat rolled down the witchs back, creating an itch she couldnt scratch. Ignore everything around you, Charly. Pain, on the other hand, was far more difficult to tune out than discomfort. No matter how much she twisted to the side, she couldnt see the werewolfs bite on the small of her back. Before Charly had been shoved to the floor, shed been stripped of her clothing in a stuffy room filled with covered furniture and cobwebs. She snorted with bitterness, unable to hold in the anger that overwhelmed her senses. The bite wound on her back throbbed, and she tried not to think about how she got it. The sound of high heels echoed across the chamber. In the outskirts of Las Vegas, there wasnt much to hear so far beyond the limits of the bright city. The elder blood witchs home was one of the largest among the sisters, a perfect place to hide away Charly while keeping her on the Crow Covens commune. Are you done fighting us, Charlene? The voice dripped with condemnation. The coven used her full name, and Charly hated that they never wanted to use her nickname. Ever. No, Isabella, Im not fighting you, she replied between clenched teeth. The woman chortled. You were always a stubborn lotjust like your mother. Virulent words came to mind, but Charly couldnt cast spells due to the magic in the ropes around her wrists and ankles. Either way, this wasnt the time to speak. More footsteps. The rest of the elders had arrived to assess her. Women dressed in black with imposing expressions flanked them on each

BITTEN BY TREACHERY side. The enforcers, known among the witches as their soldiers, had bound and left her here. Isabella, one of the women said, is she ready to take her place among them? This high-pitched voice was easy to place: Ophelia, their leader. To think she had helped raised Charly. Also, she was the one who had so easily judged her mother unfit to stay with the coven. That was until Charly stepped forward to save her. Almost, Isabella replied. But I believe shes forgottenor chooses to forgetwhy we take such extreme measures in our fight against evil. Charly didnt forget. She couldnt forget. Any witch in this room sensed the sirens call from the trapped monstrosities in the basement of that very building. In a tiny room on the lowest floor sat a plain wooden jewelry box on an ornate Victorian table. Not a single witch dared to touch itunless they wanted to be a vessel for a blood demona parasitic spirit that used a witchs corporeal form to take life from other beings like humans or witches. Her ancestors had crafted the boxes to imprison the creatures, but the containers only worked so well. A few months ago, one of the sisters had foolishly gotten too close to the demons box. She answered its never-ending call, managing to disarm the guards and touch the jewelry box. After that the slaughter began. The memories flashed crimson in her mind: Limbs torn off without mercy, heads squeezed until the victims screamed. Such was the demons telekinetic power. For years, the coven had used werewolves, the only beings who could touch the box, to guard it and keep the box out of the wrong hands. But a week ago their last loyal guard had died from a long exposure to the demons and then the decision had become clearto the other witches but not to Charly and her motherthat the werewolves would have to be enslaved to help them. Once a werewolf guard entered the room, the demons in the box made sure they never left again. The werewolves didnt exactly diebut who the hell would be willing to help the witches cause? Youre just as damned as the demon who escaped, Ophelia said. We all have a price to pay to protect what we hold dear. Some are forced to pay more than others. How long until the wolfs venom takes effect? another of the elders asked. Its been twenty-four hours, Isabella said coolly. The transformation should take place soon. Charly squeezed her eyes shut. Her coven forced her to become one of them. She sucked in a breath and held in a curse. Very good, Ophelia said. Our plan will work this time. Amelia made too many mistakes during our last experiment. She messed up everything wed worked so hard to achieve. Charly heard everything the older sisters said and realized the rumors shed heard were true. A few weeks ago, rumblings began that her aunt

BITTEN BY TREACHERY Amelia infiltrated an isolated werewolf pack in the Arizona desert. Shed been sent with a singular mission: take over the wolves by controlling the alpha male. But based on what her mother had told her, everything had gone horrible wrong. Either the spell on the wolves was poorly cast or it outright failed. The alpha went mad, and after he bit other werewolves, they turned rabid instead of becoming the loyal protectors the witches had needed. In the aftermath, Amelia was dead, and once Charlys mother threatened to reveal the covens mishap to the blood witches who governed all covens, shed been detained and now sat alone in another room similar to this one. Unable to fight back, Charly agreed to their plans to save her mother, but there was no way in hell shed lay down without a struggle on their part. A growl rumbled in a darkened corner, and chains rattled across the floor. Charly refused to look up. She refused to think about what lurked in the darkened corner, what it had done to her. When the attack occurred a few days ago, Ophelia had been in the room the whole time. Shed done nothing to stop it. The wolfs awake, was all she recalled Ophelia saying. Are you ready, witchling? No one couldve been prepared for what horror she endured. Charlenes body shook as her recollection of the attack flashed through her memory. The rapid beat of her heart, the tightening of the magical ropes on her arms and legs. They had no concern how badly she might be mauled, only that she was bitten and infected with their poison. Once the poison was inside her, shed heal. She had steeled herself for the impact then a grayhaired wolf was on her, teeth bared. Yellow eyes had stared at her, hungry since the beast had been denied food for four days. During the attack, she had managed to roll onto her stomach, crouching as best as she could to protect her head and torso. Clawed hands had kept her still while it swooped in to bite her. Her choked screams ended abruptly as the werewolf had crawled back into the corner where Ophelia dropped a bowl of dog food. Whether it had been the wolfs conscious decision or the food that had saved Charly, she didnt care. The throbbing pain from the bite remainedan ever-present reminderand a new emotion joined it: A deep-seeded fear that at any moment the chains would shift again and the restraints wouldnt be short enough to keep the beast at bay. Now that shed been infected and the werewolf was quiet, the blood witches could move forward with their plans. Ophelia crouched and brushed away clumps of blonde hair out of Charlys face. Dont ever forget. Those animals cant get back their humanity once they surrender to the wolf. Our only option is to control them or lose our battle with the blood demons. Ophelia turned to the elders. Set her free tonight, Isabella, she ordered. Her provisions are packed. Keep an eye on her until she reaches town. From there, Charlene is

BITTEN BY TREACHERY to find the packs alpha male. She will enchant him, and she will take over the werewolves. She must if she wants to spare her mother from judgment.

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The second part in the HADLEY WEREWOLVES series from urban fantasy author Shawntelle Madison.

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