Free Bitten by Treachery (Hadley Werewolves) by Shawntelle Madison

but none did. There were looking for a human. A vulnerable human, not a witch in wolf’s clothing.
    “This was never supposed to happen again,” Julia said bitterly.
    “It has happened,” Trenton said. “And now we need to be smart and deal with it.”
    “Where is Kyle?” Julia asked. “Has someone sent for our alpha?”
    “I left him a message. He’s in Montana.” Emma’s voice had grown quiet. “He’ll take the quickest flight or drive if he has to, but it will be at least a day before he’ll make it.”
    “So much can happen in a day,” someone yelled. “Last time, twenty-four hours after the first sighting, our town—”
    “Now’s not the time to think about the past,” Emma snapped. “We got a problem on our hands here.”
    Julia took a step forward. “The last invasion was centered around my brother. Who got infected this time?”
    The many faces in the crowd looked around as if expecting someone to come forth.
    “It could be anyone of authority,” Trenton said. “We need to worry about the infected out there and the innocents in their homes. We need a team of armed men and women willing to go door-to-door to warn folks that don’t answer their phones or respond to the sirens.”
    The raised hands were few. With Kyle gone, the town only had three police officers, and five civilians raised their hands.
    Charly was one of them.
    “I respect your decision,” Trenton said. “Anybody who wants to leave town until the problem is taken care of is welcome to go. We never had a warning like this last time. I’ll make sure to leave a message on the police station information line when it’s safe for folks to come home.”
    Many in the room took it as a sign to depart. Mothers shuffled their kids to the door. As the room emptied only the officers and the five volunteers remained.
    “Where’s Officer Hurst?” one of the volunteers asked. “He was just here.”
    “He probably went to get his aunt and sister out of town,” Trenton said.
    Charly didn’t blame the guy. If he had someone he cared about, she wouldn’t want his family here either. Now they only had two policemen to help.
    “You should go with Meg and get out of here, Charly,” Emma said firmly.
    “I can’t. My place is here.” Her throat dried further with each word. “It’s my fault.”
    The few in the room closed in on her.
    “Charly, it’s a witch who did this,” Emma said. “They infected one of our own and now that infected wolf is bringing others under his control. Get yourself together. If you’re not strong enough to stand with us, you need to leave.”
    “What are you saying?” Trenton’s eyebrows lowered.
    “I’m not who you think I am.” She tried to swallow and failed. Warm tears fell down her cheeks.
    “Charly.” Trenton gently took her hand.
    “What does she mean?” Drew asked with a suspicious tone.
    A scream rang through the air outside of the town hall. Everyone’s heads snapped in the direction of the wide-open doors.
    “It’s all my fault,” she breathed. “I’m not a werewolf.”
    “She’s not in any shape to be a volunteer,” Emma said to Trenton. “Anybody in this room can smell what she is. She’s probably been through too much.”
    Officer Crane and another officer ran to the doors. After Emma gave Trenton a dark look that told Charly he shouldn’t her, Emma ran to join them. More screams poured into the room. The sounds of car brakes screeching and the thud of a crash.
    The sounds reverberated in the empty room where only the two of them remained.
    Trenton pulled her up from her seat. His right hand’s grip on her wrist was firm. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you to safety and help everyone.”
    Her lower lip trembled and her bones collapsed into smoke. “If you knew what I am, you wouldn’t help me, Trenton. You don’t get it! I’m not who you think I am. I’m a witch.”

    Trenton let go of her hand as if he’d been burned. His mind told him to back away. To run