My Wolf's Bane by Veronica Blade

You’re always around.”
    He shook his head. “Extortion is beneath you, don’t you think? Well, maybe not.”
    “How do you know I wasn’t demanding my things?” My nostrils flared and I raged inside, my body vibrating. “Never mind. Just get out of my way.” I was too incensed to stick around. I stormed past him and down the hall toward my car, praying it would start. I needed to get away before I detonated.
     

 
CHAPTER TEN
    Much to my relief, my car fired up right away.
    At home, I stomped through the house and tried to think of anything that would calm me down. Wait. Where was my backpack? It contained all my homework.
    In my locker at school.
    After Gina had distracted me, I’d forgotten about it. I wanted to weep in frustration.
    Hearing my phone beep, I tried to remember where I’d left my purse during my fit of fury when I’d flown through the front door. Spotting it on the kitchen table, I rummaged through it. Two texts from my mom.
    Sweetie, check your email STAT.
    I scrolled to the next message.
    Check ur email. Why arent u answering ur txts?
    Apparently, I’d been too emotionally distraught to hear my phone go off. My fingers flitted over the keyboard in reply. My poor parents were probably worked into a frenzy imagining all the reasons, none of them good, why I hadn’t answered.
    I’m fine. Checking email now.
    I sprinted up the stairs, raced to my laptop and rapidly scanned my inbox.
    Hi Sweetie,
    We love Arizona. In fact, we’ve decided to stay a few extra days past the completion of your father’s job. We’d like to see the Grand Canyon and there’s an art festival coming up. We plan to come home before going to Montana, but we’ll be in touch with the return flight details.
    We’re very sorry to miss your birthday, but to make up for it, we’ve decided to buy you that car you keep nagging us for. Isn’t that something?
    Shocking, actually. But the last thing I’d do was question it and risk them doing a take-back. I eagerly read on.
    However, we do have some stipulations.
    Of course they would.
    We’d like you to hang onto the money you’ve been saving for a car until we can get together and agree on its use. In other words, don’t blow it on a shopping spree.
    The second condition is that you not buy a brand new car due to how much it depreciates once you’ve driven it off the lot.
    Mom, always practical.
    We don’t care what kind of car you buy
    Score!
    so long as it gets decent gas mileage, has enough power to get you out of a tight jam when necessary and has low miles.
    I could handle that.
    Our last condition is that the car must be thoroughly inspected by someone at the auto shop. We’d prefer Timothy, but we trust him to delegate it to someone competent.
    Oh, almost forgot. We wired fifteen thousand dollars into your account. Use it to pay for the mechanic, the car and whatever else car-related that pops up.
                  Fifteen grand? Woo-freakin’-hoo.
    We trust you to make good choices. Happy shopping. And happy birthday. We love you.
    Love, Mom and Dad
    Hallelujah! A new car! Who knew blackmail could be so rewarding?
    I didn’t need to be told twice. I speedily typed in a message full of thanks and telling them I was off to see Timothy. Scooping up my purse, I flew out the door. Memories of my rotten day faded and I could barely contain my excitement as I drove the three miles to the auto shop.
    After arriving at the garage, I waited until Timothy finished with a customer, then approached the counter.
    “Hi, Autumn. Problem with your car?”
    “Not exactly.” I explained the situation, the words spewing from my mouth.
    “No problem,” Timothy said. “When you find the car you want, give me a fifteen minute warning and drive it over.”
    “I have to bring it here ?” I squeaked. “And if it doesn’t pass your inspection, I have to return it and start all over with a different car?”
    “That’s the way it’s done.” Tim seemed like he