Growling under my breath, I pin furious eyes on Brooks. “How so, Brooks? Do you not believe what I told you? Do you think my eyes deceived me when I witnessed her impairing the demon dog?”
Brooks takes a calculated breath. “What if the demon comes here for her?”
“We already discussed this. We have implemented the necessary measures to protect this pack. To protect Aurora.”
Brooks snorts as he drops his head, then shakes it. “She is an omega, Elias. Why do we need to protect—”
Whatever he has to say about protecting Aurora is abruptly cut off by the slam of my palm on the table. A volcanic surge of anger rushes through me, and the growl that rumbles from my chest is powerful enough to rock the empty glass on the table.
“She. Is. My. Mate!” I roar furiously, pronouncing each word with a vulgar pause, my nostrils flaring as I glare challengingly at Brooks. Slamming my palm on the table again, I lift a pointed forefinger at his face. “Don’t you ever fucking forget that!”
“Alpha Elias—” he begins, but I cut him off with a rowdy growl.
“Don’t you dare say a word against my mate again, you hear me?”
As I lug in deep, furious breaths uncontrollably, Dawson is the one who places a hand on my shoulder while Thane refills my drink and passes the glass over the table. I’m about to defuse their doubts by coming clean about exactly what occurred that night I went out looking for Aurora—they already know about the demon’s attack, but what they don’t know is that Aurora and I had already consummated our mate bond while she was in heat, which led me to discover that she was my fated mate all along.
But as soon as I open my mouth to speak my truth, the door comes crashing open, prompting all of us to spin our heads and hiss through our teeth defensively.
It’s Dillon who just barged in, panting as he searches my face.
“Alpha Elias! Come quick!” he pants. “It’s your house! It’s on fire!”
“Aurora,” I gasp, panic erupting and spurring me to my feet. All I can think about is my mate in that house, and I need to get her out of there.
Chapter 14 - Aurora
Hours Earlier
Something must have shifted within me last night, because I’m suddenly hopeful that being a witch isn’t my downfall, but where my power lies.
I know…I know.
Being part witch already means I have mystical powers, but after last night, I feel brave enough to use them, explore them, and learn how to utilize them more intentionally. Somehow, I was able to open up to the Alpha a little more last night, even opening myself up to the idea that I may be able to trust him.
He’d been kind enough to speak words of encouragement that stuck with me throughout my day. Though I haven’t seen him since last night, having woken up to an empty pillow on his side of the bed, his encouragement lingers, along with his vote of confidence and reassurance that he’s on my side.
For the first time I can remember, I don’t feel like a misfit, an outcast who has no place in the pack. My lips tug into a warm smile as I stare out of the kitchen window, seeing the surrounding landscape covered in snow and not feeling its coldness anymore. Sipping on my warm cocoa, all I can do is wonder where Elias is without overthinking a million possibilities and doubting him.
Sure, the doubt still creeps up sometimes, especially when I let my mind drift to what else happened last night.
The mating ritual wasn’t exactly complete without the consummation, but we’d already taken care of that some timeback. Slightly disappointed because it only means Elias isn’t attracted to me, I really wonder what he wants.
If Elias was using me, surely he would have shown his true colors by now. He valiantly declared to the elders and his subordinates that I was his mate, and boldly stood before his pack members in the ceremony to join us in the union of a mate bond. All I’ve seen is his kindness and his support of my being a witch. Is that all he’s after?
My powers?
It’s not like I have the full capacity of those powers yet, so what does it matter?
Nodding my head slowly with recognition of the time I have on my hands, I open one palm and stare at it, trying to make sense of how my hidden gifts manifest in my palms. The last time it happened, I wasn’t just faced with danger, but I’d experienced the first onset of my heat in the forest.
The culmination of both those vices caused power to seep into my palms, allowing me to wield them even if it wasn’t fully conscious or contained. Perhaps, with some practice, I’ll be able to wield that power with more awareness and use it at will.
Maybe that’s how I’ll get the hang of utilizing my wolf at will, too.
Looking up, I see the sun setting deep in the sky, only fragments of yellow tinsel littering the sky on its descent. I’m not sure what Elias is doing out there, but I guess that he’s taking care of his responsibilities in the pack—something I’m aware of since it’s not the first time he isn’t home at this hour.
That gives me time to practice. Though he’s the one who encouraged it, I’m too self-conscious to let him see me make a complete fool of myself. I might have just decided to practice,but it doesn’t mean I’m fully confident in my skills. If only Grandmother were around…
