Wolves are pack animals. We enjoy living close together, hence the proximity of the cabins. When we move to the caves in the coming weeks for the winter, we’ll be even closer to one another, and it’s comfortable and normal for us.
But Carina is not part of us. She’s a pest I’m stuck with, whom I stupidly placed inside my home, beside my nest. My fuckingnest. I rub my forehead, wondering what the hell is in my head, and stride down the cabin’s two steps to get the fuck away from her.
Males don’t share their nests with anyone but their mate, and eventually their pup before the child grows too large and gets their own. It’s personal and intimate and havingherthereshouldn’t have every claiming instinct yelling forbidden things at me. Things that make zero sense, considering who and what she is.
She’ll be sleeping on the ground before I let her anywhere near it. She’ll taint it with her scent and then I’ll never be able to get rid of her. She’ll be the curse never cured, and I’ll die before a witch ruins my home more than she already has.
Xander comes up behind me, interrupting my confusing thoughts. The gratitude felt for his reprieve is gone with his question. “Thought you were rooming her with Holly?”
Since Holly is one of the strongest females, she’d be able to keep Carina contained, and being without a mate or family of her own, it’d be smarter. We passed Holly’s cabin on our way to mine, but I couldn’t stop and leave her there because placing her in mine felt too…natural.
“Is it wise to have her in there?” he continues, making my teeth grind.
No, it’s fucking not, but it’s happening regardless.
“It’s fine.”
It’s not fine. It’s so far from fucking ‘fine’. This witch cast some spell, and I need to cure myself of it before being driven mad.
Xander stares at me. “What’s with you?”
Threat.
Destroy.
Sighing, I tamp down the sudden deadly thoughts about my beta and ensure we’re alone before replying. “Honestly, I don’t know. When she’s around, my wolf gets anxious. It didn’t like the idea of her on someone else’s back, or sleeping elsewhere.”Anxiousseems too weak a term, but it’s better thanpossessive.
He rubs his jaw thoughtfully. “Ryder, man…that’s ma?—”
“Don’t fuckin’ say it.” He can’t finish that sentence. Can’t put out there how exactly I’m acting. “Just…keep this to yourself.”
“Alright.” It doesn’t end his side-glances, but a lifetime of trust between us makes me believe he’ll let it go. “I set up extra patrols to monitor the perimeters since I don’t trust the witches to not attempt getting her back. Even if she was kinda willing. Did you see that one male she was standing nearby? If he’s her mate, I expect he’ll try something.”
Kill.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“Maybe.” Witches function differently. Their bonds, from what I know, are nowhere near as strong as shifters and their mates. They don’t have animal instincts propelling them in one direction. In our personal hierarchy, it goes mate, pack, and then self.
Carina hasn’t mentioned the warlock, nor does she seem particularly upset being without him, so logic says their relationship is different. My wolf, however, thinks otherwise.
Threat.
Kill.
Take.
He’ll destroy my sanity by tomorrow.
“Good idea. Thanks.” I slap him on the arm and increase my strides. “I’m going to visit Dad and let them know what happened. See you in the morning.”
Xander falls out of step. After a brief knock on Dad’s door, I let myself into the space I’ll be expected to move into after winter passes. Soon, everyone will anticipate me choosing a female from another pack to claim as my mate, move in here, and start working on making the next Alpha.
Marissa and Amos are keeping guard over my father’s sleeping form. His ragged breathing bothers my ears, so I wave them outside to talk without disturbing him, asking how he is as soon as Amos shuts the door.
Marissa pushes a grey curl behind her ear. “Managing. The magick is wearing him down. It took a while for him to fall asleep.”
“You have the witch?” Amos glances by me to scan the camp.
