She never mentioned escaping, only inventing ways to resolve whatever war she believes we’ll be in. Her stress seemedgenuine, and her arguments centred on Dad’s health. Deep down, Ifeelher honesty.
“I do. It’s not in her best interest to lie.”
Dad’s lips crack into a faint smile. “It’s ultimately your decision, but I vote on letting her go home. Looping Morgan in will be wise.”
Then again, it’s his health on the line. If Carina goes home, impending war or not, he’s still sick. Unless Morgan or anyone else can help, Carina must go with Twilight Grove. Her being home means having to bring her back, which could be a fight we’ll lose. Inside the town, it’d be the entire coven against whoever’s with me.
Amos’s abrupt approach sends my wolf into defensive mode. “I say we tie her up and wait out the week and not align with the same disgusting creatures who made this problem. They’d handusto the Celestials before helping.”
Threat.
Protect.
Silver and red meld in my eyes, and for once, I don’t argue with instincts. Amos not only undermines my role, but he’s puttingherin the centre of it. And that will not happen on my fucking watch.
Mate.
Protect.
My chest rumbles with the kind of growl that warns prey to run. My claws pierce human skin and without another thought, I leap towards him, fully intending to deal with the threat.
Kill.
Protect.
No one, not even Xander, stops me. They recognize what’s happening, though only Marissa understands, but it’s no one’s right to intercept an Alpha’s authority—or the punishment he deems fit.
My hands link around the old man’s throat as my teeth break through my gums, so he understands I’mreallyfucking serious when it comes to my next words. “If you want to be Alpha, you know how to do it. Otherwise, challenge my authority one more fucking time andI’ll gut you. While you’re at it, leave Carina’s name out of your mouth. She my problem, not yours.”Ours.In more way than one.” You say one thing against her, and you’ll be dealing with me.”
I release him with a jerk as my teeth begin rescinding, the claws which left red marks on his neck slowly sliding back beneath my skin, and I stand to survey the room. To ensure everyone else knows not to go the fuck near mynîkâkîstis.
Marissa and Xander both lower their eyes in submission, but it’s Dad’s unfailing gaze that penetrates the crucial fact: he knows. Amos eventually gets to his feet and wanders to the far wall to make himself invisible, huffing beneath his breath.
Standing in the centre of the room, I glance at every single one of them, speaking with finality. “I’ll return Carina to Morgan and see what she knows, but the plan hasn’t changed. Wewillget you well. We will deal with the other coven. We’ll play this how Carina wantsfor now. If something’s coming, we need to prepare. Xander, gather a few to join us.”
He tips his head in acknowledgement and slips out the door. Amos trails him without another word. Marissa stands from the edge of Dad’s bed, rests the water on his side table, and exits the cabin.
Alone, I shuffle to the available chair.
My ass is barely on the wood before he starts, his tone thoughtful. “Today’s the first time I’ve ever seen or spoken with Carina. I don’t recall her at any previous meetings. She reminds me a bit of her mother, but kinder. You understand, one day, she’ll be High Priestess and thus standing across from you?”
The thought guts my wolf, especially so soon after defending her. If she survives Twilight Grove, she’ll return home. Thenîkâkîstisbond will go unfinished—which is what I want—but I’ll be forced to see her every year. I’ll constantly pick up her scent, which I already know will linger for the rest of the year until the next meeting. My wolf won’t settle with the fact his one true mate is only a matter of feet away—but more unavailable than ever.
“Nîkâkîstis,”I all but gasp, realizing it wasn’t a question in any shape nor form. A choked yell in response to his comment about the future but demanding an explanation more than my lungs require air or my wolf craves meat.
Dad blinks. “You’re not saying…?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I whisper harshly, staring at the place beside him which used to be Mom’s. Right against the wall, where he could keep her safest.
“If I mentioned the force that’d choose your mate, you’d search for her. It’s unavoidable; I’ve seen it in the past. The wolf would demand you hunt for the one best suited to walk life beside you; the woman who’ll match you in strength, determination, and personality. I didn’t want you looking if you had the chance to find happiness on your own terms.”
Instead, fate made her the witch an enemy coven wants for their own deadly and selfish needs and tossed her in my path by making her the answer to everything.
“If thenîkâkîstismate is chosen by fate, sounds like we’d find them no matter what we do. Has anyone in our family ever not found theirs?”
Dad hums, thinking. “Not that I know of. Your grandfather believed nature will always bring us together, but when it happens depends.”
A snarl of disgust rips from my throat. No matter what, Carina and I would have been brought together. Perhaps that’swhy she was at the pond that day. An unnamed force urged her down there, the fucked-up timeline of our lives deeming now to be the best time to meet.
