I finished looking through the box and grabbed my book again. We were still missing a few everyday herbs. “We still need to run to the superstore.”
“The super store?” Both women turned to me and I nodded, pointing to my book. Toya lifted her brow and Wendy bit her lip.
“I know you are saying something when you point at the rock in your hand here. Aim. But I don’t think either of us gets it.” Toya tilted her head in confusion, looking at my hands and I nearly smacked myself.
“This is my Book of Shadows. It holds the spells of my family. I’m going over the ingredients and there are some random herbs we are missing and we should be able to find them at a regular store. Thyme, rosemary, stuff like that.”
Wendy sighed. “I was hoping I could see it. But I just see a rock too.”
I handed her the book, and I watched as her eyes flickered through some emotions. Confusion was first, unease, and a flash of something uncomfortable like greed, but that cleared quickly, leaving utter disbelief. “Holy shit.”
I nodded as Toya took the book. “Give me the rock.” I cracked a smile as her face went through everything Wendy's just did.“Holy goddess, it is a book.” She looked up at me. “I can feel the power from this thing. It’s ancient.”
I nodded. “Yes.” I held out my hands and she stepped closer.
“It calls to us. Did you know that?” Toya whispered as she slid the book into my waiting arms.
“What do you mean?”
“The book.” Wendy nodded. “When we held it, it whispered to us. The power it could give us. Almost as if it was testing our loyalties.” Toya nodded.
“It’s powerful. I don’t think you should show anyone other than us.” Toya bit her lip. “Not even the others.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Icalled downstairs. “Jora?”
“Hey Amy, what can I do for you?”
“We need to go to the superstore off campus.”
There was a pause. “For…”
“I need to get supplies I thought I had for-”
“Dinner.” Wendy interrupted me and I smiled, giving her a thumbs up.
“You’re cooking dinner now? It’s nearly eleven.”
“Jora, we are wolves. Sometimes you just have to eat a full chicken roasted with fresh herbs.” His laugh let me know I had him.
“Fine. But next time, I’m expecting some of the chicken.” There was some rustling. “Meet me down at the van. We will have to make this quick.” I nodded like she would see it.
“Of course.” I hung up, and we ran out the door. “That was surprisingly easy.” Toya and Wendy both snorted. “What?”
“They love you here.” Toya looked at me from the corner of her eye.
“Not only do you treat them with the respect they deserve. You are an Alpha who isn’t in their pack and still treats them with the status and respect they deserve.” Wendy pointed at me with her finger.
“And you genuinely care about them. You ask about their families, their pups. You get them gifts.”
I turned to face them. “So do you guys.” But the two girls shook their heads.
“Honestly, it wouldn’t have occurred to me.” Toya lifted her shoulder. “I would have been respectful. But I wouldn’t have gotten to know them.”
Wendy nodded. “I honestly would have just given them polite smiles. They are way above me in rank and my momma always told me to be silently supportive. Be nice, and unobtrusive.” The elevator opened onto the basement parking garage and Jora was waiting.
He smiled, his orange red hair was shaggy in this weird growing stage, and I nearly laughed. His green eyes were bright and his freckles stood proudly on his pale skin. “Come on, ladies.” He called as he slid into the driver’s seat as we walked over.
