“Look at him, Austin,” Adam said, and the werewolf obeyed.
His irises went from blue to dark amber, and for a moment, whatever Mosavi was doing appeared to work. Adam’s tail started to wag as he witnessed Austin’s expression change from empty to something I couldn’t quite place.
The mayor shook his head, and Austin’s eyes faded back to blue.
“This only works if the werewolf wants to be brought back,” he said, turning to Adam. “You’re an idiot. Do you realize the severity of this?”
“He does,” I said, pulling Mosavi’s ire away. “What can we do?”
Mosavi got to his feet and let out an annoyed hiss of air through his teeth. “Hope it doesn’t last.”
“That’s it?” Adam asked. “That’s your answer?”
“That’s my answer.” He pulled a chain out of his jeans pocket and tossed it at Adam. “Put it on.”
With a nervous swallow, Adam slipped the gold chain around his neck.
“You will now know when his basic needs are not met, and you will tend to him until what you’ve done wears off.” Mosavi paused. “If it does.”
“This doesn’t help me at all!” Adam shouted, his frustration manifesting as a snarl. “I can’t keep telling him what to do.”
“Willa worked her fingers to the bone enchanting that,” Mosavi shouted, causing Adam to slink backward. “If you’re going to be an ungrateful little shit, I’ll take it back.”
Adam held the chain against his chest and shook his head. “Thank you.”
“If you can’t help him, then we’ll need to find other avenues,” Darryl said. “The ferals may know—”
“What would they know? How to rub sticks together?”
“They know more than you think,” Roscoe chimed in. “It ain’t like they don’t got no sense. They use magic, and they got elders too.”
The mayor scoffed. “If I cannot undo this, then those animals surely won’t be able to help.”
“What has he got to lose?” Darryl asked.
“His will. His mind. His body. And it really will be permanent,” Mosavi snapped.
“The witches are weaker now, and we have these rocks,” I said.
Mosavi laughed. “Rocks. Of course. The answer to holding back immense demonic forces are obviously rocks. Let me guess, you also have magic plants and beaded jewelry.”
Roscoe and I glanced at one another. He might have been sarcastic, but he also wasn’t far from the truth. I pulled one of the smooth stones out of my pocket and handed it to him.
“This is what shattered the spell I was under. The ferals gave them to us.”
Mosavi rolled his eyes. “You’re going to do what you want and put your trust in dirt-covered trinkets. I won’t stand in your way. It is not like I have been able to since you arrived.”
“I know you don’t like it, but it’s either this or we get the organization involved,” Darryl said.
Mosavi grabbed a tuft of Darryl’s mane and pulled. “You are now threatening my town.”
The larger werewolf snatched Mosavi’s hand and squeezed. “I’ll do what needs to be done, so let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Austin may have been an insufferable prick for years, but he doesn’t deserve this.”
Both werewolves pulled away, lowering their hackles.
“Let me discuss things with my wife. If the ferals cannot help, and you involve them… we will have no choice but to leave this place.”
“Like I said, it’s a last resort. I—” Darryl paused and shook his head. “I don’t want to cause you and your wife any trouble. This town is something I didn’t think was possible.”
