Page 30 of Bewitching the Wolf

“To share the knowledge held in the Silver and Red books, so that we may strengthen the runes for when the final showdown happens.”

“And you think that is imminent?”

“Yes, the magic is quickening. And in that also lies danger. Identifying Marsha Winters as a malefic has made your mission even more risky, Jax.”

I suppress a shudder. The image of Marsha’s cruel, twisted features is still very clear in my mind.

“We need to strengthen the runes to keep you safe. And combining the knowledge in both books will hopefully do that.”

I frown. “In what way?” I’m really not across the runes at all. They are as weird as Otis’s computer systems. Two dusty old volumes full of weird hieroglyphics that have yet to prove themselves useful

“Take the portal cape, for example,” Traggar explains. “The cape’s powers, like your wolf’s, are unstable. It could land you in the wrong part of the Labyrinth or accidentally expose a body part if you make a sudden movement. With the combined magic from both books, Felicia and I believe we can strengthen the runes sewn into the cape’s lining. And in turn, Tippy will help you quit vaping. A win-win.” He sits back, steeples his fingers and smiles, as if waiting for my response.

Lose-lose, more like. But I’m scuppered either way, aren’t I?

“Okay, okay. So when do I start taking this vile tasting shit?” I mutter.

“This weekend.”

“What the fuck!” I explode, then pull myself together. “I can’t quit in a weekend.”

“You don’t have a choice. We can’t delay the mission any longer Jax, you know that as well as I do. We have assigned you a den on the outskirts of our pack, a calm, quiet space.”

“So where’s Tippy staying?”

“In the den with you.”

I stare at him, horrified. “You have to be fucking joking.”

“We can’t have Tippy running backward and forward. She needs to focus on mixing potions. It will probably mean multiple doses a day.”

“Hell’s demons,” I mutter, wondering how the fuck I’m going to control my turbo-charged wolf dick.

Giving up vaping pales in comparison.

I swear I feel my wolf snickering in my belly.

Traggar’s expression is unreadable. “It’s not negotiable, Jax. I’ll leave it to you to explain the plan at the team meeting today.”

He stands and pats me on the back. “And you’ll have a whole weekend to apologize to Tippy.”

Shit. This is going to be torture on so many levels.

As I get up, I feel my wolf wagging its tail with lascivious glee. If I could punch it on the nose without also punching myself in the stomach, I would.

But then I think of a better way to get back at it.

As I leave Traggar’s den, I drag the vape from my pocket, put it to my lips and inhale deeply. My wolf coughs violently. The tickle in my throat is momentary, but I know my wolf will continue to suffer.

Sure enough, it wheezes pitifully.

Suck it up, asshole, I telepath. ‘Cos for the next twenty-four hours I’m going to vape our fucking brains out.

I’m in no better mood when I arrive back on level one. I grab my motorbike from outside the elevator and head for the sheriff’s offices in the center of town.

It’s my bi-weekly team meeting with Otis and the other monsters involved in the operation, and I’m not looking forward to their smirks when I tell them what’s happening this weekend.

In theory, it’s not so difficult to explain: I’m doing a quit-vaping intensive for three days. Overseen by Tippy, no big deal. I mean, she’s done this kind of work before, with Arlo for example, but that was to maintain a high sperm count.