Each of them drops a quick peck to my forehead before heading inside. Nervously, I wring my hands together as I wait for Connor. Short of the nights I spend on pack lands, I haven’t seen much of him over the summer. He’s busy with his alpha duties every day, balancing two wolf shifter packs on his lands, and figuring out his relationship with his estranged mother—a woman who became an alpha so she could murder Connor’s father, only to find out too late that the bastard was already nothing but ash and bad memories. Looking back at Connor, I can feel the stress and exhaustion weighing on him through our bond, and it makes me want to go all warrior witch on everyone who won’t give him a moment of respite.
His conversation with Sam ends, and it’s clear that she isn’t happy. She raises her arms over her head in frustrated surrender then stomps off. No other member of the pack would dare to show such behavior in front of their alpha, but Sam’s rank and friendship with Connor make it literally her job to kick him in the butt when she thinks he’s being an idiot.
As I understand it, the fact that he chose a turned wolf to watch his back instead of a natural born was pretty scandalous. Now that I understand the forgotten roots of this deep-seated distrust, it makes me proud of Connor for choosing Sam. He didn’t need her leashed to me through the call to know she would be a perfect second, knowing she would guard his life and all he held dear with hers. He didn’t need magic. He earned loyalty by being himself.
When Sam walks past me, she calls out, “Talk some sense into him.”
Once Connor has lumbered into earshot, I ask gently, “What am I supposed to talk sense into you about?”
He sighs, pulls me close, and rests his head on top of mine. After breathing in my scent, fortunately without sneezing, he answers, “Growing friction between packs. She wants a hard deadline for them to leave and insists it will help our pack if there’s a clear end date.”
“And you don’t want to do that?” Wrapping my arms around his waist, I gently run my fingers up and down his back. It breaks my heart to see him this worn down, and I make a mental note to ask Mildred if there is a rejuvenation spell I can learn or some special magic coffee that could help.
Connor thinks for a moment before answering, but I can’t tell if it’s because he’s choosing his words carefully or he’s half asleep and his brain is soup at the moment. “I want to believe she’s staying for me.”
“But you’re worried there’s more to your mom’s return, and you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop,” I finish, knowing how much talking drains him.
He nods, his scruffy chin digging into my scalp.
I pull away just far enough to look up into his tired amber eyes. “Is there a way I can help?”
He runs his hand down my long, wavy hair. “Not yet,mi reina.”
“You’d tell me if I could, right?” My eyes narrow, and there’s a warning tone in my voice. “We are mates. We share our burdens. It’s my right to protect my mate.” I reach up to gently push his soft, brown curls out of his eyes. “That includes protecting you from wearing yourself down to nothing. Let Sam in on your thoughts. A leader delegates. Let her help you. Let me help you.”
A tired, ragged breath escapes past his lips. “Okay.”
The second bell rings, announcing we’re officially late for class. “What do you have for first period?”
Connor gives me one of his patented shrugs.
Surprise takes over my face. “You didn’t look?”
He yawns. “Too tired.”
Wolf shifters are strong and resilient, with superhuman strength and stamina. Their alphas are the strongest among them, made even more powerful by their connection to their pack. For Connor to be this run down, it means he’s been ignoring his body for months, hiding it from me through distractions and falling to sleep quickly when we were together.
“That’s it,” I announce, using magic and my body to keep him upright. “You’re going to the nurse’s office, and you’re going to sleep before you fall down. I’ll make sure you aren’t disturbed.”
I know it’s bad when he doesn’t resist, and I vow that if Connor doesn’t feel better soon, then I’m going to handle the conflict between the packs. I’m the alpha’s mate, member of the pack, and their designated witch. Martina won’t have her sweet son to manipulate, she’s going to have me to deal with, and I’m not feeling particularly sweet at the moment.
A determined grimace pulls my lips thin as a boom of thunder trembles through the air. A storm is coming, and it promises nothing but pain and destruction.
Chapter 6
Callie
The sun decides to continue to bless us with its warmth, allowing all of us to spend lunch under our favorite tree. Connor looks better after he spent the morning resting, and he’s decided to thank me by pulling me into his lap and feeding me literal grapes. At least he didn’t peel them first.
Sitting to my left are Mei and Rand, and it’s obvious that Rand wants to mimic the gesture with Mei. However, since they are in a kind of nebulous place of whether they are dating or not, he wisely refrains. Instead, he sits as close to her as she’ll allow and shares his peanut butter cookies with her. She compliments the cookie, and Rand blushes as he admits he asked his mom to teach him how to make them.
A warm joy fills me as I listen to them discuss different baking techniques and recipes. Mei has no idea what’s fully in store for her, but I’m happy she’ll experience what it means to be loved and adored for all that she is. Under all her sass is a deeply empathetic and loyal person who deserves someone who is the same, and Rand seems to fit that description perfectly.
My warm fuzzies are once again popped by that creepy feeling of being watched. This time, Gina is much easier to spot, sitting alone at one of the few picnic tables under the cafeteria awning. Normally, one of those tables would be packed on a day like this, but Gina’s popularity took a nosedive when her Barbie crew started avoiding her like she had a transmittable flesh-eating disease. Everyone in the supernatural community avoids her, terrified that association might incur my wrath. Part of me pities her when even her best friend, Anastasia, walks past like Gina is invisible.
The pity lasts for only a moment when I turn my attention to Nolan sitting across from me. A genuine, easy smile pulls at his lips as he shares one of Alicia’s famous dishes with Felix, who’s sitting beside him. Gina tried everything to break Nolan and force him back to her, destroying anything and anyone that dared to bring him joy outside of her. Loneliness is the least of what she should suffer.
My gaze sweeps over my guys, my heart swelling with love and a fierce desire to protect them from any and all that would dare to hurt them. Connor kisses the top of my head, the bond clearly telegraphing my emotions to him. At the same time, Nolan looks up and flashes a grin in my direction.
