* * * *
SETH WAS BOTH PROUDand horrified by everything Ryan had just said.He knew this had been weighing heavily on Ryan’s mind since he and his family had moved, but at the same time, was telling all of that to three dangerous mages really the best idea?
He couldn’t deny that he felt better knowing there was a mage here who was on their side.He hadn’t really thought about it until he’d seen the five mages waiting for them at the park, but they could hurt shifters with little more than a thought.They didn’t have to waste time shifting the way shifters did.They could use their magic and win this fight before it even began.It was what made them so dangerous, and Seth didn’t understand why Chance hadn’t thought about taking a mage with them.There were plenty of them who lived with the pack, after all.
Raymond looked like his head was about to explode.From the way Eldora had grabbed his arm, Seth suspected that he was the most impulsive of them all.He looked like he’d gladly strangle Chance and Ryan, which made Seth wonder.
Why were the three mages here?They were behaving as if their coven was as dangerous as it had been before, but Ryan was right.They’d lost a lot of people.Surely, they didn’t have the same ability to attack and destroy the pack as they had before.
“I never liked you or your family,” Maureen told Ryan.
Ryan snorted.“Oh, no.Whatever am I going to do with that knowledge?”
Chance gave Ryan a warning glance.Ryan grimaced, but Seth was on his side.Maureen had been rude.Should he have taken it with a smile?
“We’re not here to talk about Ryan and his family,” Chance declared.“We’re here to talk about what you and your coven are planning.”
“It’s none of your business,” Raymond snapped.
“It is if you’re planning on attacking my people, and I include the mage members of my pack.They’re my people now, not yours.”
“You’re going to regret this.”
“I don’t think so.The coven’s golden age is over.You’ve lost half of your people.You’re not as powerful as you were, and it’ll be years before you are again, if you ever are.Don’t make an enemy out of my pack.It wouldn’t be smart.”
“You don’t tell us what to do, bear.”
Seth rolled his eyes.“Really?”He should’ve kept his mouth shut, but Raymond couldn’t even come up with a good insult.
Chance sighed and looked like he was on the verge of saying something, but Raymond beat him to it.“You let your people talk for you?”
“At least I don’t force them to die for me.”Chance paused.“Look, there’s no need for you to posture.I’ve talked with some of your mages, so I know the state the coven is in.I know how many people you lost and how many you still have.You’ll always be dangerous, even as a single mage, but you’re not strong enough to take my pack right now.If you try, you’ll lose even more people, and I don’t think you want that to happen.”
Raymond looked like he was on the verge of throwing himself at Chance.Seth almost wished he would.He suspected that the man was too much of a coward, though.He might be a mage, but he was afraid of Chance’s claws and fangs.
Good.
“We could still hurt you and your people,” Maureen said.
“You could, and I don’t want that to happen.I don’t want anyone else to die or be hurt because of you.If you even think about attacking my pack, we’ll attack first, and we’ll win.We might lose people in the process, but everyone is ready to defend their home.Wewilldestroy your coven if you even think about attacking us.”
It was tempting to think that Chance should just do what he was saying and destroy the coven before they had the possibility to attack them, but Seth understood.Even though a lot of the mages had moved in with the pack, some of the people who’d stayed behind were still there because they didn’t have a choice.The pack couldn’t attack people who were just trying to survive.As long as the coven left them alone, things would be fine.
Wouldthe coven leave them alone?
Something told Seth that this wasn’t over, even though the leaders were finally silent.They might not be able to do anything now, but they would as soon as they could, and the pack would have to suffer the consequences.Seth wasn’t looking forward to it, but at least for now, they were safe.
“Do you understand?”Chance said.“Do not test me and my people.We’ve lived in peace until now, but we won’t hesitate.We saw what you did to the dragon clan.We won’t allow you to do the same to our pack.”
Raymond looked like he’d swallowed a toad.Eldora was still holding his arm, but Maureen was staring at Chance as if she was trying to find a way to get out of agreeing with his conditions.There wasn’t.Chance had laid down the law, and even though the coven leaders weren’t part of his pack, they had to know that it would be better for them to go along with him.They wouldn’t like what would happen if they didn’t.
Maureen eventually nodded.“We’ll stay away from your pack.”
Chance’s smile appeared genuine, as if he was talking with a friend.“Good.And leave my people alone.That includes the mages who now live with us.I won’t tolerate you attacking or threatening any of them, including Ryan.He and his family are pack members, and Iwillact accordingly if you even think about doing anything to them.”
Chance turned and nodded at James.James kept an eye on the three leaders and the other two mages as Chance walked away.Seth scrambled to follow, grabbing Ryan’s hand as he did so and pulling him along.He wasn’t about to leave Ryan with the leaders.He’d said his piece, and now, he needed to stay as far away from them as possible.
“That was incredible,” Ryan murmured when they were far enough away that the leaders wouldn’t hear them unless they used a spell.
