Kiara folded her hands, eyes sharp. “Your mate’s from the Salem Coven, isn’t she?”
Arthur forced his wolf down. “You’ve been listening to gossip.”
“Reports,” Rory corrected. “Julian was chattier than usual when we arrived in town earlier.”
Arthur’s lip curled, a warning growl rumbling in his chest
Rory ignored the threat. “A witch from Salem mated to the Nordan Alpha right before a war? Hard to overlook.”
Arthur leaned back, tension a live wire beneath his skin. “Say whatever it is you came to say.”
Rory studied him for a beat. “I grew up on the same stories you did,” he said finally. “Witches burning wolvesfrom the inside out. Entire bloodlines destroyed. Our people massacred.”
Kiara’s eyes flicked sideways. She didn’t disagree.
“But the hybrids are circling,” Rory continued, “and they killed my wolves faster than I could bury them. And a witch,” he nodded toward Kiara, “stood on my border and offered help. I decided I loved my pack more than my fear.”
Arthur’s throat tightened.
“A nice story,” he muttered.
“It’s interesting,” Rory said, “All I heard about the Ice Bear of the Nordan was that he desired a mate. Desired strength. Lunarion hands it all over to you on a silver platter, and yet you seem so quick to dismiss it.”
Arthur’s jaw flexed. “I don’t dismiss it. I mated her. She’s mine.”
Rory laughed, low and mocking. “Sure, you’ll gladly take her to bed, I’ve no doubt about that. But her witch blood? I’m betting you’re not so thrilled about that particular detail.”
Arthur snarled, a deep, gruff rumble filling the air. Kiara’s eyes flashed, her hands raising.
Fury overcame him, and he stood, towering above the smirking alpha. “Control your witch.”
Rory considered him a moment before standing slowly, raising his hands. “I did not come here to argue, Arthur. I apologize for any disrespect. But—”
Arthur growled in warning, and Rory’s jaw tightened.
“But,you have to look past your prejudice on this. You have a true mate, one who is a witch. A bridge between our species. The potential that has for the fight ahead.”
Arthur exhaled sharply. “We trusted witches once before, and look what happened.”
Chase shifted beside him, troubled.
Kiara’s voice was soft. “Our people have stories too, you know. Wolves have killed witches as readily as witches have killed wolves. Doesn’t mean Rory denies me respect.”
Rory’s mouth ticked at one corner, faint approval.
Arthur looked away.
He didn’t want to think about Dani’s fire licking up her arms in the clearing. Or the way she’d shielded Aurelia with her whole body. Or the way his mark looked on her neck.
“You don’t know her,” Arthur said. “You don’t know what I did to her.”
“No,” Rory said simply. “But I know this: the magic controlling hybrids is old. Older than the packs. You now have more access to witchcraft than any alpha alive. You can fight that truth, or you can use it.”
Arthur’s teeth ground together. “I won’t let witches rule my home.”
“Who said anything about ruling?” Kiara asked. “You’re Alpha. She’s your mate, not your queen.”
Arthur swallowed hard. The word mate hit him low and deep.
