Page 35 of Fat Enemy Mate

“Ethan is asking the questions, which is his job,” Nick says. “And you were about to bite his head off, which is not your job, not today. Settle down”

I do settle. Nick has the way of a pure alpha; he can calm his pack or rile them up with just the pitch of his voice. My wolf drops down, and Ethan registers it, relaxing slightly too, as there’s a knock at the door. Luna enters, holding her cup of coffee. She doesn’t sit but walks over to Nick, addressing us all.

“Lara has very kindly talked through her ability,” Luna says, “And it’s real. I’ve got a read on the power, but she’s not a witch. It’s old, perhaps born from an old protection spell. The Cheslem witch obviously got a read on it, too, in order to create the talismans. I’m sure Anya could do something similar, but there was dark magic, which isn’t something anyone wants to touch. I’ll update Anya and see what she thinks.

“How’s she doing through there?” Nick asks his mate.

“Better than I’d hoped,” Luna smiles. “Skylar and Fern have been brilliant at getting her to open up a bit. I think she was surprised that Fern is a human, and not locked up in a dungeon.”

I nod. “She has her reasons to feel the way she does,” I tell her, and then others. “They’re pretty valid reasons, too.”

“She’s a nice girl,” Luna says gently, “I’m sure she’ll see us for who we are.”

Nick nods, standing and says. “Right, let’s not hide in here talking about her. That will only make things worse. Wilf, thank you for the update. I take Ethan’s concerns on board, andwe’ll assess as we go, but she has our protection. We’ll get this figured out.”

I catch Ethan’s eye as we all begin filing out of the room, but he doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. Connor catches my arm in the doorway.

“Don’t be hard on Ethan,” he says, “he’s not coming at you or her. He’s spent the last few months caught up in so many border clashes with random Cheslem leftovers, the ones who are still riding high on dark magic and scavenging for their next fix. He’s feeling pretty raw over it all and just wants to protect Silvercreek. But he’d never see any harm come to an innocent either.”

“Yeah, I know,” I say, knowing damn well Ethan’s a good man. “I don’t know what got me so riled.”

Connor smirks, “You sure about that?” He asks, brow raised.

I pause, trying to think of something to say that doesn’t sound like I’m telling him just to fuck off, but my mind goes blank. Thankfully, I’m saved by two of the older boys charging through the hall. We move out of the way, and I take the opportunity to slip back into the main room where most are gathered, pouring drinks and setting out food on the enormous table.

It’s a cold, clear morning, and I look out at the back porch and down to the garden beyond, where Fiona’s kids are playing with Caleb’s daughter, who has just arrived with Dina and their brand new baby. I know Dina will want to get caught up on the security side, but Caleb is insisting she take proper maternity leave. I can’t see her staying out of this, though; she’s got one of the best tactical minds in the pack. I spot Lara standing next to Fiona and Fern, each holding a hot drink out on the porch andtalking. The other women are laughing, but Lara looks a little more tense.

She turns and catches my eye, and I see something like a smile cross her face, maybe relief, and I guess that makes sense as I’m the only one she really knows. I hold back, watching as Connor makes a beeline for Fern, placing his hand on her lower back as he passes and whispering in her ear. Thomas heads straight for Fiona and kisses her before being dragged away by their oldest boy to roughhouse. I linger by the island. I normally make my excuses at this point and leave, but I know I can’t, and I find myself not wanting to, needing to be near Lara.

I spot Nick and Luna walking toward her, and I’m moving before I even think it through, knowing how nervous the alpha will make her.

“Lara,” he says, “I’m Nick, Alpha of Silvercreek. Welcome, and sorry it’s so loud today.” He adds as a child’s happy scream fills the air.

Lara’s eyes go wide, but she nods. “T-thank you for having me,” she says quietly, “for getting me, I mean.”

“That’s alright, Lara,” Nick replies, “there’s more to talk about, but we’ll figure out the next steps.”

“Alright,” Lara replies, her voice steadier this time.

“Good,” Nick nods, “Now, make sure you get some food.”

He steps away, and I release a breath I know I didn’t need to hold. Nick is a great alpha and a good man. Lara was never in any trouble, and yet, I can’t quite get my wolf to admit that. He’s on edge and far too close to the surface for a casual pack meeting.

Fiona immediately turns to talk to Lara, and I see her shoulders drop slightly. I decide to hang back, leaning on therail. Ethan has taken a similar spot, and we stand a few feet from each other, both seemingly giving the other a wide berth after the clash in the office. If it were anyone else, I’d probably smooth it over, but Ethan’s never needed that from me.

I watch the kids below us roughhousing and notice Fiona’s youngest boy rushing toward the older kids. I see what happens next in slow motion as the small one is knocked sideways by the two older boys playfighting; they’re oblivious, the way boys are, but before anyone else can react, I hear Lara’s voice.

“Stop.” She says, her hand out, and a wave of pressure rushes through the garden.

It doesn’t feel the same as back in the forest or at the cabin. It’s not targeted at one wolf; instead, it feels like a wave that rolls out, dissipating as it flows acoustically from the epicenter. Which is Lara herself. The kids freeze. I watch as Bryan freezes on the grass, Ethan staggers on the rail, and even Nick, with his alpha wolf, shakes his head as if trying to focus.

I watch as the kids get back to their feet, glancing around to see if anyone else felt it, and then spotting the boy on the ground and pulling him to his feet.

I watched it all, but although I felt it, it didn’t floor me the way it did the first time. Maybe I’m just getting used to it.

As everyone begins to shake it off, they all turn to Lara at the same time, and she freezes. I see the horror cross her face, and I’m moving, crossing to her before anyone else can react.

“Lara, look at me,” I say, low. “It’s fine. The kids are fine.”