Page 3 of The Witch’s Daughter

“Trust me.” I pulled out the muffin tin. “I have a really good feeling about these.”

Not that my intuition had been all that spot on lately. It used to be loud. Now it was more of a quiet whisper that had me doubting it even existed, probably hanging out somewhere with the powers I’d lost.

I hated that Mom was watching. It made me nervous. But I was in too deep to back out now. That was the problem with this small pack and our even smaller family. We were everywhere. Together.

Forever.

A tiny part of me did want to go check out this magic festival, but despite my mom’s urging, I didn’t think she actually wanted me to leave. She’d be too worried. I was worried and I wasn’t even going. What if I totally embarrassed myself?

But why did the summons come for me?

It was a question I’d kept asking since it’d arrived on our doorstep and Mom handed the scroll over. I wasn’t powerful. Not anymore.

Still…

You’re making a mess.

Damn it. I cleaned up the excess batter and slid the pan into the oven, wiping more sweat off my brow. Baking should not be such an Olympic event.

“See? No worries.” I smiled with all my teeth.

She took a seat at the kitchen table. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Not really. “I’m assuming that’s what the meeting will be for this afternoon.”

The other wolf-witches in the region who’d gotten summonses had been contacted by my Alpha, so my presence was also required. The details on the gathering were still murky, though. Despite Alpha Kera saying that my sisters and I were the “Future of Cerberus” for basically our whole lives, she still kept tight reins on the pack.

“Are you nervous?” Mom asked.

I shrugged. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen any of them.”

Jaxon still came around when he could, and we’d visited Cadejo territory for his Alpha Ceremony last year, but even that relationship was strained.

“I think… And hear me out… I think it’d be good for you to go with them.” Mom’s smile was gentle.

My gaze narrowed. “I was right. This is an ambush.”

“Who’s ambushing who?” The front door swung open and Meg came inside, followed by Alec.

Crap. I thought I had more time.

“No one is ambushing anyone.” Mom stood up quick, blocking them from entering the kitchen. “What are you two doing here so early?”

Bless Mom and her shortness, but Meg saw right past her. “We’re going to be late for work,” she said.

“And why is Trish in the kitchen?” Alec arched an eyebrow, amusement dancing on her face.

As far as identical triplets went, we couldn’t be more different. Meg was an alpha wolf and radiated dominance, even though she was the sweetest of us all. She kept her hair shorter than me and Alec, but long enough to tie back out of her face.

They both had the unruly mess of Dad’s curls and Mom’s soft brown color, whereas mine was this beautiful teal that I was NEVER messing with again.

Though I’d been thinking pink might look nice… Someday.

My sister Alec was slender for a Cerberus female and it made her features stand out more sharply than ours. It served to fool unsuspecting challengers. I’d never seen anyone beat her in a fight, even my alpha wolf sister Meg, but Alec was a sigma wolf like our father, so she didn’t care about taking over any pack one day, much to Alpha Kera’s frustration.

I loved both my sisters more than life and I’d die for them, but they were also always in the way.

“Give me fifteen more minutes,” I said, trying to keep everyone calm.