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Here, I’m a part of the team.
But I’m about to ask something of them that I know isn’t going to be easy for anyone to swallow. That makes speaking a little harder than it should be.
I steel myself, catch Ridge’s gaze, and say, “We should ask Gwen for help.”
We tracked down the solitary witch in her cabin deep in the mountainous wilderness not long ago on Elder Jihoon’s recommendation. She was barely more than legend before that point. Rumor suggested she existed, though nobody had ever seen her. Rumor also said she wasn’t affiliated with the coven, so we hoped, maybe prematurely, that she would help me learn to harness and control my burgeoning powers before I hurt someone around me.
Gwen turned out to be… not so willing to get involved. We found out that she carries a deep hatred of Cleo, and that it was the driving force behind her leaving the coven and holing up in the mountains to live a solitary life. I did manage to convince her to give us some assistance, which is how we discovered that the scars on my skin are sigils that bind me to Cleo.
Her help has changed the game already. It’s the reason we had warning about the attack on the East Pack village. It’s the reason I know as much as I do about the bond between me and Cleo.
But even though she willingly offered that help and demanded nothing in return, she didn’t seem to have any interest in getting dragged into the fight. She hates Cleo, but she also seems to be afraid of her—with good reason.
Ridge cocks an eyebrow at me. “She didn’t even want to help us in the first place.”
“But she did help me,” I insist. “She didn’t want to fight on our side, it’s true. But maybe she would’ve done even more if we hadn’t needed to leave so quickly.”
While Gwen and I were investigating the bond through the astral plane, I saw Cleo torturing Lawson for information on the packs’ defenses. My mates and I hightailed it out of there to get back home before they breached our barriers. I think there’s a pretty good chance Gwen would have continued to help me learn about my powers if we’d been able to stay longer, and I hope like hell that if we ask again, she’ll consider joining our cause.
To be fair, though, I understand my mates’ hesitation. Gwen was not happy to see us show up on her remote doorstep. A woman doesn’t build a life off the grid, far from all civilization, only to welcome visitors with open arms.
“Gwen hates Cleo,” I remind my men, even as all four of them continue to eye me skeptically. “I think part of the reason she hates her is because Cleo is so vicious to the wolves. I don’t know—maybe it’s not even Cleo’s hatred of wolves that’s the problem, but the genocidal tendencies? She’s twisted her entire coven to hate the shifters, and it soured Gwen to her. She left the coven because of how hateful Cleo is. It could have been humans in our place, or other witches, and I think Gwen still would’ve seen Cleo for the psychopath she is.”
“You don’t have any proof of that,” Dare points out, running a hand over his strong jaw.
“No,” I admit. “I don’t. But you all met her just like I did. She didn’t treat us with hatred or cruelty. Gwen may be a bit of an outcast, but she only ever helped us.”
Trystan chuckles. “We didn’t give her much room to deny us.”
He has a point, but I don’t let it take the wind out of my sails. “Look, I know it took time, but I’ve finally learned to trust my witch. And I think most of you have learned to trust my powers too,” I add, casting a look around the group. Everybody’s watching me silently, giving me their attention in a way I’m not used to. But I’m the alphas’ mate, after all. I probably should get used to it. “Now, we need to consider trusting another witch to keep our families safe.”
A long, uncomfortable pause fills the room. Even my mates still don’t look convinced, though I know it’s not because they aren’t willing to trust me. Hell, it may not even be because they don’t trust Gwen. More that they don’t believe she’d actually want to come here and help us. So I’m formulating another plan of attack, a way to convince them all that Gwen is the answer, when Elder Jihoon speaks.
“I believe we should listen to Sable,” he says, his eyes thoughtful. “She has not led us wrong yet. My limited knowledge of this hermit witch suggests she could indeed be a strong ally, given the chance. This could, perhaps, be our moment to begin bridging the gap between wolf and witch.”
The elder finishes up with a smile at me, and I flush with pride at his acceptance of my idea. If the pack won’t listen to me, maybe they’ll listen to him.
It takes a bit more convincing, but I stand firm behind my idea, convinced it’s the best option available to us. I know it’s a risk, but the adage that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” feels more true than ever in this case. If there’s any witch in Montana who’ll be likely to help us in our venture against Cleo and her coven, it’s Gwen.
After several more minutes of back and forth, Ridge finally nods. “Okay. I agree that it’s worth a try. All in favor?”
All four of my men voice their agreement, and to my relief, most of the other shifters present do too.
“So we need to reach out to the mountain witch,?
?? Dare says. I can hear a slight strain in his voice, but it’s the only indication that he’s not entirely comfortable with this plan. It means a lot to me that he trusts me enough to go along with my idea, despite the fact that he doesn’t like it. “Do we send a small pack? Or a single ambassador?”
“I’ll go.” Amora raises her hand.
I shake my head. “No, I’ll go. I think a group of shifters racing toward her secluded cabin might spook her.”
“We can approach as humans,” Amora points out, looking amused. “We don’t have to howl at the moon while we sprint at her, fangs bared.”
I grimace. “It should be me. I just thi—”
Trystan cuts in. “No.” His face softens a little, his blue-green eyes burning as he catches my gaze. “You’ve gotta let us have this one, sweetheart. It isn’t safe for you to travel to Gwen’s. We can’t all go with you, and I can’t stand the idea of you going without us.”
I start to argue, but Amora reaches out and puts her fingers on my shoulder, shaking her head. “It’s better this way. I can be fast, and you can stay with the alphas to organize and figure out a plan of attack on the coven. You know Cleo better than any of us. It’s important you be involved in the planning.”
