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She glanced at the door and back to my face. “Mathias isn’t a young man anymore, but he’s still a werewolf and an Alpha, so I don’t believe this will kill him.”
I tipped my head to the faucet. “So why all the secrecy, then?”
She sighed. “Because I’d rather not have him or any of his wolves hearing that if I’m wrong, he will pass away without an heir to replace him as leader of the Salem Pack. It will leave them vulnerable, which was probably the hunters’ goal all along.”
I frowned. “You think they targeted this pack because Mathias doesn’t have a son?”
“In part, yes.” She nodded slowly. “None of the wolves in this pack have found their mates, either. There are no children. It’s family that keeps a pack strong. I witnessed that firsthand when I visited Sedona with Mathias. Without their Alpha, these wolves in Salem could separate, and a lone wolf would be much easier for the hunters to overpower and kill.”
“Holy shit.” I shook my head. “And if the Coven of Shadows is the buyer…”
“They’ll have enough magic to destroy us.”
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. “You’re telling me that our survival is tied to this wolf pack’s.”
She pondered for a moment before she gradually started to nod. “That’s a logical assumption.”
I worried my lower lip, struggling to rein in the wave of anxiety brewing inside me. Maybe I could run away to California and avoid this war looming between light and shadow magic. It would also put werewolves in my rearview mirror. Maybe there weren’t any West Coast wolf packs. I could dream, right? Where would they shift during a full moon? Palm trees and beaches didn’t give much cover.
Lillian took my hand and squeezed it, drawing my spiraling thoughts back to the present moment. “You’re stronger than you realize. Our coven has survived multiple threats since our magic arrived on this shore. We’ll get through this, too.”
“I don’t doubt that.” My gaze locked on hers. “I’m just not sure I’m the one to lead the coven through this.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I’ve seen what werewolves can do, and…they frighten me.”
She studied my face as her lips curved gently. “I’ve known you all your life, and I practically raised your sweet mother. Her magic runs through your veins, and her kindness lives in your heart. But it was her courage that everyone remembers from that night. You areherdaughter, Ruby. That fire is inside you. You’re exactly the witch we need in this moment.”
The fire.No. I blinked back a sudden unwelcome wave of tears. “I’m a water witch, Lillian. That’s the opposite of the fiery leader you need.”
She caught my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes. “You’ve barely scratched the surface of your power, Ruby. Water witches gain force in their magic from their emotions. Yes, you might weep, and fear could weigh you down at times, but anger is also an emotion. And I pity the witch or wolf who enrages you.” She released me, shaking her head. “You aren’t defenseless. Quite the opposite. Stop bottling those emotions, Ruby.” Her eyes searched mine. “Usethem.”
Lillian had a lot more faith in me than I did. She hadn’t been there that night in the fire or years later in Boston. I pushed the memories away as she turned off the sink.
She faced me again. “Nothing I’ve told you will matter once Mathias is out of that bed.”
But she was wrong. Mathias wasn’t going to live forever. Even if he did heal from this wound, the bleak future Lillian had painted would still come to pass eventually. Was I ever going to be ready for the storm that was brewing in Salem?
We walked out of the bathroom and back to his bedside. My stomach twisted as Lillian hovered her hands over his ankle, channeling reiki healing energy into the bone and skin.
Zeke breezed back into the room. He came to my side and stopped, crossing his arms. “How’s he doing?”
I looked over at him. “He still needs antibiotics.”
“I know.” All his attention was on his Alpha. “Kiefer is on his way over, and I called and left a message for my buddy at the hospital to see about getting some antibiotics.”
“The sooner the better.” I looked over at Lillian, keeping my voice just above a whisper. “Lillian told me Mathias doesn’t have an heir to take over as Alpha.”
“He had chosen Kyle as his successor, but the hunters got him.” A muscle jumped in his cheek, but he didn’t take his eyes off Mathias. “I assume that’s why he wanted me to bring Kiefer over here. If Kyle can’t lead the pack, I guess he figures he’ll ask Kiefer to take his brother’s place.”
I raised a brow. “You don’t sound happy about it.”
He shrugged. “Kiefer’s strong, but he’s a hothead. An Alpha needs to be able to control the animal aggression and think clearly.”
Good luck finding a wolf like that.I was grateful I’d kept that thought in my head. Before I could say anything more, a tall man with short brown hair and dark-green eyes walked in.
“Speak of the devil,” Zeke growled. He went over and clasped Kiefer’s forearm. “Thanks for coming over.”
Kiefer nodded. “How’s he doing?”
“About the same, but the sooner we talk to him, the sooner I can hunt down some antibiotics.”
