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I hesitated, reluctant to abandon Lola to Eleanor’s apparent disdain, but not wanting to ruin things for Lola, either. This was her chance to learn about magic, not just read about it.
I’d hoped to speak with Eleanor about something else that was on my mind, but she’d made it quite clear she wasn’t here to make friends. I certainly didn’t get the impression she would be interested in visiting Blackwood Manor for coffee anytime soon. But if I didn’t ask her now, I’d possibly never get the chance again.
“Eleanor,” I said, “I understand you’re not interested in our business or what I’m trying to do here, but we’re being persecuted by the hunters. Do you know of any witch who’d be sympathetic to our cause? We could use all the help we can get.”
“Ha.” She snorted. “Witches aren’t exactly lining up to play nice with shifters. There aren’t as many of us left as there once were. Most of the witches I know are out for themselves. They’ll help hunting factions for money and rare spell ingredients. You won’t find many bleeding hearts like Lola here.”
“There must be someone out there willing to help us. You saidmostof the witches. It just takes one witch to make a difference.”
“Fine,” Eleanor huffed. She seemed to accept the fact that I wasn’t going to go away without a name. “My sister Julia might be the kind of witch you’re looking for. She’s always had a soft spot for other supernatural beings who are hunted down like dogs.”
“Really?” I asked, my interest piqued. “Could she be convinced to help us?”
“Maybe,” Eleanor sighed. “We may not be taken down by the same hunter factions as you are, but witches are still hunted. Mostly by humans who use fear as their weapons. I know she’s had some problems and is being persecuted by humans who think she’s some kind of devil-worshiper. It’s ridiculous. If Blackwood Creek proves to be a safe place, she might consider moving here.”
“Please contact her for me,” I said, imbuing my tone with hope and respect. “I’d like to talk to Julia about our situation.”
“Fine,” Eleanor said, her expression devoid of warmth. “Don’t expect miracles from her, or any other witch, for that matter. Now, please, I’d like to get on with training the good doctor here, so if you boys wouldn’t mind running off? We have things to do.”
I looked at Lola to see her reaction. Some of her earlier excitement had faded, and she looked nervous, but she gave me a quick nod, letting me know it was okay to leave.
As we left Lola’s office, I considered what Eleanor had said about witches also being hunted. Was there a way to make to make the world safer for all supernaturals and not just wolf shifters? With vampires like Dean Aldrin who wanted to live alongside humans and not see them as a source of food, and other supernaturals doing their best to survive, perhaps joining forces to fight off all the hunting factions really was the answer.
“Clawson,” I said, “what if we tried to form alliances with other paranormals? We could work together to make Blackwood Creek a safe haven not just for us wolves, but for everyone.” I needed his perspective on the matter. “You know I’ve always considered the possibility of opening the town and making it a sanctuary for other shifters, but I wasn’t sure if it could work, never mind anyone being interested. But with so many shifters coming together now—and for the most part, getting along—a new sense of unity has developed. I’m realizing now it’s not just about bolstering shifter numbers, though. There are plenty of supernatural beings out there looking to just live a quiet, settled life without fear of discovery or reprisals, and most importantly, safe from the hunter factions. We could offer that. The town can only benefit from the valuable skills each of these different species brings to the table. I’m sure we can make it work.”
With my impassioned pitch over, I looked across at Clawson to see what he thought. Speaking it out loud had only served to convince me I was right.
His brow furrowed. “It’s not a bad thought, Ridge. How would we go about it? How do we ensure we don’t put our people at risk?”
“I’m don’t know yet,” I replied, my resolve unwavering despite the uncertainties. “But I think it’s worth exploring. We could start by reaching out to Dean and Jaxon. They have connections to other supernatural beings.”
“True.” Clawson’s lips pursed. “If we can find a way to come to an agreement with the hostile witches and prevent them from gifting any more hunting factions with magic, we might stand a better chance against our enemies.”
“Exactly!” I exclaimed. “It won’t be easy, but if we want to create a world where all supernaturals can live in peace, we’ve gotta explore it.”
Clawson nodded. “Let’s do it.”
With our minds set on this new goal, we left to find Dean and Jaxon, eager to begin making plans and building alliances that would make Blackwood Creek a haven for all who sought refuge from the darkness that plagued our world.
We strode down Main Street. The air was crisp and carried a hint of pine, and the dusky sky hinted that night would be upon us soon.
“Dean should be around here somewhere.” Clawson scanned the area for any sign of the vampire.
“Let’s try The Tipsy Tavern.” Dean often spent his evenings there.
When we entered the dimly lit establishment, I spotted Dean sitting at the bar, nursing a glass of something red.
“Dean.” I strode over to him. “We need to talk.”
“Ridge, Clawson.” He greeted us with a nod. “What can I help you with?”
“Actually, it’s more about what we might be able to help each other with.” I got straight to the point. “We’ve been thinking we want Blackwood Creek to be a sanctuary for all supernaturals, not just shifters. Do you and Jaxon know any others who could use a place like this?”
Dean raised an eyebrow, swirling the liquid in his glass. “You mean to expand our community?”
“Exactly,” I said. “Only to those who won’t pose a risk to the humans or anyone else here.”
Dean mulled over my words. “I like the idea. We know others who could benefit from a safe place like this. Let me consult with Jaxon, and we’ll see what we can do.”
