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There was a general gasp and a few mutters around the crowd.
“The high warlock knew the witch we were looking for, the one who’d cursed our pack thirty years ago. She was his sister. The problem was, he hasn’t seen the witch since that day.”
There were murmurs amongst the crowd, then a question was shouted out. “Then we’re no better off, are we? What are we going to do?”
“Send a search party!” someone else shouted.
I put a hand up. “There’s more. Kyle and I found something else while we were away. In fact, we found our fated mate.”
This time, the crowd’s gasp was louder. “What do you mean?” Someone called out.
I forced a smile to my face and braced for impact. “Turns out, Kyle and I have the same fated mate. And... she’s not a shifter. She’s a witch.”
The room exploded, several men jumping to their feet and yelling at the stage. The noise was horrendous as everyone tried to outshout the man next to them.
I glanced at the front row where Kyle and Michael had placed Monique between them, and where they were protectively surrounding her with their arms around her shoulders, and watchful gazes.
The three of us against a whole pack might not go well, but I had faith in Monique’s power as well.
My father got up and walked to the front of the stage, calling for silence. “Sit down.” He spoke firmly to several men who were still glowering at me. “And shut up.”
They did what their leader asked, though the atmosphere in the hall had doubled in tension. My skin crawled with the sensation of danger and my wolf snarled inside my mind, ready to shift should he be needed.
When everyone was seated once more, Dad went back to his seat and I forced myself to continue. “No-one can argue with the fated mate bond. None of you would, and we won’t either. But what you don’t seem to be realizing, is that ifwefound our fated mate outside of the pack, any one of you might too.”
There was a titter this time, that seemed to stem more from excitement and awe, than fear.
My father walked up beside me. “Although I am very happy for my son and his friend to have found their mate and delighted that Xander has brought her home, I don’t think anyone should go in search of their mate outside of the pack, not yet. Not until we know a little more. Many of our young men have married into other packs and as we all know, that hasn’t gone well.”
The grumble around the hall was marked this time, though I didn’t feel like it was directed at me anymore.
I cast a small smile in the direction of my mate, who was now looking confused. Kyle bent his head and spoke into her ear, probably explaining about the deaths of the women and their babies.
My father continued. “Monique and Michael will be staying with us for the foreseeable future. In the fated mate tradition, they are both now part of Xander and Kyle’s family, so please make them feel welcome. The council and I will work closely with Xander to work out a solution and we will have another meeting next week to give you all a further update. Thank you for coming.”
I watched in awe as the townspeople got up and left, following their leader’s suggestion, though it was noticeable that some still threw glares my way.
I turned to my father. “That went well.”
I was being half-sarcastic, but Dad grinned. “Better than I thought it would, actually.”
I rolled my eyes. “Really? Great.”
Kyle walked over to the stage stairs. “You ready to go back? I think Monique’s done.”
“Yeah, coming.” I shook my father’s hand, vaulted down the steps and grabbed onto Monique, putting my arm tightly around her. I was feeling extra-protective after that meeting.
I walked out of the hall with her tucked firmly under my arm.
A group of guys were waiting outside the hall. Guys with whom Kyle and I had grown up. Gone to school. Been friends.
“Connor. Brad. Hey.” There were five in total, but I addressed the two at the front, nodding at them.
Michael stepped forward to take Monique, and I let him, because I wanted both hands available, just in case.
“What’s up?” I asked. Kyle stepped up beside me, not saying anything but clearly as ready for trouble as I was.
Brad crossed his beefy arms over his chest. “What the hell are you playing at, Xander? You can’t bring a fucking witch and a wizard into our pack. They don’t belong here.” He spat on the ground in front of me to make a point, and the hairs on the back of my neck prickled up.
