Cassandra’s expression indicates she understands she’s interrupted something between us, and her gaze is apologetic as she starts up the hill.
Jack pushes open the door, and I cross the threshold. By the time I’ve taken a spot on the couch, Cassandra is inside. Jack closes the door behind him and takes a seat beside me. When Cassandra sits on the adjacent loveseat, she gives a heavy sigh. “Jack called me last night to tell me what happened, and I spent several hours scrying to get a sense of how many others know about what you are. The news isn’t good.”
Jack curses under his breath. “Did Justin’s pack spread the word?”
Cassandra nods. “I don’t think they were too pleased with their defeat, so they decided the best way to get back at you was to tell everyone they know about Ava.”
I do my best to follow the conversation. I assume scrying must be some kind of witch way of learning things. There was a girl I knew in middle school who claimed to be clairvoyant—able to sense things happening in other locations. As a witch, I don’t doubt Cassandra would be capable of something like that. “So, more people know what I am. What does it mean?”
Cassandra presses her lips together. “You’re not safe. Even the witches have caught wind of what’s happening, and the council is meeting later this afternoon to determine what steps—if any—we need to take to ensure Ava’s existence poses no threat.”
Jack growls, his eyes flashing gold.
Cassandra holds up her hand. “Calme-toi, Jacques.”
I look from Cassandra to Jack and back again. Was that French? Lillie once told me Jack’s father was French, but why would Cassandra speak that language to him? Before I can ask, Cassandra is talking again.
“They’ve asked for Ava to be present, and I think it’s a good idea,” she says, leaning forward and resting her forearms on her thighs. “I’m going to do all I can to convince the council Ava poses no threat and has no plans to create more hybrids. My word carries weight, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough. With your consent, I’ll tell them the two of you are halves.”
“Why do they need to know that?” I ask, too quickly. Hurt flashes in Jack’s eyes, and a pang of guilt shoots through me. I didn’t mean to sound so defensive about it. I’m just starting to wrap my head around the whole idea myself. I’m not sure I want everybody knowing about our connection just yet.
“Being Jack’s half allies you more closely with the wolves than vampires, which will cast you in a more positive light,” Cassandra says, her tone easy despite the fact the tension in the room is palpable. “And Jack’s history of keeping local vampires in check is well known, which, again, could help the council determine your existence won’t cause any harm.”
I swallow. “Let’s play it by ear. If it looks like telling them will help things, do it.”
She holds my gaze. “And if they ask you to merge?”
Jack crosses his arms over his chest. “Why would they demand that? They understand what it means, don’t they? Would they really press to take Ava’s free will out of the matter?”
Cassandra sighs, regarding him the way a mother would look at a child throwing a tantrum. “I’m not saying they will ask you to, I’m simply suggesting they may. Her strengths and invulnerabilities will likely make some on the council nervous. Merging would at least take immortality off the table.”
“What a beautiful reason to choose to merge,” Jack mutters darkly.
I chew on my lower lip. Cassandra’s point makes sense, but it doesn’t make the idea any easier to swallow. What I told Jack before is still true: I’m not ready. Merging now simply to make the witches feel better about my existence sounds about as appealing as an arranged marriage to a stranger.
Jack sighs. “Thanks for letting us know what’s going on. Now we can be prepared for the meeting tonight.”
Cassandra stands, understanding she’s been dismissed. But instead of heading to the door, she brushes past Jack but slows as she approaches me. She wraps her arms around me. I’m surprised by the embrace, but also pleased. She trusts Jack, and by extension, she trusts me. I have no doubt she will do everything in her power to plead my case to the other witches tonight.
Once she releases me, she squeezes Jack’s arm before letting herself out.
It’s not until I hear her car pull away that I look at Jack. “Thanks for standing up for me.”
“Always.” Jack sighs and collapses down onto the loveseat Cassandra had been occupying. He pats the spot beside him but doesn’t speak until I sit. “So you know, when the time comes that you want to merge—if it comes—I’m ready. I’m prepared for what it would mean to merge, and I don’t want to force you into something you’re not ready for just because you think you have to. I don’t want you to make this decision because Cassandra says it would be best, or because you’re afraid. Circumstances shouldn’t force your hand. I want it to be your choice.” He locks his eyes on mine. “I want to be your choice.”
I don’t know how to respond. I want to tell him something to make him feel better. I want him to know how much he’s grown to mean to me in such a short time. I want to express how part of me yearns for him, but I don’t know how to put it in words.
He stands, stepping close to me. “I need to meet with Mel. Pack law dictates the role as beta female is hers now, but I need to know I can trust her. Sawyer is waiting in the gym for you to do some training. I know you’ve been working with Lillie, but I think he will probably be a better teacher.”
I nod. I wish we didn’t have these responsibilities to tend to. I really do want to talk about the prospect of merging and what it would mean, but now is not the time. “We’ll talk later?”
In response, he leans down to kiss me. Tingles of electricity dance along my nerve endings. “No matter what the witches say, you always have a place in this pack, and at my side.”
His words seem to sink in through my skin, warming me and making me feel at peace despite the threats surrounding me. I hope the witches realize I pose no threat to the balance, but it’s comforting to know Jack will be with me no matter what.
Chapter Fourteen
With each mile Jack takes us closer to the witches’ council meeting, the knot in my stomach grows tighter. It started when I was training earlier with Sawyer. He knocked me on my ass so much it was embarrassing, but I was distracted by thoughts of what might happen tonight. Jack has assured me time and again that in all his dealings with witches over the decades, they’ve proven themselves to be fair. They don’t seek out violence. They tend toward harmony among living things. And Cassandra was too modest when she spoke of her influence on the council—she’s been the leader for longer than I’ve been alive. Still, I can’t help noticing how Jack’s muscles are coiled, like he’s ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation.
The cabin Jack parks in front of is larger than the one where Cassandra lives, but it has the same kind of natural beauty, like it sprang up organically from the forest surrounding it. Cassandra greets us at the door, but she doesn’t smile as she ushers us in. The cabin is lit by candles, even though the sun won’t set for several hours. Nestled in the woods the way it is, not much sunlight filters in through the windows. The whole vibe of the place makes me think of a field trip I took in elementary school to Greenfield Village—an outdoor museum filled with historic structures that gave me the feeling I’d been transported back in time. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone were baking bread from scratch or churning butter in a corner.
The room is dominated by a large, oval table, around which six people are seated. Half of them appear to be as old as Cassandra—however old that may be—while two more appear to be in their late thirties or early forties. A woman with dark red hair, who sits at the head of the table, appears to be the youngest one present—maybe in her twenties. But again, I have no idea how witches age, so maybe she’s much older.
Cassandra leads us to the end of the table opposite the red-haired woman. She takes a seat and indic
ates we should sit in the smaller chairs to her right and left. I feel the weight of everyone’s gaze on me, and I do my best not to shrink under it. I don’t want to give them the impression that I have anything to be ashamed of here. For his part, Jack looks entirely confident, but his jaw is clenched even as he attempts to smile at the council members.
The red-haired woman stands and draws back her shoulders. Her sharp emerald-green eyes study me shrewdly. “My name is Kiara, and it falls to me to lead this meeting. I won’t lie: The council is somewhat disturbed by reports of what you are, Ava.”
It shouldn’t surprise me that she knows my name, but the syllables send an electric jolt down my spine. “That I’m a hybrid, you mean.”
She nods. “You don’t deny it?”
My gaze flickers to Jack before I answer. “I don’t plan to lie to you today. I won’t deny I’m a hybrid because that’s what I’ve been told I am.”
“Is it true silver doesn’t poison you the way it does a were or a vampire?” she asks.
“Yes,” I say. My throat is dry, and I wish there were a glass of water somewhere.
“And you aren’t consumed by bloodlust the way a vampire is?” she continues.
My stomach lurches as I remember the intense swells of desire I’ve experienced in the presence of blood. Even though I know werewolf blood can’t sustain me, seeing it, smelling it, has been enough to make my teeth lengthen. I don’t know how I would respond if I were near a human who was bleeding. “I don’t need to feed as often,” I say after a beat. It’s not exactly an answer to her question, but it’s the closest thing I know for sure.
Kiara’s thin eyebrows arch. “And where does your allegiance lie?”
I take in a breath, relieved that she’s gotten to this question so early. I nod at Jack. “I consider myself a werewolf. I’m a member of Jack’s pack.”
There’s a subtle shift in the atmosphere as the five members between Cassandra and Kiara seem to let out a collective breath. My words have put many of them at ease. A woman with salt-and-pepper hair pulled back into a long braid sighs as tension visibly drains from her shoulders.
But Kiara doesn’t sit down. “And what is your role in the pack?”
I glance at Jack before turning to Cassandra, but she doesn’t look at either of us. Her eyes are trained on Kiara. “I’m new,” I begin tentatively, “so I’m still learning what it means to be a werewolf.”
Kiara’s full lips curve into a smile. “But packs are split by a hierarchy of sorts, are they not? There are more submissive wolves and their pack leaders—the alphas and betas. Where do you fall on the continuum?”
The unease that had begun to unravel in my stomach coils itself once more. For the first time since learning where I stand in the pack, I wish I were more submissive—more like Lillie or Maggie. I could make it seem as if I am, but I don’t think it’s in my best interest to attempt to deceive anyone. “We lost a member of our pack yesterday, which means my position has changed. I’m now the alpha female.”
If my last answer served to comfort the council, this one has only upset it again. Unease ripples through those seated around the table. Besides Cassandra, the only one who seems unsurprised by this news is Kiara.
“If I understand pack dynamics, an alpha’s orders must be obeyed by pack members.”
It’s not a question, and I don’t answer. Jack is doing his best to keep his expression impassive, but I catch a steely glint in his eye.
Kiara continues. “What would happen if you were to command your pack members to submit to becoming hybrids?”
“I’d never allow it,” Jack growls before I can answer.
Kiara turns her sharp eyes on him for the first time. “How far would you go to stop her? Once an alpha’s command is given, there’s no way to keep it from being carried out—unless she gives the counter commands. I’m under the impression that you wouldn’t be able to order her to do that because of your equal pack status. If that’s true, the only way to keep such a command from being carried out would be to kill its issuer. Forgive me, but I find it hard to believe if it came down to it, you’d be willing to kill your half.”
The word hits me like a bucket of ice water. I turn to Cassandra, a sense of betrayal building in me at the idea that she would have told the council before we even arrived, but she looks just as surprised by Kiara’s revelation as we are.
The gazes of the witches at the table are now distrustful. A man with close-cropped black hair and a graying goatee turns an accusatory eye on Cassandra. “You said she posed no threat. You claimed we were seeing portends where there were none, that the world hadn’t fallen too far out of balance—that the earth could still be saved. But you can’t tell me this girl’s existence isn’t an omen. The scales have tipped—this world is beyond salvation.”
Cassandra’s face remains calm. “Stephen, listen to yourself. You are allowing unfounded accusations to—”
“We all know you have a… special connection with the werewolf,” Kiara says. “It seems you’re the one whose judgment is clouded. You’d rather allow the world to end than betray your pet. You are no longer of one mind with the council.” She draws her shoulders back, a satisfied smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. “You are removed as our head. Now, on my authority, take the hybrid into custody.”
Panic sweeps through me as the council members stand to obey Kiara’s command. To get to the front door, I need to go around the table—or over it. But if I were to jump, it’s likely one of the witches would grab me before I made it to the other side. There’s a small window directly behind me, but it’s too high to jump through easily.
“Get down,” Cassandra hisses. Without waiting for an explanation, Jack and I hit the floor. A split second later, energy pulses from Cassandra’s fingertips and the witches are knocked backward. As they hit the ground, Jack shifts. I follow suit and chase him to the large, low picture window at the front of the house. Without hesitating, Jack jumps through it, shattering the glass. He hits the porch outside and doesn’t miss a beat. When I jump through, jagged shards dig into my paws, but I ignore the pain and run into the woods after Jack. We are only a few yards into the trees when I glance over my shoulder and whine. Cassandra isn’t following us.
We need to leave, Jack insists. It’s what Cassandra would want. The witches won’t kill her—it’s not their way. We’ll come back later with reinforcements and get her out.
As much as I don’t want to go, I know Jack is right. I block out the pain in my paws as we run over roots, moss, and fallen twigs. What’s important now is putting distance between us and the witches.
I was right to dread this meeting. But the worst thing is, I’m not the only one who’s affected by the outcome. As I run, all I can do is hold onto hope that Jack is right about the witches not harming Cassandra. I don’t know if I’ll be able to forgive myself if someone else dies trying to protect me.
Chapter Fifteen
The weakness comes over me so quickly I nearly fall on my snout as we enter our territory. I wonder if it’s adrenaline that’s kept me going this long. The familiar burning ignites in my stomach, and I stop and shift back to human form.
When Jack senses what I’ve done, he shifts too. “What’s wrong?”
I turn my attention to my hands. Small flecks of glass sparkle in the light coming through the tree branches, and I use my nails to start digging it out. I don’t want to tell him what’s really going on, but I also don’t want to lie, so I hope my actions lead him to his own conclusions.
After a moment, he takes my hand in his and starts digging the glass out for me. I take deep breaths, trying to focus on the pain to keep my mind off the pangs of hunger. “You know, if we keep running we’ll be at the enclave in five minutes. We could take care of this there.”
The idea of running any further makes me want to faint. “It’s not that.”
He runs the pads of his thumbs over my palms. As I watch, the small holes left by the shards of gl
ass mend themselves. “What is it then?”
I sigh. “I’m hungry,” I say, not meeting his eyes. “I mean, part of me is.”
A beat passes before he inhales with understanding. “Oh.”
And just like that, things are awkward. Of course Jack is aware of my vampire side, but mostly we can ignore it. Now, here it is, rearing its head.
“Could you… Would…” He exhales noisily and his lips twitch like he’s trying to figure out exactly the right words. “Could you use me?”
While his offer comforts me somewhat, I shake my head. “You know that won’t work.”
“Yeah, I guess. It’s just, it worked once before. I thought maybe…”
I’ve been over what happened in my room that day hundreds of times, and I still can’t explain why I needed to feed from Jack. I haven’t had the desire since. Werewolf blood still appeals to my vampire side, but it’s a totally visceral reaction. I don’t hunger for it. It’s kind of like the crappy off-brand cookies one of my supervisors at the call center used to bring in to boost morale—no one really wanted those cookies, but because they were there, most of us ate a handful. “I can’t explain why it worked. But that’s not really surprising, since I can’t explain any of this.”
The corners of Jack’s mouth quirk up in a smile. “It’s pretty new to me, too.” He brings his hand to my face and strokes my cheek with his thumb. The gesture is all I need to know that he’s not repulsed by my need. He understands.
A scent tickles my nostrils and I straighten. Jack sniffs the air. “It’s a deer,” he says. “That might work—I’ve met vampires before who lived entirely off animal blood. I can help you catch it if you want. I can flank it and drive it toward you.”
Animal blood. Why didn’t I think of that before? In my mind, the only options have been werewolf blood—which won’t help me—or human blood. If I can take what I need from animals, people wouldn’t need to factor into the equation at all. “Okay.”
Fate Bound (Fate Bound Trilogy Book 1) Page 10
