The Wolf's Secret Witch: Howl's Romance (The Sentinel Brotherhood Book 1)

by Marianne Morea

  Tanya squared her shoulder, the words gentlemen, and if it pleases the court, echoing in her head. The air around her filled with the scents of vanilla and cinnamon. Jared’s contribution to calm her nerves. Lisette stepped forward as well, and took her arm, adding her own calming scents to the mix. Their combined efforts worked on more than just she, as tension in the clearing ebbed also.

  Tanya looked at the council gathered in front of her. Each evaluating her as she stood. Some probed with their minds, others read her emotions, but each tried to ascertain what it was she could do.

  The council ran the gamut in terms of age and experience, and she was surprised to see such a continuum. Her eyes fell on one of the older members seated directly in front of her, and he smiled and stood. With kind eyes, he walked forward.

  “That’s Alain Grenville,” Jared whispered. “The alpha from the New Orleans pack. He’s an ally.”

  Tanya nodded, squeezing Jared’s hand.

  “My, dear,” Alain began, his voice soft and dulcet. “It has been a very long time since I’ve had the pleasure of meeting one such as yourself. If you will indulge me, may I take your hand?”

  Tanya moved closer to Jared. His arm was around her shoulders, and she looked into his blue eyes, knowing her own shined with uncertainty.

  He nodded, whispering again, “Alain is a color reader. He can see people’s auras. It tells him what motivates an individual. The same way an empath can read a person’s emotions. His gift is amplified through touch. If you let him hold your hand, he can gauge the spectrum of your power.”

  “Don’t be afraid,” Alain reassured. “An aura is simply energy that radiates from you. Whichever colors predominate tell me much about your disposition. May I?” He held out his hand expectantly.

  Tanya nodded, placing her hand tentatively in his. Alain closed his eyes. He held her with a light touch, and almost immediately, a slight tingling began in her palm.

  A smile played at the corners of Alain’s mouth as the moments passed. When he opened his eyes he gazed at Tanya in amazement. A full grin spread across his lined face. “Unbelievable,” he breathed.

  Tanya stood self-consciously while the whole of the assembly watched. “So, am I some kind of mutant or something?” she shrugged with a nervous laugh.

  “Oh, my dear, on the contrary. The spectrum of your power is astonishing. Your colors are brilliant and pulsing with life. Your connection to the universe and the spiritual plane is strong, and you have enormous untapped psychic ability. However, it is your passion that drives your energies, and they are ripe for you to strengthen. When you come into your own, you will be extraordinary.” He paused, looking at her appreciatively. “Yes, extraordinary, indeed. And deadly.”

  Tanya blinked. Try as she may, she couldn’t reconcile what Alain said with the girl she saw in the mirror every morning. Deadly? She didn’t think so. She had passion, all right, but it was for justice.

  He made her sound like some spring of untapped power. A secret weapon just waiting to be developed. Shaking her head, she backed away from him.

  “I’m a normal girl. Not some kind of lethal weapon. You must have made a mistake.” Her voice rose, but years of practice in front of a jury helped keep the nervous staccato out.

  Another elder stood abruptly, his mouth a thin slash. Hearing Luke’s soft curse, Tanya turned to look at him over her shoulder. The young man’s eyes narrowed, and she guessed it was his father who took the floor.

  “Ms. Richards, you are a claimed member of the Durant, are you not?”

  Tanya swiveled again to look at Luke’s father, but she didn’t respond.

  “Hmmm, well, whether you realize it or not, as a claimed female, you are bound to the edicts and laws of our clan. It is your duty to help us with this situation. Tenderfoot or not!”

  “Chalk up another to your overflowing compassion and understanding,” Luke shot back, stepping forward to stand beside Lisette. “As always, your innate charm and enigmatic nature overwhelm. I’m sure Tanya is filled with warm fuzzies and can’t wait to jump in and help.”

  Gregory Laval opened his mouth to retort, but Alain put a hand on his arm. “Ms. Richards, you must forgive our esteemed brother from Quebec. His passion for preserving our way of life sometimes causes him to see things a little more black and white than the rest of us. That aside, I implore you to consider helping us. You see, what you and the Sentinels of the Durant have witnessed in recent days is just the beginning of this nightmare. There aren’t many of us left who remember the last demonic scourge.”

  Tanya’s heart went out to the kind, old man. Still, she had no idea what she could do to help, regardless what he saw in her aura. She was more than a little scared, but when she looked at Alain, his eyes were sad, but hopeful.

  “I’ve listened to what you’ve said, and I must admit, my head is spinning. To be honest, I doubt that I’ll be able to do any of the things you’ve claimed I can do. I can’t fathom how to harness the kind of power you say I possess, let alone control it.

  “What happened the other night was an anomaly. I have no idea how I manifested that magic, let alone how to reproduce it. All I remember is being angry and afraid of the demon, and what it intended to do. The rest—” she trailed off.

  Alain looked at her, his eyes kind. “I can teach you everything you need to know. My own mother, rest her soul, was a Blood Witch. She kept a diary chronicling everything you need to know. A complete record of training.

  “She knew there was a possibility, however small, that one of her descendants could inherit her abilities. Knowing she might not be around to train them herself, she left journals to guide the future. Please, allow me to share her thoughts and experiences. You are a learned woman, Tanya. A disciple of the law. You have a tremendous capacity for compassion and justice, and that is what I appeal to in you now.”

  Tanya didn’t know what to say. Self-doubt swirled through her mind, and she wished she could talk to her mother, first.

  “Think about it. We all know how great a burden this is to ask, and no one will pressure you,” he said with a pointed look toward Gregory. “The decision is yours.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tanya was left with her own thoughts while the debate continued between attending Sentinels and the council for most of the evening. Besides her possible role, there was still much to be discussed, and strategy was the primary topic. Both for a plan of attack, as well as for pack safety in the event of a siege.

  “How’s Tanya holding up?” Aidan whispered, glancing past Jared’s shoulder to the girl sitting crisscrossed on a woven blanket beside the fire.

  Jared followed his gaze. “She’s amazing. She’s refused to let me take her to the house. She wants to stick around in case we need her.”

  “Doesn’t she think we can protect ourselves?” Aidan laughed.

  Jared smirked. “Don’t be a dumbass. She’s stacking the odds. She thinks if she’s not here, her absence will tempt certain members of the council to view her as a disposable commodity, and I think you know who I’m talking about.”

  “Uncle or not, Gregory sure has a lot to learn when it comes to people skills.” Aidan exhaled loudly. Nodding his head in Tanya’s direction, he added, “Do you think she’ll step up and help? I mean, regardless of Laval’s opinion?”

  Before Jared could answer, he felt their uncle’s eyes on him. He met the man’s gaze as Gregory moved past the others, ignoring the discussions around him.

  “Boys,” he said, walking toward his two nephews. “Interesting night, eh?”

  Jared frowned. “I guess. What do you want, Uncle Greg? Have you come to tell me again how I’m getting involved with riffraff? Or how my claiming Tanya was a stupid and reckless act, even though she’s already saved my life, and could possibly help save many more?”

  Gregory eyed his nephew over the top edge of his glasses, fixing him with a hard gaze. “Jared, I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye. I blame myself for not being ther
e more for you boys since your father died. My sister’s philosophies have always been a little too free-spirited, and I fear you all have suffered by them.”

  Aidan felt Jared tense, and he surreptitiously gripped his brother’s wrist. Giving it a small squeeze, he warned Jared to back off.

  “Uncle Greg, why don’t you say whatever it is you have to say, and stop rehashing the past?” Aidan interjected, alpha to alpha. “We know you disagreed with our parents on most things, especially clan friendships with outsiders. I don’t see how those differences apply here.”

  Jared’s body was still rigid, and Aidan increased the pressure on his wrist.

  “Calm down! You want to start a war? We need to be cool and handle this the right way.”

  “I’m not here to cause a conflict between us, boys. Though Jared’s proposed mate is an outsider to the clan, even I can see her merit in this situation. She’s a valuable asset, and I only wish to convince you to use whatever means necessary to persuade her to help us.” Gregory was matter-of-fact. “She’s a stubborn one, but I think she can be made to cooperate, that is if you finesse her properly.” Gregory looked pointedly at his nephew. His meaning crystal clear.

  Without taking eyes from his uncle, Jared cocked his arm and punched him dead in the face, cracking his jaw with his fist. His uncle’s head snapped back, and the man fell to the ground.

  Jared stood over him with clenched fists. “Tanya is not a commodity, nor is she some random female to be finessed. Whether she’d be ready to accept it or not, she’s my mate. I don’t expect you to understand, since you can’t respect anyone that doesn’t measure up to your idea of worth. I actually feel sorry for you, Uncle Greg. It’s no wonder Luke spends so much time with us.”

  Gregory was still on the ground as other council members rushed to help him to his feet. Surprised, he straightened his glasses, before rubbing his jaw. “Impressive, Jared,” he chuckled, one eyebrow raised. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  Jared glared, snorting in response.

  “Look.” Gregory’s face became serious. “I know you don’t like my methods, and you don’t agree with the way I run my pack. But as neither you nor your brother are mine, it really doesn’t matter. As for Luke, well, that’s between him and me. Think about what I said. That girl’s talent needs to be developed and quickly, or she will be of no use,” he paused, “I mean no help, to us otherwise.”

  Alain stepped forward. “I think we’ve all had our say. The time for discussion is past, and the council has decided. Each of the three packs will be on full alert. The Sentinels are to train accordingly, based on the eyewitness accounts given by the Durant. There are to be no single patrols, and a curfew will be in effect until further notice. Pack members gifted with second-sight are to be recruited to assist our trackers and help decipher any spurious thoughts or suggestions the demonkind may sow. Let’s all go home in peace. We’ve got a hard road ahead of us.”

  ***

  Tanya listened, watching them interact. It was easy to see where the line between the generations was drawn, and she understood what Jared meant about clan politics.

  She yawned and stretched as they continued to deliberate. The temperature dropped, and a light wind had picked up, causing her to shiver. She took the woven blanket Jared had given her and moved closer to the fire. She stared into the flames thinking about her life, and how it had changed overnight.

  A week ago she had everything planned. Career. Home. Money. Her life made sense, even if she wasn’t entirely happy. Now nothing made sense, but she had never felt so alive.

  Jared made her blood rush and her heart sing, and even though she felt she was on a collision course with death, she had never been so sure of what she wanted. Enemies to friends. Friends to lovers. She’d heard the romantic tropes. Lovers to soulmates, though? That’s where destiny showed up. Magic.

  Did Jared feel the same way? That scared her almost as much as the demon.

  “Hey,” Jared called, coming up behind her. “You okay?”

  Tanya nodded. “Fine.”

  Kneeling on the blanket, he rubbed her arms. “Cold?”

  “I was but not anymore.” She sighed, melting under his ministrations. “You were getting a little loud over there, what happened?” She tilted her head toward the group of men still locked in heated discussion.

  “Same as always.” He pressed his thumbs to either side of her spine, kneading between her shoulder blades. “Unfortunately, my uncle never knows when to stop.”

  “Do I want to know?” she asked, laughing to herself.

  “Nope. Let’s just say he’ll think twice before voicing his opinions to me again.”

  “I saw.” Tanya chuckled. “You’ve got quite a right hook.”

  “Sorry you had to see that. He’s the only one that gets under my skin like that. I don’t understand him. The rest of the family doesn’t like him, including Luke and his mother.”

  “I figured as much. Listening to conversations with Luke and watching how he reacted to his father tonight left no doubt in my mind. I feel bad for him. It’s got to be hard.”

  Jared pushed her hair back and kissed her neck, biting her gently. “Let’s get out of here,” he whispered.

  Tanya shivered, but this time not from the chilly night air. “What do you have in mind?” she asked suggestively.

  Pulling her to standing, he wrapped his arms around her. “Follow me.” He answered with a kiss. Towing her behind him, he signaled to Aidan still lingering by the fire, talking, before they headed toward the woods.

  “I wish I knew what time it was,” Tanya mused, following in Jared’s steps. “I left my cellphone at the house.”

  “It’s about three a.m., why?”

  “Won’t your mother wonder where we are?” she asked curiously.

  The forest was quiet and dark as they made their way into the trees. “We’re shifters, Tanya. We live by a different set of rules. My mother knows we can take care of ourselves no matter what we come across.”

  Tanya thought about the demon and what it had done to them just the night before, and she wasn’t so sure. She wasn’t sure Jared’s mother would agree with him, either.

  “After what’s been happening, maybe being out in the woods isn’t such a great idea. I mean, we’re alone, and I don’t know if I could manage a repeat performance of what happened at my house.”

  “Don’t worry; we won’t be in the open for long.” His mouth curved into a mischievous smile.

  They headed toward the mountains ringing the valley forests. The farther they walked from the clearing, the denser the tress, and the terrain sloped upward.

  “Jar, you know I love the woods and all, but can you tell me where we’re going? We’re getting pretty deep into the trees, and I’m having a hard time seeing it’s so dark.”

  “A little farther. Hang on to me,” he said, pulling her closer. “Just up ahead, you’ll see.”

  They came to the edge of a pond. The water looked black in the darkness, but beyond was another clearing. In the middle was a life-size replica of a Lincoln Logs toy cabin. It was perfect, with paned glass windows and a wraparound porch, complete with flowered window boxes and porch swing.

  “Come on,” Jared said, pulling her along the edge of the water. He was so excited she half expected him to dive into the pond and swim across rather than wait to go around.

  Smoke floated from the chimney, and a single light shined through the front window. “Who lives here?” she asked. “It’s late, Jared. Is someone expecting us?” Tanya wondered if the different rules he mentioned included friends dropping by at all hours.

  They walked up the stairs and onto the porch, and Jared held open the screen door. “Ladies first.”

  She walked into the foyer and looked around. The floor was a beautiful red oak that spread from the hallway into each of the rooms. It was stained a warm, natural shade, and the same warmth picked up in the colors of the furniture and walls. A fire burned in the s
tone fireplace, and a small table set for two was situated in front of the hearth.

  “Whose place is this?” she asked, walking into the living room and looking around.

  “It’s mine.” He grinned. “I set this up for us earlier. I wanted to show it to you after the meeting. Do you like it?”

  She took in the rustic décor and the comfortable furniture. Her eyes caught all the small attention to detail that made the room homey, yet beautiful. She ran her hand over the smooth, polished wood of an antique rocking chair, and then looked back at Jared. “It’s beautiful.”

  Jared poured her a glass of champagne and handed it to her. “I wanted tonight to be special.”

  “Why? Following Uncle Gregory’s orders and trying to finesse me?” she teased. “Overnight, I went from making a case to defend my life, to secret weapon. Shifters are a capricious lot. Or maybe you’re just mercenary.”

  “We can leave now, if that’s what you think,” he answered, a little put off.

  She shook her head, quickly. “I’m just kidding, Jarod. It’s ironic, that’s all. Still, in my line of work I meet plenty of misogynistic assholes, but I can’t believe your own uncle suggested seducing me into taking one for the team.”

  “He’s a piece of work. Don’t let him or anyone else rent space in your head. I don’t want to talk about my uncle, or the council, or anything having to do with the meeting. I just want to be with you. Alone. No interruptions. No one trying to kill us. No family teasing us. No duty being thrown at us—just us.”

  Tanya put down her glass and stepped into his arms. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. His hands fisted the back of her blouse and his mouth took hers. Their tongues sparred and teased until Tanya stepped back breathless.

  “I don’t suppose there’s a bedroom anywhere close by?” she asked, catching her breath.

  Not taking his eyes from hers, he scooped her up and carried her across the living room toward a carved wooden door. Pushing the door open with his shoulder, he carried her into a large bedroom complete with another low burning fire warming the hearth.