Chapter 16 - Body
Waking up with Amanda in my arms feels like heaven, a warm, peaceful world denied to me for too long. For so many years, I thought she was lost to me forever. Then, after finding her again, I was convinced I did not deserve her trust.
I still don’t.
I pull her closer to me, and she sighs, a sound of pure contentment. I want to get up and make her some breakfast, but at the same time, I’d never cut this moment short.
Taking a deep breath of her scent, I close my eyes and immerse myself in memories from last night. Specific details are hazy so soon after waking up, but the feelings and sensations are crystal-clear.
The silken touch of her hand, the warmth of her skin, and the power of her passion… it all blew me away. When I knew her before, she was just a girl. Now, she’s a woman. Strong, independent, and fully in control of who she is and what she wants.
I hear a faint buzz and realize it must be my phone, which is probably still in my pants pocket somewhere on the floor. We moved from the kitchen to the bedroom at some point, and we were so distracted by each other, I’m amazed my pants made the trip.
It buzzes again, and I start to get a bad feeling. As my mind fully wakes up, details from last night come back to me, and anxiety starts to creep in, ruining my good mood.
I cuddle into Amanda, burying my face in her hair. The movement presses on my hurt ribs, and they ache. They’re almost healed, but it’s a sharp reminder of what went down last night.
Bringing the witches into our pack could mean the end of the pack alliance. Are we ready for this?
I can’t let Amanda go. That’s not even a question. But losing the stability we’ve built over the last few years would be extremely difficult. It could mean another pack war, which would be devastating on many levels. All the relationships we’ve built so far would be broken—both the marriages and the friendships of our young wolves, not to mention the elders. We’d have to go back to living on alert, running patrols, the threat of danger always hanging right over our heads.
The wolf who threatened Amanda last night specifically said Decker wanted our territory, and we can’t take that lightly.
Amanda moves in my arms, rolling onto her back. I watch her wake, loving the soft, sweet smile on her face as her eyes flicker open.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, yourself. Are you watching me sleep?”
“I sure am.”
“Not creepy at all.”
“No,” I mutter, leaning in for a kiss. “Not at all.”
“What time is it?” she mumbles. “I really don’t want to get up.”
“I’ll have to check. I think my phone has been buzzing, so I should take a look.”
“Hmm. Hopefully, nothing too catastrophic.”
I don’t answer, because that’s exactly what I’m afraid of. I reach over and fumble across the floor, almost falling out of bed as I grab my phone.
“Messages from Bae,” I say with a sigh. “There’s a meeting at Shelley’s.”
“Should I come?”
“Definitely. You’re still head witch, and we’ll need you.”
Amanda nods, a faraway look in her eyes. It feels like in the last few moments, she’s traveled miles away from me, even though she’s still sitting by my side.
“I’ll get ready,” she says, getting up and turning her back on me. I have a terrible feeling that something has just gone horrifically wrong, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out what that might be.
Don’t worry about it too much. This is a stressful situation. She’s allowed to process it.
I tell myself this over and over as I get dressed, but I can’t make myself believe it. She barely speaks to me, and when I reach for her hand, she pulls away and shakes her head.
When we get to Shelley’s, the place still looks like a war zone. The parking lot and nearby gardens are littered with broken tables and chairs, as well as shattered glass bottles and other random weapons. I was so injured last night, I hadn’t really noticed, but it looks like the fight was a lot worse than I thought.
The back room of Shelley’s is crowded with witches and wolves from every pack. Bae is sitting at the long table with Gina beside him, and Jack, Rider, and Peter sit across the other side. I have a look around the room and see a small group of wild wolves, some from New Hope and a fair share from Silver Meadows. In the back corner are a few witches with wolves I don’t immediately recognize.
“Thanks for coming, Body,” Bae says. “I think we’re all here now, and we need to talk about the incident last night.”
Bailey looks worn, as if he’s been up all night. The others don’t look much better, but it appears all of us have recovered from our injuries. He looks around the room, waiting to see if anyone wants to speak. When no one does, he sighs, a sound somewhere between frustration and regret.
“I called this meeting so that all of us can have our say on what happened, and the direction we want to take in the future,” Bae begins. “We can’t have any more violence. I want to preserve my alliance with Decker, but if he insists on fighting, then I will have no choice but to respond in kind.”
“He’s not happy,” says one of the guys up the back. He’s holding the hand of one of the witches. She snuggles close to him, stroking his arm.
“We want the alliance to survive,” the witch says. “It’s important for us to mingle with the wolves and make connections—and find mates.”
“Zoe,” Amanda says to her, “are you saying you’ve found a relationship already?”
“It’s none of your business,” growls the wolf, tightening his grip on Zoe.
“No need to get defensive, Grant,” one of his friends mutters.
“Decker practically just ran us out of town,” Grant shoots back. “And as yet, we have no guarantee of safety here. So I’ll choose what I want to share, thanks.”
Bae waves his hands. “I want to make it clear that any wolf, from either pack, who asks for sanctuary here shall find it. We won’t turn on anyone who is genuinely seeking refuge, especially if it’s because they don’t support war.”
“I don’t know if I support war,” Kelta says. “But I’m not sure I support peace, either.”
“Speak plainly, Kelta,” Bae commands. “Now is not the time for you to practice your usual stoicism. You are part of my pack, and I command you to speak.”
“We were fringe members of your pack for years!” she snaps. “Silver Meadows practically forgot about us until you needed our skills—and it was because of conflict with other packs.”
“I disagree with a lot of the sentiment there,” Bae replies, “but I can understand why you feel that way. Please tell us your intentions for the future—if you plan to move on or not.”
Kelta shoots a glance at the witches, her face twisted in obvious disgust. “I will need to meet with our elders, but I know that most of them feel it is a good thing that witches were driven out years ago. They won’t support marriages between wolves and witches. The ancient tradition of being enspelled against our will is too well-remembered.”
“Some of us don’t believe that,” Nate steps forward to stand beside his sister. “The younger generation is open to relationships with witches, in whatever form they take. Many of us also want to come into town and learn your ways.”
Kelta glares at him. “I’ll be returning to the mountain tonight,” she hisses. “Do not come with me.”
“Are you afraid of any voice that opposes yours?” Nate shoots back. “Have you become so spineless?”
Kelta bares her teeth and growls. The sound comes from deep in her chest and echoes around the room.
“Enough!” Bae shouts. “Stop it, both of you. Kelta, with all due respect, I excuse you from this meeting. Return to me when you have word of your intentions.”
“As you wish, Alpha,” she says harshly. She gives a sarcastic bow and strides out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
“It could get really messy if they ally with Decker,” Jack mutters.
Bae nods in agreement. “Body, I’d like you to come forward,” he says, waving me towards the table.
I take Amanda’s hand, linking my fingers through hers and bringing her with me. When I look over at her, she has a worried expression, but she comes with me and even gives me a hard squeeze with her hand.
That’s a good sign.
“Tell us, Body,” Bae says. “Has your marriage to Amanda affected your powers?”
“It sure has,” I answer confidently. “My wolf form is bigger, stronger, and more powerful. I have full command of my instincts and higher powers even when I’m in human shape. Being with Amanda has enhanced my powers, not drained them.”
“I can state the same,” Peter says. “Even initially, when I fought the bond, I could feel my wolf becoming more powerful. Furthermore, my wolf made it absolutely clear that Lucy is the only mate for us, and if we lost her, we would definitely dwindle in power.”
A murmur ripples through the crowd. Everyone looks excited by this news, but the wolves from Decker pack are the most eager.
“I told you, Steve!” Grant declares, nudging one of his friends. “I can feel it already, just being close to Zoe.”
“I’m not convinced,” Steve answers skeptically. “That’s only two matches, and it remains to be seen if the effect is permanent.”
“Ah, excuse me?” Peter waves his hand. “I’ve been married to a witch for over a year, and we have a kid. I think if she was trying to siphon my powers, I’d know about it by now.”
Steve steps back, hiding behind his friends. Zoe steps forward, still holding Grant’s hand.
“It’s true that marrying wolves brings our powers back,” she says, “but we could never force anyone into the mate bond. It might have been a thing in the past, but it definitely isn’t now. Our coven was built on better sentiment than that. We don’t hurt anyone. Right, Amanda?”
“Right,” she agrees. “I would never perform an entrapment spell like that. None of us would.”
“Lucy did,” someone pipes up. In the thick of the crowd, it’s impossible to tell who it was.
“I did,” Lucy admits. “But I did not send out a spell with the intention to enchant. Peter would not have been touched by it if he wasn’t my true mate. The spell could only call out to love.”
There is more muttering around the room. Rider stands up and waves his hands for attention.
“New Hope is behind the witches completely,” he announces. “We want them accepted into the main pack. As far as we’re concerned, it’s all one pack, and the witches are part of it.”
“I stand with you, and Bae,” Nate says. “If it means banishment from my clan, so be it.”
“I know some in Silverton side with us,” Grant says, “but most are with Decker. I will return this afternoon to make some inquiries, and I’ll come back to let you know what has been decided.”
“Good,” Bae says. “I want a gathering tonight, a place where everyone who supports the alliance can mingle. We can’t solidify as a group unless we close the barriers between us. There is fear and distrust, but it can be overcome. I fully believe that we just have to work for it.”
“Here, here,” Rider agrees. “Anyone with any arguments, speak now. Otherwise, prepare to meet this afternoon. We’ll text you when and where.”
Mutters in the crowd get louder, but at least it doesn’t sound like anyone is angry. Amanda squeezes my hand, and I look down at her, feeling an ache in my chest that throbs like an open wound.
All I’ve ever wanted is to have her back in my arms, but is it going to cost me my pack?