21. Rip
Chapter 21
Rip
“ T hey’re getting closer, my King. Just yesterday we had a spotting of another Nephilim. That’s four, maybe five so far. And if they are truly working with the rogues, it won’t be long until another attack on our town,” an alpha by the name of Remy says.
“It might be time to call in the dragons, sir,” a female alpha suggests.
I know they’re right, but I fucking hate that it’s come to this. I trust Malix and his dragons, but I’m uneasy with strangers in our village. I don’t believe Malix would ever betray me, but there is that small inkling of doubt I can’t simply ignore.
“Stay on alert. Summoning the dragons is our last choice. For now, we keep patrolling and taking down rogues as we see them.” My decision isn’t popular. I can see the barely concealed anger in all of my guards' faces. But I fear calling the dragons will only worsen our situation before they get here, and I can’t spare many more—or any—wolves.
“King Alpha, if I may—” Remy starts but doesn’t get to finish. The door to my study slams open, and Tallie stands there, eyes wide and hair a mess.
Instantly, I’m out of my chair. My stomach drops as I think the worst has happened. Where’s Hettie? Is she okay? Did Michael attack? As soon as the fear comes, it leaves the moment I see Hettie come up behind Tallie with Thorne at her heels.
“Alpha, you’re going to want to hear this,” Thorne says. Tallie isn’t one to interrupt, and if Thorne didn’t stop her, I know whatever it is must be important.
“Leave us,” I tell the room of mostly alphas. Immediately, the guards stand and file out. A few linger in hopes to hear what news the Luna, my cousin, and my second have brought, but Thorne growls. It effectively gets the stragglers to leave.
“What is going on?” The words are barely out of my mouth before Thorne tosses something on the table.
It takes my brain a moment to register what I’m seeing.
Flowers.
Purple flowers.
“Wolfsbane?” Incredulity laces my words. It should have been impossible to find wolfsbane. My men have scoured the entire forest, hoping to find the plant. Tallie has made maps hoping to discover something we’ve missed, but each search has proven fruitless.
Michael has blocked our access to their main growing ground of wolfsbane. The only way the wolfsbane in Thorne’s hand could have been procured is if someone went into Michael’s territory, risking their own life. The blooming excitement I felt only moments ago extinguishes, replaced with anger.
“Where was this found? Who journeyed past our protective borders into Michael’s rogue lands? ”
“No one,” Tallie says, bouncing on the balls of her feet. She’s like a mouse who finally found her cheese. She flashes me a toothy smile. “Hettie found it and?—”
“You let my mate put herself in danger?” I growl, my attention flickering to Hettie, standing behind Tallie with Grass at her feet. I catch the eye roll Hettie gives me, completely diminishing the danger she was in.
“Rip, listen,” Thorne urges. “You know we would never do anything to put Hettie in danger. You need to listen to what happened.”
My instinct is to snap at him. Berate Thorne for going along with whatever plan they concocted, but when it comes to Hettie, I can’t trust my rational thinking because it doesn’t exist.
So, I take a deep breath, trying to calm the raging fire within me, and nod once at Tallie to continue.
“Hettie led us straight to the wolfsbane. She asked us why the wind was so loud, but neither Thorne nor I could hear anything, so I asked Hettie to follow the sound. She followed the call and led us straight to a cave with wolfsbane,” Tallie says.
“In a place we’ve never seen before,” Thorne adds.
“Because we were never meant to find it. It was always meant to be Hettie! That’s why Ender brought her to you. She hears the call. Who knows what else this could mean for us,” Tallie exclaims.
Hettie shifts, clearly uncomfortable with my cousin’s praise.
“Is that true, mate?” I ask, my voice gentle, full of awe. The woman—no, the Luna of our legends—standing in front of me can save our pack from this curse. There’s not nearly enough wolfsbane to cure every cursed wolf, but it’s a start. One that will only continue to grow as Hettie is called to the cure.
“I mean, yeah?” She shrugs. “I don’t really understand it. I did little besides getting lucky and lead Thorne and Tallie to a cave that just so happened to have wolfsbane.”
“Not true, Luna. Do you know how many times I’ve led guards past that hidden cave, searching for any signs of wolfsbane?” Thorne asks. Hettie just shrugs. “More times than I can count. That’s how many. In none of those trips did we ever discover what you found, and we’ve searched that area inside and out.”
“So, what? The wolfsbane just magically appeared?” Hettie asks in disbelief. “That’s not how things work.”
“Maybe not back in Grym Hollow, but here, magic thrives.” I gently push past my cousin, who happily steps aside and into Thorne’s arms. Hettie tracks me with her eyes, dipping her head back once I’m in front of her.
She’s so damn short. So fucking breakable. But the power this woman holds makes her appear larger than life.
And she’s all mine.
“You found wolfsbane because it wanted you to find it,” I say, admiration lacing my words.
“You speak of it like it’s a living entity.” She blushes.
“Isn’t it, though? You live in a world of supernatural beings. Of magic and curses. Everything here is alive in some way, and you are the person it calls to. That’s your magic.”
Hettie doesn’t look fully convinced, but I don’t need her to be. I’ll make sure she understands how truly important her role is here. “You are the thing of legends, Hettie. I now understand why Michael and the Nephilim would want you.”
“Why?” She sucks in a breath as I press closer, not caring that we aren’t alone. Tallie giggles softly, and Thorne whispers something to her, but I ignore them.
“Because you have the power to sway a war in your favor. You just don’t realize it yet.”
Hettie’s lips form a cute O, but I don’t give her a chance to respond. My lips are on hers, kissing her deeply. I try to convey my gratitude this way because words will not suffice.
Hettie’s body melds to mine. I feel every curve and slope of her body, wishing we were alone. With great reluctance, I break the kiss, and Hettie whimpers. “Not fair,” she murmurs.
A low laugh emanates from my chest. “So needy, Dove.”
Hettie just shrugs, not ashamed of her need. Good. Maybe it makes me a cocky bastard, but I love how she wants me and isn’t afraid to admit it.
“Rip,” Thorne’s voice breaks through the lust fog in my brain. I reluctantly tear my gaze away from Hettie, though I nearly lose all sense of control when she takes my hand.
Fuck, this feels so right.
“Tallie and I will take this to Lucielle, so she can create the tonics. Do you want me to tell her how we found it if she asks?” he inquires.
“Yes,” I say immediately. “They should know who is responsible for their healing.”
“But…” Hettie cuts in, all heads swiveling in her direction. “What if this was a one-time thing, and I can’t do it again?”
Tallie shakes her head, adamant in her belief in her Luna. It makes me love my cousin a little more. “You will. This wasn’t a fluke. You will be called to find more soon. We just need to be patient.”
Hettie looks ready to argue but changes her mind and nods. “Okay…if you believe this can happen again, I don’t see the need to keep it from people like Lucielle.”
“Do you want to join us?” Tallie asks with a knowing smile. “Or do you have…other matters to attend to?”
“I’m afraid we will both be extremely busy.” I smirk, squeezing Hettie’s hand. I have a lot of thanking Hettie to do, but I need her alone.
Tallie hugs Hettie, and Thorne nods in my direction before they take their leave.
And finally, I’m blissfully and completely alone with my girl.