Lunar wolves: The chase (Book 2) - Complete

Chapter 5 - Setting boundaries ...

Radagast

I walked past the spot where our bedroom door used. Why did I have Willow close it all up? At least if it was still open, I would be able to go inside and lay on the bed, smelling her perfume on her pillow. Images of her falling backward, life draining from her eyes in slow motion, haunting me each night when I fell asleep.

It’s only been a month… it’s been a long month. Touching the wall, I wondered if I would be able to feel the door still. How did they close up the entrance? Did they leave the door behind? I asked them to, I hoped they did.

After all, it was the only white door in the entire castle. Turning my back against the wall, I imagined what she would look like if she were still alive. I bet she would be absolutely radiant, pregnant. Making everyone around her fall in love with her, but fierce when it came to the little one.

She would be the best mother. Teaching our son values in life that would have made him an honourable man. I turned back to the wall, feeling the roughness of the wallpaper underneath my fingertips. Since her death, my magic has been slowly draining out of me, almost as if it was leaking through the hole in my heart.

Willow sustained me just enough to get through each day. But I would soon need more if I was to save what I had left. I had a company to get back on track and responsibilities in the council. I made my way to my rooms to clean up as Willow told me to do.

I knew tonight was an important part of what needed to get done for us to catch her sisters. I couldn’t f@ck that up! Looking at myself in the bathroom mirror, I saw someone I hated. Someone I would hate for as long as I lived, but the same someone needed to pick myself up and be a man…

Even if it was just for a couple of hours tonight. Just so I could get my jewels. So, I may have them in my dungeons to feed off their energy each day.

Willow

“Your Grace! I hope you had a lovely rest.” I hooked my arm into his for a private little conversation I wished to share with him before dinner.

“Yes, I did indeed. I was simply looking forward to seeing your lovely face again this evening.” He smiled. I could see why Radagast would feel threatened, but all I saw was an older man being nice.

“Ah, you flatter me. Shall we take a walk to the terrace? Let me show you the beautiful garden.” I noted Radagast walking into the dining room, but his attention was immediately distracted by one of the younger council members, as per my request.

“I mean no offense, your Grace, but it seems you have taken a liking to me?” I frowned. I didn’t think he was interested in me in any way, but I had to set things straight before they got out of hand.

“Oh, is it that obvious? Ah, who am I kidding? You might think me silly and old man like me, yearning for a young woman like you, but I’m sure you will grant me some favours before I leave. After all, we are here for your master.” He smiled, turning his gaze from the gardens, inside to look in Radagast’s direction.

“Unfortunately, your Grace, I fear, you may have been misinformed about my station. I am Mr. Silver-fox’s official mistress. I have been since before my sister’s death.” I was shocked at his bluntness, but I already knew how to handle it.

“Oh my!” He immediately let go of my hand, letting my arm slide out of his elbow. The two servant girls had been beautifully dressed up in evening gowns and were waiting nearby for me to call them. I waved my hand to show them to come closer.

“I do however, have a surprise for you. I do hope you like it. I chose two of my best girls to be your companions while you stay here. They are both very excited about keeping you company.” The Councillor blushed blood-red, clearing his throat, while the girls were standing around, not sure what to do.

“Dear Miss Willow, I do appreciate your offer very much. I can see that you got into a lot of trouble. A lot of trouble indeed, to give me such fine gifts. But a man of my station cannot be seen partaking in such frivolity.” Ah, so it was okay to speak to me that way…

“Are you sure? I can have them come to your chambers later tonight. It will be very discreet. Nobody will even know.” I smiled at the other guests as if we were discussing the weather. He started fidgeting, looking around his pockets for something.

Finally, he cleared his throat, mumbling something about looking for something to drink and quickly made his escape.

“Now girls. Let me teach you a couple of life lessons. Number one, never insult the hand that feeds you. Number two, never ever let a man or woman make you feel like a piece of property to be bought, sold, or used like that! Number three, don’t ever cross me again.” I turned to look both of them in the eyes.

“You are free to enjoy the evening. Who knows, you might even catch a proper husband.” I winked and made my way inside. Yes, they insulted me… But I was all for giving a girl a chance at a better life. Who knows, we might even become best friends one day and have our babies at the same time!

As if! Working the room, greeting guests, and discussing everything from politics to the colour of the curtains, I made my way back to where Radagast was in a serious discussion about the influence our company had on the council.

“Surely our vote will swing it in favour of the council?” I asked when the question of separating the different species into their own separate councils, came up.

“May I remind you, Willow, that it is my company and my vote.” He almost growled at me as if I had overstepped my boundaries. Who did he think had been running the company the past month? Casting the votes, calming the damn board of directors!!!

“I do apologize everyone. I do so much love the man himself, that I sometimes forget my place.” I smiled, but by now, he knew the venom in my voice. Excusing myself from the conversation, I requested the staff that dinner be served. I had had enough of playing hostess when he made it so clear that I was NOT.

Glinda

“Did it hurt?” I frowned.

“Did what hurt?” Tabatha frowned.

“You know… when you fell from heaven… duh… when Willow betrayed us? Did it hurt?” I was standing by the window in her room, looking out at the stars. Just a couple of months ago, there were five of us living in these rooms, and it was always too busy to breathe.

Now it felt so cold and empty that it was just the three of us.

“Yes, it did.” Tabatha looked pained.

“When?” I frowned.

“What do you mean when? You are talking in riddles tonight?” Tabatha sounded frustrated.

“I mean when did you feel her betrayal? Was it before Isobel died? Before the attack? When?” I shrugged, as though she should have been able to read the direction my thoughts were going in.

“What’s with all the questions?” She asked, looking a bit irritated. I joined her sitting on the floor, working on her beaded carpet. She was really good at making things out of nothing. I followed her lead, weaving the beads into the string and tying them up and around to form a circle, growing bigger.

“I’m just curious. I wasn’t allowed to be there. I’m never allowed to be anywhere,” I sighed, and she sat still looking at me, her hands no longer weaving.

“You know that is for your own good. Mommy and daddy would not live with themselves if anything happened to you!” Tabatha frowned at me.

“Yes, yes, I heard it all this afternoon already… now answer my question.” I sighed, wishing she would just answer my question and not try to be my parent.

“It happened the moment she fled with him. I guess it was the moment she chose him over us.” She shrugged.

“And now? Does it still hurt?” I studied my sister. Their bond had always fascinated me.

“Not as much anymore. I did an unlinking spell. Because we are magical twins, we are connected in ways no other twins are. I was hoping the unlinking spell would… disconnect us in a way, and things are better now, but it’s not all gone.” Tabatha looked pained again.

“Oh… I wish I had a twin.” I frowned as one of the beads knotted the wrong way.

“What?! Have the two of you running around the house? I would rather die you brat!!” Tabatha laughed, and I dropped the string I was working on and stomped out of her room back to mine.

“Hey! Less noise please! I’m trying to study here!!” Circe shouted. Just for special effects… and because she tried to tell me what to do… I slammed my door extra hard, making the wood around me shudder.

“GIRLS!! DON’T BREAK DOWN MY HOUSE!!” Mom shouted down the passage. Whoops… maybe that was a bit much. Flopping down on my bed, I opened my laptop and carried on reading. Being a wolf was easy. I could literally do that in my sleep.

It was the being a spirit witch part that was tricky. Mom spent time training me, but she believed that each of us should be trained to the limit of our magic at that particular time.

“Practice sweetie, practice makes perfect.” That was mom’s motto. Yes, as a witch, you may have natural talent, but if you didn’t know how, mom believed it didn’t help you much. So, there I was, reading up about being a spirit witch because my mother didn’t want me doing big spells.

There was so much more I could do, if she would just let me! A soft knock on my door made me slam my laptop shut.

“Come in.” I moaned, pretending to be just lounging around on my bed. Completely bored out of my mind.

“Sweetie, I know you are upset with your father and me, but you can’t go around screaming at your sisters and breaking down our home.” Mom walked in looking worried.

“I know, I’m sorry mom,” I pouted. “I’m just soooo bored. It’s such a beautiful night outside. With the moonlight, I would have gotten such perfect pictures, but now I’m stuck here. Inside like those two old maids next door!” Rolling my eyes at them.

“I heard that!” Tabatha shouted from next door.

“You were supposed to!” I shouted back.

“Girls!!” Mom silenced us both, but only for a moment.

“Sorry mom.” I pouted. She pat my back and left the room, softly closing the door behind her.

Frank

“She is still in her room, thank the goddess!” Melissa joined me on the porch.

“Now that’s a first!” I laughed. “I thought for sure she would be out of the house by now.”

“Didn’t the screaming and door slamming tell you anything? They are your daughters after all?” Melissa poked me in the ribs, and I squirmed under the pressure.

“Yes, yes, how can I forget when you remind me each time they get into trouble as if witches never do anything wrong.” I pretended to pout then laughed. We sat outside on the porch, on our favourite swing, looking at the stars.

“What a beautiful night.” I breathed in the fresh mountain air.

“Yes, it is. Stunning enough for Glinda to mention photography. Wait a minute… Check your phone please.” Melissa frowned, and I pulled out my phone and, sure as Santa… there was a message from Gareth. Glinda must have slipped out the window as soon as Melissa left the room.

He was with her while she just absolutely had to take some pictures of some other butterfly that was only out tonight, and it was the only chance she would have in her lifetime… I think he got tired of typing the rest… I knew I wouldn’t have read any further.

“Damn that girl! I am going to have to chain her to the floor!!” I growled and Melissa laughed.

“Thank goodness for your mistrust!! Can you imagine if you didn’t tell Gareth to hang around outside her window?!” Melissa raised an amused brow.

“Yes… I’m going to have to speak to some of the men and advise them about the situation. Just so that the pack doesn’t think he is a peeping tom or something worse!! Why does that girl have to be so damn headstrong?!” I sighed deeply. That girl was going to be the death of me!

“Because she takes after her father. Didn’t you notice that she is the only one who doesn’t listen… even when you use your Alpha tone?” Melissa smiled, and I looked at her, then at the stars, then back at my wife… she was right… I noticed… I was just pretending not to notice, hoping it wasn’t true.

“I still say we chain her to the floor.”