by Jayne Hawke
“My alpha, my life bond, has been taken by the Apophis witch.”
She bared her teeth.
“That witch dared come here and tried to take some of my wolves. We fought him off as well as we could, but he claimed the life of two of my younger packmates. What do you need of us?”
“We are gathering as many allies as we can to get Cole back and kill the witch.”
She held out her hand.
“I am Erin, alpha of the Blue Dagger pack, and you have our teeth and claws at your disposal.”
I shook her hand and grinned. We were one step closer.
“What can you tell us about the Apophis witch? We haven’t yet found where he’s doing the ritual.”
“We believe he’s holed up in an old horse barn about forty minutes from here. There has been a lot of weird activity there, and it sits outside of any garou territory.”
That sounded wrong. Garou territories traditionally butted up against each other.
“A witch was involved. Perhaps a Fenris witch,” Erin spat.
Fenris was thought of as the garou god, not a witch god. It felt like a great betrayal to have Fenris witches turning against us.
“Come. Meet my pack,” Erin said as she stepped aside.
I followed her into the bright and airy house. Every wall was covered in personal touches, photos, paintings, and trinkets that looked as though they’d come from all around the world. I almost paused to get a closer look at a small knife, but we had things to be doing.
The guards followed behind us in their human form. We stepped into a large living room that comfortably housed four five-seater couches, each turned to look at a TV screen as big as I was. Armchairs were scattered in the spaces between, along with beanbags and huge cushions. Everything felt very lived in. I wanted that for my home.
Some fifteen or so garou gathered in the room around us. The youngest looked to be my age, and the oldest in his early forties, which could really have been his seventies given how garou aged.
“This is Rosalyn. She is our guardian, and she has summoned us to fight at her side. Together we will take down the Apophis witch.”
A roar went through the room, filling the space with electricity. Each of the wolves was muscular and taller than me, but they kept their eyes low and showed deep respect. A respect that I felt I needed to earn.
“What’s the plan?” Erin asked.
I couldn’t really admit that I didn’t have one yet.
“We understand that there are many obstacles in our way. The witch has gathered a lot of allies. We need to remove them from our path so we can take down the witch before his big ritual.”
“Ritual?” the beta asked.
He was a striking man in his late twenties with dark blond hair and brilliant green eyes. There was a presence about him, a confidence borne of experience.
“Yes. The witch is doing a ritual to become the avatar of Apophis.”
Growls went around the room.
“This will not happen,” Erin snarled.
“No. It won’t. We need you to help ensure that the witch’s allies don’t get between us and the witch. There are councilmen among that count.”
Erin nodded.
“Consider it done.”
The beta looked between Erin and me. Erin gave a small nod.
“I request to fight at your side, and take down the witch,” the beta said.
“His brother was killed.”
He was a powerful wolf and we could use all the help we could get.
“Come with me,” I said.
He lifted his eyes and grinned at me.
“I’m Rowan.”
“I’ll return him to you in the state he leaves this house,” I said to Erin.
I had no idea if that was a promise I could keep, but I was going to try.
19
Rowan was a far more relaxed garou than I’d grown used to. I realised that Cole was all I’d really known. I’d assumed that they were all growly, brooding types. Rowan sat next to me with a smile on his face as he sang along to a classic rock song. He was a breath of fresh air that I desperately needed.
“How many are in your pack?” he asked as we left his territory.
“Only four.”
He nodded.
“I heard about the tragedy of the Loxwood pack. I’m glad to see Cole found a good partner.”
Pride flushed within me, making my cheeks burn. It was quite an honour to have a born garou compliment me in such a way.
“You’ve fought this witch before?”
I had, and I remembered it all too well. The darkness and blood. Briar’s form lying there too still while I made the decision I’d never regretted. Twenty years off my life to save hers was a decision I never needed to think about.
“Yes. I scarred him, but he transported or something before I could kill him.”
I still didn’t know how he did that, and it was very inconvenient.
Rowan nodded and looked away.
“He came to our pack looking for blood and pets. We refused to give him either. Never before have I seen a witch like him. We have fought witches before, but they were cubs compared to him.”
What was with witches wanting garou as pets? That was something I was going to have to look into putting an end to. It was a horrifying practice.
“We have two witches on our side. They’ll give us an advantage.”
I wasn’t sure how much of an advantage Sky would provide, but I believed in her. She was a skilled fighter without her magic.
Rowan tensed.
“Garou don’t work with witches.”
There it was, the familiar prejudice that ran through the entire supernatural community. I wasn’t without prejudice, of course. Fae were awful beings not worth trusting. Most witches weren’t much better, but I tried to give them a chance at least.
“I do,” I growled.
“My apologies.”
Rowan looked away, but some of the tension remained. He wasn’t happy about my decision, but he had no choice but to accept it.
“They are good people. Amy is a Ma’at witch; I’m coming to think of her as pack. You’ll never meet a more beautiful soul. She’s bright, bubbly, and gives her all for those she loves. Sky is a Morrigan witch, a fierce fighter who would make any garou proud.”
Rowan nodded, still stiff and unconvinced.
“I can see why you fight with them.”
We came to a stop at a set of traffic lights, and I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. This was a far bigger fight than we had ever expected. I hoped I wasn’t taking my people into something we couldn’t win.
“We will need magic of our own to defeat this witch,” Rowan said.
“I’m sure Amy and Sky will help us with that.”
They were more than my friends. The idea that they wouldn’t join our fight didn’t even enter into my mind. Just as I would offer my teeth and claws to aid in any fight they might have.
“You understand that this is far more than a fight against the Apophis witch...? You’re stirring up the entire supernatural community.”
I swallowed and pressed the gas a little harder than I intended. My focus had been almost entirely on Cole; I hadn’t allowed myself to think about the larger picture.
“There are delicate and dangerous politics in play here. You will need to rebuild the council once you’re done.”
Well, that sounded like a heap of fun right there. I didn’t want to get dragged into politics. I was a dumb merc. I wanted to protect my people without the hassle of paperwork.
“I’m sure Cole will be happy to help with that. As a guardian, you will need to deal with the witches and fae, though. There will be the coven who’ll be destroyed during this fight, and the fact of the Fenris witches existing.”
I frowned at Rowan.
He gave me a gentle smile.
“Fenris witches are a point of contention. The witches believe that they can form around any god. There is a lot
of argument over Fenris’ status as a god, and the fact that he is a wolf. Many garou, my pack included, feel that, as he’s a wolf, the witches have no right to him and what he offers.”
I could feel a headache coming on. It had seemed like a simple hack-and-slash job, and instead I was getting into something huge and complicated. I could feel the paperwork piling up as we spoke.
“I’m sure Cole will help you with these things.”
I looked at him through the corner of my eye.
“And, of course, you and your pack would be very happy to help, too. I’m sure it would elevate your standing,” I said with a smile.
Rowan spread his hands.
“Of course. The packs leading our people have been stagnant for too long. This is an ideal opportunity for a guardian to step in and set that right.”
I cursed Valentin out. The more I learned about this guardian thing, the more I hated him.
“We can discuss that once the witch has been killed.”
“I wouldn’t dare push you into anything.”
I made a non-committal noise.
He seemed like a nice guy, but he clearly had everything figured out. I was going to need Cole to guide me through this ridiculous minefield I was getting into.
20
Amy’s eyes lit up when she looked Rowan up and down.
“And who is this?” she asked.
Rowan bowed low and extended his hand with a cheeky grin on his face.
“Rowan, ma’am.”
“He’s the beta of the Blue Dagger pack here to help us fight the Apophis witch. Do we have any other allies?”
“No.”
“None?”
“No one would talk to me.”
“Or me,” Sky added.
“Don’t worry. We’re preparing some weapons to help us kick ass,” Amy said with a big fake smile.
“We don’t need more than we have. My pack is removing the problem of the council and the Fenris witches,” Rowan said, unable to take his eyes off Amy.
“Where are my manners?” Amy extended her hand to Rowan. “Amy. Resident Ma’at witch.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Rowan said as he took her hand.
So much for garou and witches not supposed to work together.
“You have your guardian dagger, which we know can harm the Apophis witch. Keep that on you. We’re working on enchanting some more pointy objects for the rest of us, and Amy has a few bombs we can take along too. This is not going to be easy, but we can do it,” Sky said.
“Of course we can. We’re going to show the world that garou are beings to be feared, not worthless pets,” I said with far more confidence than I felt.
The others cheered. It felt fake, but we were all trying.
“So, what do you need me to do?”
“I need some of your blood,” Amy said brightly.
“How much?”
I’d do whatever it took.
“Half a cup or so. Your guardian magic works differently to witch magic; we can bend it to help us harm the Apophis witch. I don’t know if it’ll make these blades as effective as your guardian blade, but it’ll give us something.”
I held my forearm out for Amy.
She pierced my skin with a sharp knife, and I looked away, unable to watch my blood drip into a cup below. It was over in a minute or so, and my body healed without any apparent issue.
Briar had run out of the room. I wasn’t sure if she was suddenly squeamish or if there was some other reason.
“How can I help?” Rowan asked as he sat down at the kitchen table.
“You can help Rosalyn plan the tactics for our approach to this barn,” Sky said.
I wrinkled my nose. Tactics weren’t taught in baking school.
“My pack is focusing on the councilmen, which will give us a lot of breathing room. The last I heard, Erin had sent out two enforcers to keep councilman Koda busy. I believe they’re just meant to badger him with questions he has to answer as a representative. We don’t want to draw in a war. He’s the head of the bears, so we shouldn’t need to worry about bears getting in our way. The garou are at your disposal, and they’re working on the witch contingent. We’re free to focus entirely on the actual ritual.”
I nodded as though that made any of this any easier.
“So, Liam will be in the barn ready to do his ritual. He’ll have Natasha and Cole nearby,” I said.
Rowan nodded distractedly and watched as Amy began mixing some of my blood with some dried herbs.
“What happened to garou and witches don’t work together?” I teased.
“A wolf knows when they’ve found their match,” Rowan said with a smile.
I wondered if Amy knew what she was getting herself into.
“What would Sam and Dean do?” I asked myself.
Rowan looked at me with a smirk.
“You’re referring to Supernatural for tactical advice?”
I shrugged.
“It’s the best I have.”
“Sam and Dean would scope the place out then set mines or other traps around the perimeter so there was only one entrance and exit that they could control,” Rowan said.
“I’m not sure if we have time to scope the place out. We can check the maps online.”
“I think you’re right, and that’ll have to do. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your pack?”
“Sky’s a Morrigan witch. Amy’s a Ma’at witch. Adam and Briar are young, but they have experience. They’re scrappers.”
Rowan nodded.
“So Sky is good with swords and curse breaking. Amy can screw with people’s life force, and the younger ones are good distractions?”
“Sure, that sounds good,” I said.
“Amy and I will control the second entrance and exit. I’m a strong and experienced fighter. We can keep that point blocked. Keep Adam and Briar to watch your flanks and catch any who get around you. You focus on the Apophis witch; your guardian magic will give you an advantage over the rest of us. Then let Amy deal with the rest of them.”
It sounded so simple when he put it like that.
“We’re making mines we can lay down too,” Amy said.
Rowan beamed at her.
“Do wolves normally fall as hard and fast as you?”
“Not every one, no. Some are jaded and hide from the bond. I’m far more open to the potential. A life bond is your other half, you’re stronger and happier together.”
“I am not jaded.”
He made a non-committal noise.
“Cole might be a bit, though.”
“Of course. It’s all on Cole,” Rowan said with a smirk.
I poked him in the ribs.
“Anything I should know about this witch or fighting tactics, as you’re apparently the expert?”
“If you can take his head off, do it. Otherwise you need to slit him from navel to sternum and hack him into small bits before you burn him.”
“How delightful,” I said sarcastically.
Rowan shrugged.
“We have the tactics pinned down. I’m going to help Amy.”
I rolled my eyes.
It wasn’t long before we were all crowded around the kitchen table helping the witches put together their potions and bombs. Amy had me grinding up herbs with a distinct smell of death to them. Briar was carefully mixing a bright purple potion in an honest-to-the-gods cauldron. I didn’t think they really existed these days. Rowan had been put to good use helping Sky engrave some symbols onto every sharp object we’d been able to lay our hands on.
There was a growing feeling of confidence spreading through the group. It had been a long few days, but we were really doing this. Our weapons were almost prepared; we had a location. Soon this would all be over, and we could return to normal pack life.
21
I placed the last of my knives into its sheath and double-checked everything. The guardian dagger was in my favourite hip sheath. I had four more knives on my legs,
two on my thighs, two in my boots. Sky had handed me more knives for my lower back, and Amy had loaded me down with bright purple orbs that fluttered in the light.
“Aim for their heads when you throw them,” Amy reminded me for the fifth time.
“Got it. Head.”
Adam and Briar had insisted on shifting. They felt far more confident fighting in their wolf forms. Amy had given them a pair of knives that would shift with them should their fangs and claws fail them.
I looked around the small pack and felt as though I was supposed to give a rousing speech or something.
“This is our chance to show the world what the garou are capable of. Maybe it will even forge a new era of alliance between witches and garou,” I said.
“Screw the fae!” Briar added.
Everyone laughed and turned towards the door. Amy triple-checked that everyone had all of the weapons and bombs they were supposed to.
“I’ll ride with Amy,” Rowan said firmly.
“Of course you will,” Sky said sweetly.
I bit back a laugh and headed out to the Mustang. We were going into battle. I wasn’t going to do that but in my old warhorse.
Sky dug her heels in and looked pointedly between my Mustang and her far more modern, reliable car. I got into the Mustang and started the deep growly engine before I petted the dash.
“Don’t worry old girl. I know you’re my warhorse,” I said in soothing tones.
Adam and Briar had climbed into the back. They knew better than to try and argue at a time like this.
Sky finally huffed and relented. She buckled up her seatbelt and held onto the door as though it was her only salvation. I turned some rousing rock up nice and loud and followed Amy’s car down the driveway. This was it. We were going to get Cole back and save the day.
22
“Do not try and be the heroes and rush forward,” Sky reminded the siblings.
“We know,” Briar said grumpily.
“We need you to watch our backs,” I reminded them.
“It’s the most important job,” Adam said as he elbowed Briar in the ribs.
“Exactly. We need to be able to focus on the Apophis witch. It’ll all be over if someone gets us from behind,” I said.