Moonlight Betrayal: A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (The Witch and the Wolf Pack Book 5)

by K. R. Alexander

  After some time, and having placed the first quiche in the oven, turning for the three remaining crusts to fill with ham and cheese—no more broccoli—Andrew looked up.

  “It’s not your fault,” he said.

  “What’s not?”

  “What’s happening around here. The way you’re being treated.”

  “Oh.” I’d forgotten that I’d asked. “Are you sure about that? I’m the one who showed up to help, among many misgivings, and you immediately lost two more members, now four, while I have turned up absolutely no help at all.”

  “It’s not that. Even if some people around here think casters are responsible. It’s you being human in the first place, and a witch, and us giving you the vow.”

  “I thought that too, but why? Why did that scare them? Just because you don’t show the vow to worms?”

  He watched me a moment, looking directly at me this time. Then dropped his gaze to his pie dishes and went on scattering in the ham and cheese to each crust.

  “They think you’ve enchanted us,” he said at last.

  “Excuse me?”

  “They think you’ve cast a spell on us for your own ends because it’s the kind of thing casters would do who disagree with, and sometimes murder, shifters. You already hoodwinked Diana with your charms, then got a second silver to set you up in her home so you could supervise everything that goes on around here.”

  He looked up again. “Wolves have been disappearing for a long time. Whether you’re actually connected in some way to murderers or not, it’s clear you are at least up to no good by seducing away strong young males of the pack who, at a time like this, should be our first line of defense against attack, fighting to protect our females who keep getting murdered. Instead, even though Diana sent you with four, and only for a few days, you’re still here weeks later with five of us offering you the vow like brainwashed drones—and six of us taking off with you at every opportunity and staying away for Suns and Moons at a time. This time, you had the gall to return with injured wolves. Everyone knows that by now. Why? Because you all got into a bind and had to fight your way out? Or because the witch was trying to lead those six she’d ensnared to their deaths, but they’re enchanted not to remember what happened?”

  Andrew started ladling more egg mix while I sat there, just staring.

  “There was plenty of dodgy stuff when we got home yesterday and I talked to the parents about it. We knew everyone got a bit mental over the vow thing. Which … fine. Moon curse them. They’re superstitious gits. It’s no secret most wolves are … nervous about humans. After Rebecca and Darius, though, and us taking off and being gone again, giving them time to brood…”

  He shook his head. “The best thing we can do is keep pushing on, find out what’s happening. Diana is on your side. Atarah also sees clearly. Some of the pack may not like you right now, but too bad. We still respect our silvers. And they’re not the only ones. The parents said there are plenty here cheering us on, talking the others down, holding things together at home while we solve this. Even if it is the … dramatic minority now.”

  He added a dash of parsley and chopped fresh wheatgrass with other herbs to the three ham and cheese quiches, then set the empty serving bowl in the sink, leaned his forearms into the counter, and looked at me.

  “Mum says Diana got word yesterday there have been two more deaths in the Aspen pack and another in France. This all while we were gone—”

  “You’re not telling me there are people here who actually believe I’m the one running around doing the killing? With my troop of trained wolves?”

  Andrew shrugged. “Some who think it’s not beyond the realm of possibility for you to be connected to the killers, even if only by being a caster. And, perhaps, just a couple who might go that far, yes. Majority, though? They just think you’re messing with us, tricking Diana. They want you gone so we can get back to our usual isolationist lives, dealing with humans only to the extent that it is necessary and we can remain hidden. Not opening up our lives.”

  “I shouldn’t be here.” I looked around distractedly, as if to find an escape hatch.

  “No one’s actually going to harm you.” Andrew shook his head again and pushed a hand through his hair. “They’re just scared. They don’t understand magic. They don’t understand what’s happening. They’re watching their friends and family cut down one by one without being able to stop it. And, honestly, they don’t understand humans. We don’t have enough teaching core members to educate our pups and really spend time focusing on strengthening wolf/human relations in this pack so each generation feels more comfortable—more at ease around humans and better able to deal with human situations in work, recreation, interpersonal relationships, anything. We’re trained enough that we can ‘cope’ with humans. If you want to thrive with humans you have to get out and make the effort on your own.

  “Sorry you’re being given grief. You’re probably right that you’d be more comfortable away from the territory right now. I’d arrange a room for you in Brighton or Hove myself, but you’re safer here in the pack than in some random hotel with us having to come back and forth.”

  He stepped away from the counter to move the three ready dishes over beside the oven, checked the one in there, reset the timer for ten more minutes, then set the table for two, including forks, knives, bright yellow napkins, and purple plates.

  “Have a seat, I’ll get you another cup.”

  “What about the others? They’ll be over soon, won’t they?”

  “I assume. But let’s hope not soon enough to spoil our moment.”

  I sat at the round table and Andrew brought the broccoli quiche to the center on potholders, along with another cup of that coffee-like tea for me.

  “Are you all right?” He stopped beside my chair when he set down the mug, watching me. “You’re pale, Cassiopeia. This is just one of those things one grins and bears until one can produce a serial killer for the jury’s inspection.”

  I looked up. “And if we can’t produce any such person?”

  “Well…” He touched my shoulder before moving around the table to sit. “You’re leaving in … what? Ten days, or thereabouts? At which time, we can only hope your nasty, witchy charms on us will break and we shall be free wolves once more.”

  “You think this is funny?”

  Andrew cocked his head. “Don’t you? In a cosmic sort of way? Seeing as how you didn’t want to help at all, but you were kidnapped and dragged here against your will, then helped us because, after treatment like that, you felt sorry for us? And now hear the snarls around you? Yeah … I think that’s kind of funny.”

  Andrew served me a beautiful, thick slice of hot broccoli quiche. Then lifted the pie dish with a towel around it, set the whole thing on top of his dinner plate, and took up his fork.

  And that … did make me laugh.

  Chapter 31

  I was so distracted by Andrew’s answer, I nearly forgot about my other very pressing concern while we still had a few minutes alone.

  He gave me seconds, then did indeed eat the whole remainder of his delicious creation while the three others were in the oven.

  It was getting late enough now that we expected company—Zar at the very least—at any minute.

  I brought the subject around to two mornings ago at The Gables while I sipped my tea after the quiche and Andrew, still sitting opposite me, piled our used dishes all together inside the pie dish.

  “I don’t know what’s going on with Isaac but it started after the altercation with you. Will you please tell me what happened between the two of you?”

  “You mean other than the bugger trying to murder me?”

  “Yes, other than the physical part. Zar said you goaded him. Which in no way is an excuse for what Isaac did to you, but I certainly wish I knew why and what was said. I always thought you and Isaac got along pretty well.”

  Andrew shrugged. “Just because we’re foreigners and worm-lovers? Not much else
in common. No one around here has much in common with that wolf. Even after he gave up being verge to move in with the pack he’s kept himself apart from the rabble.”

  “If he really thinks of you all like that, why would he have moved in? Why not stay in Brighton? But forget that. What about the point? Did you say something to him that’s caused him to start avoiding me worse than Kage is?”

  “Why don’t you ask him?”

  “Is that supposed to be rhetorical? I just said. I can’t. He’s avoiding me.”

  “Send a text, give a ring, whatever. It’s not my business what snowy does.”

  “Unless he’s doing something that is negatively affecting him and other people because of something you said to him.”

  “I don’t control him.”

  “Andrew, that ‘sticks and stones’ saying is bullshit. Most people realize that these days. Words can be devastating, crippling, and healing and transformative. I’m really sorry about what happened between you two. That you were hurt, that Isaac is so upset. But maybe we could talk about it and help the situation instead of pretending nothing happened. Could you please, please tell me what’s going on? What was said?”

  Andrew sat there for a minute, leaned back in his chair, glaring at the dishes in the center of the table.

  At last, “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Try me.”

  “I don’t mean like that. Not because you’re thick. You wouldn’t understand because it was sort of … inside jokes. Had to know context.”

  “Then could you do me the added favor of either taking extra time to explain the finer points, or else abridging it down to a couple basic ones so I can get the gist without all the gory details? Something. Please. This is really important.”

  He pushed a hand through his hair again, crossed his arms, and frowned down at the table.

  “When I came in there—got in bed with you—and he was testy about it, he said… He made references to things that were very … personal to me. About Sarah. Sort of … how would I like it if someone climbed in bed with her. When you were in the shower, I was talking to Zar about what we were supposed to do next without vampires to go on. But I was piqued about Isaac because what he said to me was sterk. When he came in with a tirade about your relationship with me being your business but when you’re with him I need to fuck off, I fought back. And, yeah, most wolves are bright enough not to do that with Isaac. He’s savage. I’ve seen him like that before. He can be a total busipa. No one with a brain picks a fight with him. But I said stuff about … stuff and … that was just the extra spark he needed.” He shrugged. “Zar got him off me and he did a runner and that was it. You saw the rest.”

  “Thank you, Andrew. Maybe … just a couple more details on the contextual ‘stuff?’ You said something to him that’s apparently made him think he needs to stay away from me.”

  Andrew examined the fingernails on his left hand. “It was just about him being … possessive of you.”

  “He’s not.”

  “Well … abridged, darling. That’s the simplest way to explain what I said. Take it or leave it. Oh … and he’s one who needs to look in the mirror as far as treating you like you’re his former mate reborn. That you wouldn’t think he was such a fine catch if you knew the truth about him. Stuff like … about … last summer his mate died. But no one ever even met her. Then he gives up being verge and comes to live with us. Why? The story was so peculiar it got the rumor mill going. Not unlike you bewitching all of us into your pet wolf slaves. Just the sort of thing casters are always doing. Anyway … daft sterk like that goes around. So I threw some of it out there.” He gave a little shrug and stood up to clear the dishes and check the three still baking quiches.

  “So you told him he was a possessive ass who should back off from me? And wouldn’t he hate it if I knew some horrible truths about him, even though these truths you referenced are not true? Is that it?”

  “Sure, sounds about right.”

  “Could you give me just one example? The sorts of things wolves have said about him that would be so horrible it would make him want to distance himself from me lest I found out?”

  “Oh, you know.” He left the dishes in the sink, then rotated the quiches in the oven. “Like … that he killed his mate and ate her.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Another shrug.

  “No one would say that. You’re making it up.”

  “I assure you, darling.” He returned to the bar to lean on it and regard me critically. “It was bandied about.”

  “That’s nonsense.”

  “Oh, no one really thinks he did do that. Aside from a few hardcore conspiracy theorists. But it’s true she ‘died suddenly’ and her family supposedly took the body home to Cumbria. Not that Isaac ever went up for a memorial or anything. So … who knows what really happened? Just one of the rumors, mind. There are others. Anyway, he didn’t like me dragging up his former mate and his feelings about her anymore than I’d enjoyed him mentioning mine.

  “That’s your abridgment, and as much as you’re getting. He’s staying away from you because I hurt his feelings about you and pointed out how much fun it would be for you to learn all about his highly colored past. Then I’m sure he supposed you’d be put out with him for taking a fancy to bumping me off. All in all, I’m surprised he’s even allowing himself to be in the same room with you lately.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Not his feelings. I understand you both had grievances and I’m sorry for the whole situation. But spreading stories like that about each other is ridiculous. Ate her? For real? People say that?”

  “It’s a wolf eat wolf world and all—”

  “Andrew.”

  “Well, what do you want?” He tossed up his hands. “I don’t invent these stories. I’m just telling you. It’s true there was something dodgy about the whole thing. But who knows? And you’d better drop it for now, Belle. I hear the light and juvenile step of your long-haired lover making his way here for afters in our feast. Someone else who’s ready to dig a den with you if only you’d give him the go-ahead. So smooth down your hackles, put on your silver hat, and let’s get our day sorted—with or without matters of the heart taking center stage.”

  Chapter 32

  It was as if someone had blown a dog whistle. Jed followed Zar. Then Isaac showed up with Kage. I suspected Isaac had stopped at Kage’s place on his way. The latter, judging by general stiffness and snappishness, didn’t much want to be here. And Isaac and Jed weren’t exactly buckets of daisies either.

  Quiche, however, soothed nerves.

  Before any discussion or sorting out the day, Andrew plunked half a quiche on two separate dinner plates, leaving another half each in two pie dishes, and shoved all four servings to the bar. The company dispersed around the room with them and gulped them down while Andrew shouted at Jason that he wasn’t bringing him breakfast in bed and he’d better drag his lazy carcass out here if he wanted anything.

  Jason emerged to join us, looking more awake this time, and also received half a quiche for his trouble. He glanced at Kage at the table, then remained standing at the bar to eat with only a mumbled thanks to Andrew. This left half a pie that Andrew set out cooling on a burner behind him as he stood in the kitchen.

  It was weird how everyone noticed this, many eyes following the dish to its resting place.

  Zar, with his gaze on that half quiche, volunteered to do the washing up.

  “No worries,” Andrew told him. “Jay’s going to do it. It’s the least he can do, after all.”

  I sat at a barstool again, turned to face them, with Andrew behind me at the counter and Jason against the bar to my right, running his finger around his dinner plate for the last crumbs.

  “Thank you for coming to meet up again this morning so we can keep moving,” I said. “I know you’re all tired. Isaac? Have you been able to coordinate anything with the twins?”

  “They said let them know when we’re on the train and
we can meet up.”

  “Anytime then. We should go ahead. We’re just past rush hour going into the city and the train won’t be so bad. Are you even able to? Your work?”

  “I can go.” He looked at me when he spoke, yet his tone was impersonal.

  “I’m hoping we’ll be back by late in the afternoon. Then talk with Diana about shifters and we’ll see where we need to go from here. That’s still a full day. Zar, Jed? You probably need to stay to work in the shop.”

  Zar shook his head. “We’re coming with you. We want to see Gabe.”

  I paused. It took a second for the name to click in my brain.

  “Oh,” I said. “I… Have you talked to him?”

  “No, but you said we could see him.”

  I glanced to Jed, who sat in one of the table chairs that he’d dragged over to the corner. He scowled at his own knees.

  “Are you both wanting to see him?” I asked.

  Zar also looked at Jed and away. “Well … that’s up to him. But I do. In the park, just like Gabe said.”

  “Jed? Do you want to come with us?”

  Jed gave an irritable twitch and shake of the head.

  “Okay… Zar? Why don’t you come along and I’ll give him a call. See if he can meet you on his lunch break? We could stay with you or leave you two alone, whatever you want. But we should mostly stick together. We’ll wait for you nearby if you want to see him alone. Then you can come with us to meet with these shifters.”

  Zar nodded.

  “So, Andrew? Can you come with us? That makes four, which is plenty. Jason, it would be nice if you could have a break and make sure your fever is gone. Kage—”

  “I can come.” A growl.

  I hesitated. “What?”

  “I can come with you. We’re supposed to stay together.” He said it without looking at me, and with a tone suggesting he was talking about something disgusting.

  “Kage,” I started gently, but Jed, much to my shock, was the one who answered first.