Passion of a Witch: A Wicked Series - Book 1

by K. D. Friedrich

  “Father, what of the contract?” Malcolm asked.

  He glanced at his son and then back at Kian. After a tense moment of silence, he spoke, “The contract has been satisfied. Summer Leery has obeyed the terms and merged her bloodline with ours. Goddess bless your union.” Etan bowed.

  “What? Are you serious? You're going to trust them, Father? You don't even know if he speaks the truth,” Malcolm protested.

  Etan glanced at Kian. “He is my nephew. I can feel it here.” He held his palm over his heart. His next response was stern. “This is your cousin. As customary, offer your blessing.”

  Malcolm followed his father's order, although he did it with a scowl. “Goddess bless your union.”

  Kian turned and pulled her close. Without shame, he kissed her in front of everyone. He didn't care what anyone thought; he needed to taste her. Right now.

  The door opened and Colin entered with Tristan's help. The alpha’s skin appeared pale. His steps were slower than before, but he stood tall like a leader should. Tristan and Colin approached Dash.

  As Kian joined them, a deep growl rolled up Tristan's throat.

  “Tristan,” Colin snapped.

  “He shouldn’t be here.” Tristan pointed at Kian. “His betrayal almost cost my father his life. It almost cost you your entire home. You shouldn't trust him. In fact, I should beat the life out of him for his treachery.”

  “I told my father to go to hell when he asked for my help. I always knew he was a bastard, but I didn't think he would step so far over the line.”

  Dash cupped Kian's shoulder. “Kian risked his life to save our land. He has earned his right beside us.”

  Summer came to her mate's side, wrapping her arm around his waist.

  “Fine,” said Tristan, “but as alpha, I request restitution.” He scowled at Kian.

  “What? Colin…?” Dash cupped Colin's shoulder.

  Colin offered a faint smile. “It's time my boy takes his place. He'll make a strong leader. The wolves look up to him. They respect him. Don't worry. I won't be sitting around on my ass. I'll be advising the new alpha, and I'll still be working at the police station a few more years. You can count on it.”

  Kian marched up to Tristan. “I'll do whatever you want to make this right between us.”

  Tristan's eyes glowed bright as a deep growl rolled up his throat. “Is that right?”

  “Tristan,” Colin warned.

  “Give me a magical binding.”

  A gasp went around the room. Summer glared at Tristan. “You cannot force him to relinquish what he’s just discovered. It's cruel. It's despicable.”

  “I can and have.” His yellow, glowing eyes locked on Kian. “It's the one way I'll be able to trust him. As alpha, it's my job to keep my pack safe.”

  “I'll do it.” Kian had no idea what binding his powers entailed, but he had to make it up to Tristan and his pack.

  “My love, you have no idea what he asks of you. He will own your powers. He'll be able to control you.”

  “He's my friend, baby. Well, he was until I fucked up. Whatever he needs to get the level of trust back is a small price to pay.”

  Summer scowled at Tristan. “It's slavery.”

  Tristan stood tall. “I wouldn't abuse it, and you damn well know it.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “It's that or death, because my pack won't be happy with anything else. They don't trust him and neither do I. A magical binding will assure his loyalty and keep him alive.”

  “When do you want to do this?”

  Tristan lifted a brow. “So eager. Later tonight. You come to pack land.”

  “I'll be there.”

  Collin glanced at Dash. “I took care of the authorities. Arson investigators have all the evidence they need from the vehicle the goon left behind and the chemical sample they took at the scene where the fire started.” His eyes turned back to Kian. “They got a warrant and are searching your father's house right now. Your father's guy made a phone call right before he lit the fire. Guess who he called?”

  “My father.”

  Tristan shook his head. “Yep, the stupid fuck called to check in.”

  Collin frowned. “From what my sources discovered, your father's been pissing off a lot of people. One of them happens to be the FBI. We found out they had a tap on his phone. They recorded the entire conversation. We also discovered the man had a plane ticket waiting for him at the airport. When he finished his job, he planned to go on a long trip. He paid for it with a corporate credit card from Lancaster Incorporated. Plus, your father wired twenty thousand dollars into a separate account and put Pete Dank as the primary on it.”

  “You should know that stupid fuck had help from a witch. Before he died, Pete said his brother gave him the amulet. He claimed he was born without magic, but his brother was powerful.”

  Dash frowned. “We have to find out who this witch is. If there are supernatural beings out there aiding humans with magic, we have to put a stop to it. It can become a very dangerous thing.”

  “I agree.” Tristan looked at his father. “We’d better run a list of witches in the area, see if we can't fish him out. In the meantime, I'll make sure we have no surprises when it comes to Mr. Lancaster.”

  “I'll testify,” Kian blurted. “I'll testify Pete worked for my father. I'll tell them I caught him running from the burning woods with a gas can in his hands and he confessed it all to me before he died. How my father ordered him to set the fire, how he paid him for the job, and how he didn't care who got hurt in the process.”

  “You'd do that? Send your father up the river for the rest of his life?” Tristan narrowed his amber gaze on Kian.

  “Yeah, in a second.”

  “Come on. We'll take you to the station and get your statement.” Colin leaned on Tristan as he turned. “I'm getting too old for this.”

  ***

  After making his testimonial at the police station, Kian, with Summer seated behind him on his motorcycle, followed Tristan and Colin up the long, narrow road toward pack land. Located a few miles from Summer's family’s cottage, the wolf's territory had the same rural setting. However, when the slender road gave way to a suburban-like development, Kian couldn't hold back his shock.

  Suburban-style ranches lined several blocks, all with manicured grounds. Children played out on the streets. Parents sat on the front lawns in chairs talking and laughing. The second they spotted Kian and Summer, they froze. The children stopped playing and ran to their parents' side. He wasn't sure if it was because Summer and he were witches or because his betrayal had almost cost them their alpha. Either reason left him miserable.

  All those out on the streets followed them as they passed. A howl echoed, soon joined by another. At the end of the street rose a large, white Victorian with sky blue shutters. Kian was surprised to see Dash, Autumn, and Winter sitting in front of the house with a small woman he didn't recognize.

  Tristan pulled the car to the curb. The new alpha jumped out, ran around the front, and helped his father out. With Tristan's aid, Colin hobbled over to the tiny woman. Colin kissed her with a passionate embrace, leaving no question the woman was his mate. The pearl glow of her eyes and the spike in unfamiliar power also confirmed she was a witch.

  Summer and Kian hopped off the bike.

  Tristan stalked up to Winter. “What are you doing here?”

  Winter lifted her chin high. “I came to see you make the biggest mistake of your life. Binding Kian's power is wrong, and you know it.”

  He glared at Dash. “With everything going on, did you think it was safe to bring the women here? The pack is still weary and—”

  “Nonsense, the Leerys are always welcome here. We have no issue with their presence.” The petite woman who had shared a passionate lip lock with Colin frowned at Tristan before glancing at Kian. “Welcome. I'm Desiree, Colin's mate and alpha female.” She shook Kian's hand and then hugged Summer tight.

  “Tristan, darling, I've been waiting forever
for you.” Tristan tensed at the voice behind him.

  All eyes glanced to the side to find a tall brunette headed for Tristan. She was dressed in a skirt barely covering her ass. A low-cut top exposed a fair amount of cleavage. With a squeal, she threw her arms around Tristan and kissed every inch of his face.

  “I missed you so much,” she purred.

  Kian didn't miss the devastation on Winter's face. The look of hurt in her eyes made him want to crack the stupid wolf in the jaw.

  Tristan extracted the woman's arms from his waist. “What are you doing here, Lina?”

  “It's heat time.” She pouted. “We always spend it together.”

  “I told you not to come.” Tristan scowled at the woman before he took a step closer to Winter, but Winter, without a word, retreated to her mother's side. Tristan growled. “I have no time for this. You,” he snapped as he pointed at Lina, “get your shit together and go home. Kian, come with me.” Tristan turned to the crowd that gathered in front of the house. “Today, the witch Kian will satisfy his debt to the MacGlenn pack. After today, there will be no question to his loyalty. We're doing this now, before my alpha induction tonight.”

  “Lead the way, asshole,” Kian muttered.

  “What did you say?” Tristan snarled.

  “You heard me.”

  Summer went to follow, but Tristan stopped her. “He and I. No one else.”

  “But… he's my mate. I have a right to—”

  “No one else.”

  Kian pulled her into his arms. “It's okay, baby. I'll be fine.” He pressed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I'll meet you back here, and then you and I are going to spend the rest of the day alone.” He waggled his brows. “Strengthening our bond.” He nuzzled her throat, and she giggled.

  Tristan rolled his eyes. “Come on, lover boy, let's go.”

  Kian grimaced then kissed Summer one more time before following Tristan toward a path in the woods.

  “I figured the pack would watch.”

  Tristan said nothing as they continued into the woods.

  They stalked up the narrow trail, stopping when they reached a dilapidated shed at the end of the path.

  Tristan spun on Kian and slammed him into the closest tree. “You almost got my father killed, you stupid son of a bitch.”

  “I'm sorry. If I could go back and do it differently, I would, but I can't. All I have to offer you is restitution and my promise I'll do whatever it takes to bring my father down.”

  Tristan backed off. He plopped onto a fallen log behind him. He covered his face with his hands.

  “What the fuck am I going to do? I'm not ready to be Alpha.”

  “Don't be.”

  “Yeah, easier said than done. I have no choice. The gunshot wound weakened my father. If he was challenged by a strong member of this pack or another, he'd lose. I have to take his place to save his life. As his first born, it's my duty to protect our people.” After a moment of silence, he glanced up at Kian. “I will not bind your powers.”

  “Why? You said—”

  “I was angry at what happened to my father and frustrated by all this new responsibility shoved in my lap. I said the words in haste, and once the pack got wind, I was forced to honor the demand. I will not bind your powers. Summer is right; to a witch, it’s slavery. I refuse to steal anyone's freedom, and complete rule over your magic will do just that.” Tristan sighed. “I know it wasn't you who set fire to the woods or shot my father. You shouldn't be punished for another man's actions. I won't bind them, but I will have to link us. I have to do something. If I don't, I'll lose the support of my people. If I link us, every shifter and witch will scent our connection and not question if the binding was completed.”

  “How?”

  “We'll exchange blood.”

  A wave of nausea rolled over Kian. “Are you fucking serious? Jesus, I don't want to drink your blood.”

  “What, you think I'm turned-on by it?” Tristan scowled. “Believe me, you're not the one I want to sink my teeth into.”

  “Yeah, we all know who you'd rather sink your teeth into. She's tall, brunette, and stacked. What was her name? Linda? Lana?”

  “Lina,” Tristan growled. “I didn't know she was coming here.”

  Kian put his hands up. “Hey, I'm not the one you need to convince.”

  With glowing amber eyes, Tristan snarled. “Give me your damn arm so we can get this over with. We need a few drops each. Nothing more.”

  “This won't turn me, will it?” Kian lifted his arm. Tristan grabbed it. His fingers dug into the skin, tightening Kian's muscle.

  “Not unless you plan on fucking me too.” Before Kian had a chance to utter the word “asshole,” Tristan sank his fangs deep.

  ***

  With Tristan's scent locked on Kian, most of the pack believed Tristan had bound Kian's powers.

  There were still those who glanced at Kian with suspicion, but they didn't dare come forward and question their alpha’s word when Colin offered his forgiveness. Although he had stepped down as their leader, he remained well respected.

  As a show of solidarity, Tristan asked the Leerys and Kian to stay for his alpha ceremony. The ritual was quicker than Kian expected. The moment Tristan accepted his father's position, the shifters howled and roared, young and old, to the moonlight above.

  The party came next.

  Damn, who knew wolves could party like frat boys. Kian had never seen anyone drink so much. Tristan downed at least a case of beer by himself. Colin explained the wolves physiology burned off alcohol quickly, so they needed to drink a lot and fast in order to get drunk. The shots continued well into the night.

  “Are you ready to leave, my love?” Summer asked.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Kian noticed Winter hurrying toward the woods by herself. Something seemed off. “Baby, let me check on something. I'll be right back.”

  “Of course. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, don't worry.” He kissed her knuckles. “I'll be right back.” He jogged toward the path where Winter disappeared. “Winter, wait up.” She stopped short and turned. Her eyes were red and swollen. Jesus, she was crying. “What's wrong, pretty girl? Are you okay?”

  She didn't speak.

  He glanced in the direction she came from and spotted the large Victorian house peeking out from behind the trees. Anger grew in him when he realized the house he glared at was Tristan's. He glanced around and Tristan was nowhere to be found. “What did he do?”

  “Nothing. He did nothing. He's too busy with Lina to be doing anything to me.” Tears fell from her eyes. “I have to go home.”

  “I'll take you, okay? I don't want you walking all by yourself through the woods.”

  “Okay.” Winter wiped the tears still clinging to her lashes. “Please don't tell anyone you saw me crying. It will ruin my reputation as an uncompromising woman.”

  “Your secret is safe with me, little one.” He glanced over at Tristan's house with a frown. “He's a fool, you know.”

  “No, I'm the fool to think I meant more to him. I was being childish, stuck on a little girl's dream of meeting her mate, but it won't happen again. I plan to be more sensible from now on.” She rubbed her eyes one more time. Summer's right. I need to grow up.” With her chin up, she glanced at him. “Can you tell I was crying?”

  “No, you look beautiful.” He brushed a wisp of hair from her cheek. Jesus, how she reminded him of Alana. Like his sister, Winter had a fighter's spirit.

  “Stop.” She pouted. “I'm a mess.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders. “Come on, let's get out of here.”

  He led her back to the party.

  Before Summer could hear them, Winter stopped and turned to Kian. “I’ve decided I'm going to go out into the human world. The Goddess is right. We need to embrace humans. The best way to do that is to spend time among them. To learn from them.”

  “Don't do this because of what Tristan—”

  “This h
as nothing to do with him. I was offered a chance to study under the most respected animal telepath in the witch kingdom. I'd be a fool not to go.”

  “Well, you got to do what's best for you.” He scratched his neck. “Does Tristan know?”

  Winter narrowed her eyes. “Does it matter? He's made his choice, and I have to make mine.”

  “What are you two talking about? You both look so serious.” Summer ambled up to Kian and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “Nothing, baby. Let's go home.”

  “Have you been crying?” Summer asked Winter.

  “Has who been crying?” Their father appeared in Kian's side vision.

  Winter waved off her sister's concern. “What? No, Kian had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Now let's go home. I've had enough of the pack for one evening.”

  After giving the best performance Kian had ever seen off of the stage, Winter strutted toward her family’s van.

  Chapter 27

  Kian stared at the screen on his phone, watching the video of his father being led out of the courthouse in handcuffs by armed agents. With his testimony and the piles of evidence obtained by the FBI, his father's conviction was inevitable.

  During the investigation, the police and FBI also discovered several other locations believed to have been set on fire by Pete on his father's order, a fact that added more charges on top of the already growing mountain of crimes.

  Summer joined Kian on her family's porch. “Are you okay, my love?” she asked. Her fingers caressed his shoulder.

  “Yeah, baby. I'm good.” He took her hand, kissing her knuckles above the diamond ring he had given her the night before when he had asked her to be his wife. “Are they ready?” he asked.

  “Yes, they are all waiting for us at the grove.”

  It was time to put his past to rest and look to the future. “Let's go.”

  He lifted the urn from the railing. He had placed his mother's ashes in a beautiful container covered in intricate Celtic designs. He had planned to scatter her ashes in her garden, but he knew she would have loved the grove, and he could think of no better place to honor her.

  Over the past few weeks, he had spent time getting to know his uncle and cousin. He still considered Malcolm a douchebag, but the guy grew on him much like moss grew on a rock. Kian learned his mom and uncle grew up under the strict rule of bigoted parents. His uncle never got over losing his sister, and upon hearing of her death and the death of her daughter, he decided to honor them both with a proper witch burial.