by M. L. Briers
“That’s not funny.”
“It’s not without merit,” Steph said.
“Okay, I see what this is — just gang up on me, why not?” Casey hissed back.
“Well, you were the genius that said run!” Jodie offered.
“And she’s the one who accepted the elder’s money for some dumb spell,” Casey grumbled back as she lifted her hand and pointed an accusing finger at Steph.
“Don’t point your finger at me unless you’re prepared to use it,” Steph warned her.
“Oh, I’ll use it,” Casey hissed.
“Okay, time out.” Jodie groaned. “We have bigger problems than a cat fight. Wolves — remember them?”
“You mean the ones that Steph miffed off?” Casey sneered.
“It doesn’t matter who, it doesn’t matter how, it doesn’t matter when — right now, we need to figure out what we are going to do about them.” Jodie reasoned, almost pleaded with her sisters to be sane for just five minutes of the day.
She knew it was pretty unheard-of — clash of the witches, and all that entailed — but still, they had bigger fish to fry.
“Fine!” Steph bit out.
“Whatever,” Casey shrugged just one shoulder.
“Okay, good. Then we have a plan,” Jodie sighed inwardly. Her sisters could be a handful.
“Oh, you have a plan?” Casey’s eyebrows reached for her hairline again.
“Great, let’s hear it,” Steph said.
“I never said I had a plan,” Jodie offered back with a sheepish look at Steph.
“Fine. Here’s the plan…” Steph sighed. “The door is open. We walk out.”
Both of her sisters waited for the rest, but Steph didn’t say another word.
“Where’s the plan in that?” Casey asked.
“I never said it was a good plan.” Steph shrugged.
“Suicide mission comes to mind,” Jodie said. “I vote we send Casey out first.”
“Just you keep it up,” Casey grumbled back.
“No, think about it – if they eat you, they’ll be full…”
“I doubt it. Have you seen the size of them,” Steph snorted a chuckle.
“Oh, don’t you start.” Casey sighed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
~
“Can you hear those witches and their devious plotting?” Turner asked.
“No, can you?” Finley grumbled back.
“No. That’s why I asked you, knucklehead.”
“Then how do you know they are deviously plotting something?” Finley sighed at his brother’s particular brand of stupid.
“Well, hello? They’re witches,” Turner snorted his contempt for his brother and his lack of brains.
“Well, planning something or not, we need to be ready for when they come out,” Kit said.
“You think they’re coming out?” Turner asked.
“No, they’re going to stay in there and make it their new home.” Kit rolled his eyes in his head and was grateful that he had got the brains in the family.
“Well, they’ll have plenty to eat,” Turner shrugged his shoulders.
“Speaking of eating — I’m hungry,” Finley grumbled.
“You’re always hungry,” Kit growled.
“And you don’t want to ruin your appetite before having a witch supper,” Turner chuckled.
Kit couldn’t hold onto the rumble of a growl that lodged in his throat. He felt both of his brother's eyes on him. Hell, he didn’t even know why he growled.
“What? I’m hungry,” Kit lied.
There was just something about that witch that hooked his attention and kept it there. He didn’t like it — not one little bit.
He was an alpha, and he had a whole lot of the protection gene in his body. But that was for his pack, not witches. So, he had to wonder why the thought of killing those witches suddenly seemed so unsavory.
“Not just me then,” Finley grumbled.
“Do you guys want me to go for pizza while we're waiting?” Turner rolled his eyes at his brothers.
“Do you want to feel my fist in your face?” Finley gave a low rumble of a growl.
“Do you two need a moment?” Kit growled louder.
“I think I need to go back inside and get Turner his feminine hygiene products,” Finley snubbed his nose at his brother.
“I think when we get back to pack land we can sort this out like men,” Turner growled.
“Well, I’m a man, but I’m not sure about you brother,” Finley offered back.
“If you two don’t stop – I’m going to be two betas short,” Kit growled again.
“I thought you said no growling?” Finley eyed his brother. “Are you feeling okay?”
“A hell of a lot better than you’ll be feeling if you don’t stop annoying me,” Kit warned.
“Touchy,” Turner chuckled.
“Can we just keep our minds on the witches?” Kit grumbled another growl before he managed to bite it off.
“I can, but Turner needs a hug,” Finley chuckled.
“I swear — just once more,” Turner growled.
“I think I’d rather be in there with the witches,” Kit grumbled.
“Well, while you were in there, push them out and grab some Scooby snacks for Finley.” Turner chuckled.
“You’re a dead man walking.” The beta growled. “This was a great plan. The witches basically have the high ground, and we’re going to be bored to death by the time they decide to come out.”
“Or die of starvation,” Turner shrugged.
“How the hell did you two ever survive to adulthood?” Kit grumbled. “How did I not kill you both off before now?”
“Here they come!” Turner elbowed the alpha in the ribs and heard him grown in annoyance.
All three brothers steeled themselves for what came next. This swish of the glass doors opening heralded the approach of the witches.
The three women walked together side-by-side through the doorway. Their eyes were locked and loaded on the brothers.
“Ladies,” Steph said. “It’s time to dance with the devil, or skin a few wolves.”
“Oh, I could never wear fur,” Casey said.
“That’s…” Steph groaned inwardly. “Never mind.”
~
~
~
“Go ahead, try your best to do your worst.” Steph walked right up in front of the alpha and challenged him once more.
There was no sense in backing down. She’d started as she’d meant to go on. Shifters were always going to respect strength, and her legs might have been a little wobbly, but her tone didn’t waver.
“Don’t tempt me.” Kit wanted to growl. Not a warning growl. Not a growl of annoyance, but just a deep, long growl that felt damn good rumbling through his chest. The trouble was – he had no idea why.
“We know why you’re here,” Finley said.
“It doesn’t take a genius to know why someone goes to a shop,” Casey tossed back.
“Doesn’t take a genius to figure out I didn’t mean the shop,” Finley offered back as his top lip curled upwards and he questioned her sanity with just a look.
“You do?” Steph didn’t like to hear that, not one little bit.
She was supposed to be flying under the radar, they all were. That was what the elder had promised.
“We do.” The alpha didn’t look too impressed.
“And let me guess, you’re here to stop us?”
“Have you done it yet?” That question was plucking at the back of his mind and setting his nerves on edge.
Steph considered her options a long moment. From the look on the alpha’s face, she knew what he wanted to hear.
The mischief-maker inside of her said to lie just to miff him off. But that big old bull of self-preservation was saying; red rag – red rag – big target.
“No,” Steph said, wondering where the stand-off would go next.
“You’re coming with us,” the alpha said.
“And why would we do that?”
“Because you’re going to tell the elder that paid you all the reasons why you’re not going to do that spell,” he said biting down on that need to growl.
“We are?” Steph would have folded her arms across her chest and lifted her chin in defiance if she hadn’t of needed her hands to be on standby for her magic.
“You are.” That didn’t sound like there was any room for debate in the tone of his voice.
“They’re not,” Steph motioned to her sisters.
“What?” Jodie demanded. “You know three is optimal…” She twisted her head and eyed her sister with a hard glare.
“She is talking about the power of three,” Finley said. That brought Jodie’s head around, and her eyes stared at him for a long moment.
“How’d you know that?” Jodie demanded.
“He knows everything about witches, witchcraft, and what you devious little Demons get up to in your spare time,” Turner offered back with a smug smile.
“Oh, really?” Jodie offered a challenge to the beta.
“No, not really. My brother’s an idiot,” Finley shrugged.
He saw the light of amusement that sparked in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth twitched as she resisted the urge to smile.
“You can say that again,” Casey said.
“My brother’s an idiot,” Finley said. “I have no problem saying that as many times as you’d like to hear it.”
“The fact remains — she’s not going without us,” Jodie said.
“Fine — you can all come,” the alpha said.
It was what he’d wanted after all, and somehow, not only had the witches agreed to go with them, but they were arguing among themselves so that no one was left behind.
~
~
~
Six people could not fit comfortably inside Kit’s truck. Not when three of them were the size of his brothers.
The alpha had no problem with his brothers taking two of the witches to pack land in their own car. He did, however, seem to have a problem with Steph sitting beside him in his.
There was something about her that made his wolf antsy. He liked to put it down to the fact that she was a witch and move on.
But it was something else — he had the need to scent the air — take a really big whiff, and it wasn’t unheard of that his beast grumbled and growled within him when he denied it that basic instinct, but it was still so damn annoying.
It felt as if every inch of his body was on high alert, tingling from head to toe as if he was expecting trouble. But then trouble was a witch’s middle name. They thrived on it, and he should expect no less from the woman who was sitting beside him, so close that he only needed to reach out to touch her body.
And that would be bad.
It wasn’t as if he wasn’t already attracted to her. Who wouldn’t be?
She was a small package of everything he’d want in a woman. She had curves that the man could wrap his arms around, and it wasn’t as if he hadn’t imagined himself buried deep within her.
He shook that thought away. It wasn’t happening.
It seemed like one moment he had thought of trying to kill her to end a spell, and the next, once he’d seen her, his thoughts had turned to anything but that.
“I can feel your beady little eyes on me – keep them on the road,” Steph grumbled.
“My beady little eyes?” He grunted. “I’ve been told I have nice eyes.”
“Let me guess — by your mother,” Steph shot back.
“She’s one of many,” Kit said.
“Personal bias is no recommendation,” Steph folded her arms, and that action pushed her breasts up and out for his viewing pleasure.
Kit noticed. How could he not? She may as well have thrust them right under his nose. He kind of wished that she had.
That low, deep growl that had wanted to rumble through his chest for the last, however long, started in earnest. Steph shot a quick look in his direction and looked aghast.
“Stop staring at my boobs — watch the road!” She hissed and snapped the alpha back to attention.
Kit saw the black car coming towards them, and it was going at some speed. He was actually glad that the witch had caught him drooling and berated him when the car suddenly veered across the road, blocking it, making him curse hard as he hit the brakes.
CHAPTER EIGHT
~
“Are you freaking nuts!” Steph screeched out as the back end of the truck skidded across the road and tried to meet the front end.
They did one full three sixty degree turn with the wheels protesting against the roadway, and Steph screeching just as loudly in the small confines of the cab. Kit groaned long and hard as he fought with the steering wheel with both hands and had nothing left with which to cover his ears.
The alpha was more than grateful when they came to a complete stop. For one thing, it meant that the witch had finally stopped trying to deafen him.
“Are you all right?” Kit growled in annoyance, but it wasn’t for her, it was for the idiot that had almost caused an accident.
Kit punched open the door and wedged it that way with a booted foot. He was half out of the cab when her high-pitched voice rattled his eardrums once more.
“No!” She bit out and the alpha held in place as he turned to look at her over his shoulder.
“Are you hurt?” He demanded.
“No!”
“Then I don’t understand?” Kit growled. How could he help her if he didn’t know what was wrong?
“You scared the absolute bejesus out of me,” she hissed back.
“Like that was my fault!” He growled.
His boots hit the ground, and he slammed the door of the truck closed hard enough to make the cab rock.
Kit growled long and hard with the need to put his fist in someone’s face. The idiot in the black car would do nicely.
“Go ahead — do the manly thing and slam the truck door. Why don’t you just pound on that…” Steph’s words died on her lips as she flicked her gaze back to the black car and realized just how familiar it was. “Oh no!” She groaned.
Dressed in black from head to toe and over six feet tall — the man unfolded his body from inside the car — and for one long moment his eyes met and locked on Steph. Steph grimaced.
“Man, I’m going to rearrange your…” Kit got no further as the guy in black lifted his arms, thrust out his hands, and the alpha was ripped the ground and tossed back through the air.
“Oh, boy!” Steph rolled her eyes to the roof of the truck and sighed.
That was when all hell started to break loose. She considered staying in the cab of the truck — dropping her face in her hands — and waiting until it was all over. But the sound of her sister's squeals made that impossible.
Family was family, after all.
~
~
~
“He’s impressive,” Jodie said as she clapped her hands together in glee as one of the betas flew through the air right by her.
“He’s annoying,” Steph grumbled.
“Annoyingly impressive,” Jodie offered back.
“You know that he is racing to our rescue, right?” Steph grumbled again.
“Your point?” Jodie asked as she watched Finlay pull himself up from the ground and race right back into the fight.
“Which means that he was close by,” Steph said.
“Your point?” Jodie asked again.
“Which means that he didn’t just tag us, he expected us to find it and do a blocking spell on it, and he must have been close to be able to track us here this quickly,” Steph explained.
“I get your point,” Jodie tossed up a shoulder. “But he arrived just in time.” She chuckled as Turner shot through the air and landed on top of the alpha’s truck.
“Oh, good one!” Casey sniggered at the sight of the beta yanking his body up from the concave roof, and rolling his large fram
e to the edge to get back into the fight.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he had this planned,” Steph grumbled.
“Planned? How could he have planned this?” Jodie snorted at the idea.
“Fine. Not planned, but he’s enjoying every moment of it,” Steph offered back.
“Of course he’s enjoying it, he’s protecting his little girls,” Casey said with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
“And did either of you think that we are never going to hear the end of it?” Steph’s question made both sisters consider her words.
“Oh, boy,” Jodie groaned.
“Oh, that’s not good,” Casey admitted.
“That’s an understatement from the both of you. Not only did he not trust us to get the job done — but now that he’s rushed to our rescue we don’t have a leg to stand on when he says that we can’t handle it.” Steph pointed out.
“That we can’t take care of ourselves,” Jodie grumbled.
“That we need his help,” Casey sighed.
“And all because of that blocking spell,” Steph turned accusing eyes on her sister.
“Don’t blame me!” Jodie snorted a chuckle of disbelief. “You were the one that tempted fate — what could possibly go wrong? Where ‘s the harm?” She mimicked her sister.
“That’s not the point,” Steph tossed up a hand towards the mayhem in front of them. “If we hadn’t of blocked the amulet then he would never would have come looking for us.”
“Well, how was I supposed to know?” Jodie tossed up a shoulder and grunted in annoyance.
“It’s true.” Casey gave a small nod of the head. “She’s not smart enough to know any better.”
“I will hurt you,” Jodie warned.
“You could try,” Casey sneered back.
“Really? Do you not feel like there’s enough mayhem going on around us at the moment?” Steph berated them.
“Well, if I accidentally kill her then we can blame it on one of the wolves,” Casey’s offered a smug grin.
“Classy to the end,” Jodie shot back with a sneer.
“Would that be my end or your end?” Casey said, and Steph groaned as she rolled her eyes, took in a long, deep breath, and sighed it back out again.