Chapter 18: Enemies and Allies

ALPHA JORDAN

“Today has made it quite clear who our enemies are.” He looks at Cora before speaking again. “And it’s brought us an unlikely ally. Our pack is strong. By understanding the mistakes of our ancestors, we will become that much stronger.”

After a few moments of quiet, the room begins to fill with people shouting their agreement and cheering for my father. All of them are seeing Cora in a new light.

I’m relieved. As I walk her out of the great hall, many of my people stop her to apologize for their families’ role in her mother’s death. They praise her for her strength to come forward and thank her for her role in revealing the truth.

When we finally reach the foyer, I lead her upstairs to the third floor, which serves as my apartment. I take her to one of the guest rooms and watch as she steps inside. She’s looking everything over, but her face gives away no sign of how she is feeling.

“Will this room be okay?”

She turns to face me and gives me a nod.

“It will. Lady Laurent has power over you as long as she’s wearing that amulet.”

I tear the amulet off. “I don’t think she ever put hers on. She is locked up. Her father is due to arrive tomorrow. I’ve sent my men to find him. He will join her.”

She seems pleased with my answer. The tension leaves the room with her deep exhale.

“What are you going to do about the council’s requirement for you to take a mate?”

I can’t help but smile at her concern for me. “I will deal with the council. The whole situation with Laurent might buy me more time, but if it doesn’t, I will figure something out.”

She sighs and moves over to the bed, setting her bag down. Her hand reaches up and grasps Luca’s amulet.

“If my help is no longer needed, I’ll go to Darius in the morning. I will be safe with him while we figure out what to do about Luca. I feel like I am running out of time. Luca is so weak now.”

At the mention of her leaving, I want to convince her to stay. I know it would be selfish for me to try. I don’t even know if I can keep her safe. But I can’t let her leave. Not after our beasts ran together. I know she feels the charge between us.

“What if you stay and help with ensuring the rogues’ families are returned? Once we have Laurent in custody and the families are set free, I can help you get Luca back.”

She stares at me in silence for what seems like an eternity.

“I can stay until their families are returned, but I can’t let you come with me, alpha. You had asked me why Luca wanted me to let him go. It’s going to be dangerous to go get him. I can’t let you die for my cause. Your people need you.”

I close the distance between us and pull her into my arms. The warmth and jolt from touching her have intensified. The current between us is addicting.

Her arms snake around my waist. She nuzzles her face into my chest as she takes a deep breath and exhales. I can both hear and feel the rapid beat of her heart, and it only makes me want to hold her tighter.

She gently pulls away from me, her brow furrowed as she stares awkwardly at her hands. I watch in fascination as she reaches out and takes my hand in hers, tilting her head as if studying a strange new thing that she can’t seem to wrap her head around.

“Can you feel that?”

I smile as she trails her fingers over the palm of my hand, tracing the lines while sending waves of energy through me.

“Yeah, I can feel it.”

Her eyes follow the trail her fingers are making.

“What is it? Why is it only when I touch you?”

I smile as she asks aloud the question I have been asking myself since the day at the lake. What is this thing happening between us? I’ve never felt anything like it. It’s delicious. I’m always thinking about her, and I want to be near her all the time.

I try to explain. “The only time I have heard people mention something like this is when a wolf finds their mate. They talk about how you can feel the energy of the bond with only a touch. Touching your mate can calm them and give them strength. The thing is, even when the human side doesn’t recognize the mate bond or tries to refuse it, the wolf won’t deny it. They can’t.”

Her eyes narrow. I can almost hear the energy in the air as she thinks about what I have said.

“I don’t know about the whole werewolf fated mate thing. From what I read, it’s different for lycans. Werewolves are given mates that will make them feel stronger, calmer, more in control of their wolf. With lycans, their mate is literally the other half of their soul. Unlike werewolves, they do not have second-chance mates. They are born with a soul that is incomplete and their mate is born with the missing piece.” Her tone is soft and thoughtful. She pulls her hand away from mine and walks to the window. She gazes out at the moonlit forest.

She always takes her strength from nature. What would it be like if she could take strength from me? I wonder what this all means. I know she can calm me. I’ve seen her do it.

Could the lycan bond feel that much different from the bond my people feel? What if her witch side experiences the bond differently? Maybe the ring she wears affects it. The more I think, the more questions I have.

A black mist takes shape beside her. It thickens into the form of a tall being.

I’m ready to attack it. I have to protect her.

Then it speaks. “Corlie, I need to speak with you.” The mist is still a blurry mass, but I recognize the voice immediately.

“Darius? What’s wrong?”

I can feel the instant shift in the energy in the room when she speaks.

“Meet me at the southern border.”

She gives a stiff nod before rushing past me. She hurries down the stairs and through the foyer, then out the front doors.

I follow closely behind her. I have to protect her, even if she says he’s a friend.

“Alpha, you need to stay here. Darius will not hurt anyone, but if he needs to meet off of your land, there is a good reason for it.” She turns to face me, and she slides off her ring and places it in my hand.

“Cora, where are you going?” I feel worry taking over as I stare at the small silver ring in my hand. I don’t want her to get hurt out there.

“Keep it safe for me.” She shifts so quickly that if I had blinked, I would have missed the change.

Her wolf races into the woods, heading to our southern border. Everything in me is telling me to go after her, but she told me not to. I have to respect her wishes.

I walk back to the stone steps in front of the pack house and sit on the top step while every single cell is screaming at me to protect her.