Chapter 8: Can We Hurry This Along?

CORALIE

I follow him out of the cabin and down a worn dirt path to a small garden with a gazebo. I spot her right away. She’s beautiful, but there’s something shallow about her energy.

As we reach the gazebo, she folds her arms.

“I was wondering if you were going to show up. Can we hurry this along? I would rather not spend any more time than necessary with the likes of a witch.”

I can tell everything I need to know about her already. She thinks she’s too good for this situation, and she thinks she doesn’t need me.

She’s wrong on both counts. But I still have my manners. I smile warmly at the bitch, surprising myself a little.

“The feeling is mutual. Where is your amulet?” I stare coldly at her bare neck.

She laughs. “Oh, that thing? I couldn’t possibly be expected to wear it. It doesn’t go with any of my outfits.”

Now I’m getting angry. If I can’t get her to at least try, my work here will fail. And I need the money. I need something to pay Darius, because I can’t find Luca without his help.

“If you can’t do something as simple as wearing a necklace, how can you handle the duties of a luna?”

She growls. It’s pitiful and weak. “How dare you speak to me that way?”

I step closer and snap my fingers, silencing her.

“I am not in the habit of helping power-seeking bitches ascend to positions they’re undeserving of. If you can’t follow simple instructions, I will not only not help you, but I will curse you to a life of loneliness and misery. The alpha is sacrificing his happiness for his pack. The least you can do is sacrifice your sense of fashion.”

She glares sharply, but her voice is still muted—something I think even the alpha is thankful for.

“What can we do to fix this?” His voice is lined with concern that I know is for the fate of his pack.

I inspect the energy between them and the way his amulet has already started preparing him. “She has made it harder for the bond to form. But it’s not too late. In a situation like this, every second counts. She has to put it on immediately.”

The bond will be weaker because of what she’s done, but they won’t know the difference. I’m not being paid for a strong bond. A weak one will be enough for her to go into heat and produce an heir.

He opens his mouth to scold her—his eyes making his intentions crystal clear.

Danny’s shouting cuts him off.

“Alpha, Cora, you both are needed in the courtyard.” While he is addressing us both, his eyes are locked on mine. The fear in them makes me feel uneasy.

I hustle to Danny. The alpha follows. Danny leads us around the building to the courtyard.

The pack patrol stands in a large circle. I recognize immediately what they’ve found—or rather who they’ve found.

“What the hell is going on? Why aren’t you all out there doing your patrols?” The alpha shouts from behind me.

I turn and place my hand on his chest, stopping him in his tracks. His amulet might be making him extra emotional. But I can’t have him overreacting to things. “I need you to promise me that you will remain calm. I’ll explain later.”

His eyes narrow, but he nods.

“Ah, Cora. You smell as delightful as ever. It has been far too long.”

The deep, sinister voice calls out from within the circle of wolves.

“Darius, it has been a while, hasn’t it?” I walk closer and the wolves part, revealing to me a face from my past that could only be present if he is bringing bad news.

I’m not ready for him. But Darius comes when he wants. He is the lord of the vampire court and during my time on the run, I’d done many jobs for him in exchange for supplies and security. He is a generous man, but a dangerous one as well. His tall, slender frame, pale skin, pitch-black hair, and red eyes make him look handsomely frightful.

“What are ~you~ doing here?” The alpha growls from behind me. He takes a step forward, placing himself beside me.

I rest my hand on his arm. His body relaxes under my touch and I can feel his eyes shift to me.

“I came to speak with Cora. Alone, please.” He gestures with his hands to the patrol surrounding him.

“I will go with you, but you can’t harm this pack.”

He looks at me with a raised brow before looking at the alpha. “I am not here to take you, Cora. And I have not come to harm this pack. I have come with information and a warning.”