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“And you’re blinded by your hatred of him, Alana.” Mrs. Francis ignored the other woman’s gasp. “I don’t know why you won’t just let him get to know you. He’s not what you think he is.”

“He’s a shifter,” the witch snapped back.

“So am I. So are a lot of people in this town.”

“That’s different, and you know it. Cohen Pierce was meant to lead a pack. He is an alpha. That makes him dangerous to a small town that doesn’t recognize orhavean alpha. It’s always been run by a council of elders.”

“Elders die, Alana.” Alphas did, too, but Mrs. Francis kept her widow’s grief buried.

The younger woman gasped at the implication. “Stop. Don’t even say things like that.”

Mrs. Francis shrugged. “I’m not going to live forever, and neither will the others on the council. We will need to be replaced by others eventually. As of this morning, Cohen has already been given a seat in the council.”

“What? No! You can’t do that!” Alana was on her feet, her face flushed red with anger and fear.

“I made him promise me that he wouldn’t banish you from town,” Mrs. Francis explained. “Sit down, Alana. Let me explain to you why it has to be this way.”

Alana swallowed hard and looked away, unable to meet Mrs. Francis’s eyes.

“Alana,” Mrs. Francis used her motherly voice. It was the same one she used as a teacher, too. Her students were the children she never had, just like the citizens of Half Moon Key were her children. She cared deeply for Alana Wixx. “Cohen Pierce is a lot of things, but he is a man of his word, and he gave me his that he would not throw you out of town. Not ever.”

“We hate each other,” Alana pointed out needlessly.

“I know you think you hate him, and he is also certain he hates you right back.”

“So why do you think, for even two seconds, that he will keep his promise once you’re gone? Once all of the elders are gone?”

“You’re Cohen’s sister-in-law’s best friend, Alana. Lila would never let Cohen throw you out because she has Mason’s ear.”

“Mason is new here,” she scoffed.

“And yet, just like Jack, Parker, and Cohen, Mason has been offered a seat on the council. He proved himself willing and able to defend our home.”

Alana shook her head. “I’ve always told my mother that they cheated Nana out of her seat on the council. I never would’ve allowed those shifters to be on the council if I had a say.Theybrought the trouble to town, but I will be the one to pay the price.”

“You’re not a trusting woman, Alana. I’ve always known this, and that’s why I nominated you to take my place on the council. You will get your say in how our town is run now.”

The redhead’s eyes filled with tears that were both happy and mournful. “How? How were you able to manage this?”

“I didn’t,” Mrs. Francis replied. “At least I wasn’t the only one who agreed you had to have a seat at the table.”

“Who?” Alana narrowed her gaze. “Who spoke for me?”

Mrs. Francis grinned and shook her head. “Honey, if you think that man hates you, you’re more hopeless than I thought.”

Without another word, Mrs. Francis left Wixx and its bemused owner. The elder had more town business to see to, and she had so very little time left.

TWO

ALANA

Alana stood in front of her store, eying the display window with a critical pout. Her full lips were pulled forward, her gaze narrowing.

It was all wrong.

The blue of the sheet on the bottom of the display clashed with the blue that was used to make the background. She ripped down the swatches of material with a sigh of frustration.

“What did that sheet ever do to you?” A man laughed behind her.