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The alpha conference is already in full swing by the time I approach the clearing. Aiden offered to convene the council, and judging by the security protocols surrounding the area as we came in, he’s gone all out to make sure the event is safe from Malik’s rogue attacks.

That means one thing: fucking witches.

It’s not that I don’t see the benefits of using them.

They’ve proven their worth in the fight against Malik.

Hell, my pack has probably taken in more than my brothers’ due to the remote locations of some of the covens, ensuring their safety in exchange for cooperation.

The witches can use their runes and spells, but they’re too vulnerable and slow in gathering supplies to protect themselves effectively.

With our help and shifter strength, we’ve been able to create a protection system that benefits us all.

You’d think they’d be grateful, but witches don’t seem to know the meaning of the word. They're always complaining about something. Apparently, we don’t give them enough respect, housing, or attention…

They’re lucky we’re trusting them to live around us at all.

All this cooperation also means that I’ve been seeing her again.

I’d avoided running into Emily ever since she bewitched me in the forest two years ago.

I was younger then, a new alpha, and clearly too soft.

The magic was undeniable. The moment I held her, my wolf was powerless against her.

Old Ralph was a sick bastard, but he’d been right about the witches—I was lucky to escape then, and I won’t make the same mistake again.

It’s frankly galling the way Callum and Ava have practically rolled out the red carpet for her.

She and Ava seem pretty tight these days.

I’ve made my feelings pretty clear, but Callum seems happy to let that woman close to his family.

He even claims she has no practical magic, which I know from experience is an outright lie.

“Looks like we’re late to the party,” my beta, Ryan, mutters as we reach the small stage that has been constructed near a large central bonfire.

My brothers are both already here with their betas.

I spot Callum talking to Ava and nod in greeting as we move through the small crowd.

I also spot several of the witches that have been invited to attend milling around, my eyes scanning the crowd until I find her.

Emily. I just knew she’d be here. Her red hair dazzles in the sunlight, and I watch as she laughs at something one of the other women from Callum’s pack says, her whole damn face lighting up.

She has her feet well under the table in his pack now.

She’s helping with their rune updates and trialing new spells.

Plus, she seems to have made friends with Ava and some of the other women.

Can’t say I didn’t warn him.

Tearing my eyes away from Emily is physically difficult, so much so that I sometimes wonder if some of her bewitching magic has lingered.

I force myself to turn toward Ryan, who is scanning the crowd, too.

He was ambushed by rogues a few weeks ago on patrol.

His scars are healing, but I can see he’s more tense than usual.

“There’s no party without us,” I tell him.

“Why don’t you grab some beers, and I’ll meet you at the stage. Got to say hi to Aiden.”

He nods and heads off for the drinks, looking pensive.

These damn rogues operating under Malik’s control are taking their toll on everyone.

I’m frustrated. Witches and their runes are holding the majority of attacks at bay, and certainly blocking Malik from entering too deeply into our territories, but it’s not enough.

Nowhere near enough. We need to take him out.

But we’re no closer to figuring out how.

I know my brothers share my frustrations, as apparently do the witches who demanded to be part of this meeting.

Aiden notices my approach and jumps down from the small stage to greet me with a brief hug.

The past couple of years have seen his youth and exuberance tempered and refined into something far more worthy of a leader.

I’m impressed with how he’s running the mountain pack.

His only downfall appears to be how much trouble he causes with women.

Though perhaps I’m only jealous because ever since that bewitching, I can’t seem to find it in myself to look at anyone other than that conniving, beautiful redhead.

I shake the thought away and clap my younger brother on the back. “Sorry, we’re late,” I say. “Ready to get started?”

Aiden laughs. “I’ll let you off if you can bring this crowd to order. Just need Callum and Marian.”

I roll my eyes at the high priestess’s name. She’s a royal pain in the ass. “Seriously, I don’t know why we’re involving them to this degree,” I snap as Aiden rolls his eyes. “I know, I know, their magic is helping. But at what cost? We’ve always lived separately, and it’s worked fine.”

Aiden scoffs. “Sure. We’ll just ask them to supply their magic and then go back out into the forest to fight off Malik and his growing hoard of rogues all on their own. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to help.”

His sarcasm grates, but I don’t bother replying because Callum and Marian are already walking over, deep in conversation.

I’ll never understand why Callum doesn’t see the truth about them.

Ralph had so many stories about how duplicitous they were growing up.

He wasn’t right about many things, but everything I’ve seen of the witches tells me he was spot-on about them.

Callum was always so determined to be nothing like our father that he’s blind to it.

“Good to see you, bro,” Callum says as we bump fists.

I turn and nod politely at Marian. Whatever my personal views, I can still be diplomatic to a point. “Let’s get this show on the road,” I say as we take to the stage.

Aiden was right; getting a crowd from three packs and a bunch of witches under control is a challenge, but soon enough, a hush falls over the clearing, and I begin to outline why we’ve called the alpha council.

Too many rumors persist about which packs are doing what, what our progress is, and what we plan to do next.

The council affords each alpha the chance to be publically transparent about their recent experiences and any progress in finding Malik.

Turning slightly to gesture toward Marian, I add, “And the witches can speak on their progress. I’m sure we all look forward to that.”

Marian clearly doesn’t miss the ice in my tone as she glares almost straight through me. Her almost white blonde hair and green eyes create a magical contrast that sets my nerves on edge even more than her deathly stare.

“Quite,” she replies with a smile that looks as sincere as my own.

Aiden clears his throat. “So,” he starts. “Let’s begin with the recent attacks. I’ll go first.”

We all listen to Aiden recount that the mountain pack has suffered a few minor attacks along their sea border, but nothing critical.

It does raise the issue that the number of rogues appears to be reinforced by strangers coming in from the mainland.

Hired fighters or devoted followers, we’re not sure.

I bite back a growl as I listen to Aiden and consider how under threat our island sanctuary really is.

Finally, it's my turn. I force myself to keep my voice level as I speak: “Our pack was attacked three nights ago. We lost two good men, including one of our oldest betas, George.” The silence that falls over the clearing is like ice water as everyone processes what I’ve said.

Even Marian looks genuinely saddened for a moment before schooling her features into something more neutral.

“That’s terrible news,” Callum says, and I can hear the concern in his voice. He steps forward and places a hand on my shoulder in sympathy. It's a small gesture, but it means a lot. “George was a good man. Any loss is terrible.”

I nod, grateful for his support. “We’ve found no trace of Malik yet, but we continue to scour the forest. We’ll gladly take the fight to him rather than wait.” I pause for a moment. “Now, about the witches…” I trail off, daring Marian to interrupt me.

But she surprises everyone by speaking first. “Some of our youngest have vanished,” she says quietly. Her voice is filled with thinly veiled anger. “We fear they’ve been taken captive. Not killed. Captured.”

The air around us seems to thicken with tension so palpable you could cut it with a knife.

I find myself instinctively scanning the crowds for the familiar red hair.

She’s deep in conversation with Ava and her other friend.

Somehow, I can always seem to read her like a book, and right now, she looks on edge.

“Captured?” Aiden echoes, his voice deeper than usual with barely concealed outrage. “By rogues?”

Marian shrugs delicately, her expression unreadable as ever. “We don’t know,” she says quietly. “But we do know that the vulnerability of our sisters, even within the shifter towns, has not gone unnoticed.”

I look at Callum, expecting him to look as frustrated as I feel, but his expression is carefully schooled, and I have the unmistakable feeling I’m about to be blindsided. Nothing should surprise me where the witches are concerned. But Callum? I don’t want to fall out with my brother, but I will.

"We've discussed a solution," Callum finally says. "Marian and I have spoken at length about the need for a union between our people. A witch and shifter alliance to build trust and stop these attacks." He looks at me, a silent plea for understanding, as I simply fold my arms and glare at him.

"You've spoken?" I snap, anger clouding my judgment. "Without consulting me? When did this happen?"

Marian clears her throat softly, and I turn to glare at her.

Her face is carefully neutral, but a glint in her eyes tells me she already knows she's won this round. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within me. This isn’t helping anyone.

My pack, our sanctuary, our safety—it’s all being threatened by politics and lies.

And here we are, arguing about who gets to decide what happens next.

“Don’t fret, Alpha,” she chides lightly. “If you hadn’t arrived late, you’d probably have been involved in our little chat. Poor Aiden was too busy playing host, so he missed it, too.”

"I—" Aiden begins, his fury evident, but Callum cuts him off.

“Marian,” he growls in warning. “We’re not playing games. If you genuinely want a union, stop pissing everyone off.”

The high priestess seems to consider her position for a moment before brushing it off with a wave of her hand, a small action that still dazzles with magic from her fingertips.

“Fair enough,” she laughs. “Wolves are so easy to piss off, though. It’s rather your default.”

I roll my eyes, and as I do, I turn toward the crowd and instantly find Emily again. She looks about as happy as I feel, and I can’t help wondering what about all this has her riled up. She’s a witch; they live for this chaos and drama.

Callum takes a deep breath before turning to Aiden and me.

I feel my wolf bristle, but force myself to remain calm and hear him out.

“Don’t think for a second I agree with everything Marian suggests,” he starts.

“Or her take on the integration of witches. There has been a lot of progress there, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.

But there is also lingering tension. I agree a union would help.

It is our way, and it’s worked for millennia; I don’t see why it won’t help here. ”

I scoff, “Have you heard yourself? Can you even imagine what Ralph would say about this stupid plan?” I snap.

Aiden laughs. “All the more reason to do it, though, right?”

I turn and glare at Aiden, all thoughts of his growth as an alpha evaporating when I consider that he’s so led by his dick that he’d support the union just to bed more witches. I shake my head at him, not even bothering to reply.

Marian sighs dramatically. “I know that some of you,” she begins, staring at me pointedly, “cannot look past your prejudice. So to make it easier on your small, closed minds, we’re offering a very palatable choice.

One of our sisters comes from an illustrious line in our coven and is blessed with excellent magical knowledge, but no practical magic of her own… so as not to scare the wolves.”

Marian continues talking, but the blood begins to race in my ears, and a sinking realization begins to dawn.

“Emily,” Marian calls out, “will you step forward, dear?”

Emily freezes, her gaze snapping to mine as the crowd parts slightly.

I feel like someone has punched me in the gut as she takes slow steps forward, clad in a dark blue dress that clings to her curves and makes my mouth water.

Even Ava looks shocked, and I look at Callum, his expression telling me instantly that he didn’t know Marian was going to choose Emily, though it makes sense in some ways—she’s been traveling between the packs, helping with the rune placement.

Her specialty, apparently, though I assumed that was bewitching spells.

Time seems to stand still until Marian claps her hands. “So, any takers? Betas or alphas only, please, don’t insult the witches any more than you already have.”

I look at Marian, exasperated. I quite often think the high priestess is insane. Now I’m sure of it. She claims to love all her sisters , yet she’s practically throwing Emily away with glee. Something doesn’t add up, and I can barely think straight.

“This isn’t a damn auction, Marian,” Callum snaps.

My wolf is going crazy, growling and snapping, ready to rip Marian’s head off. The thought of Emily bewitching another wolf the way she did me in the forest is filling my veins with rage.

Aiden nods, his face serious. “Quite. The plan is solid. Let’s adjourn and discuss who will be considered properly. We each have several betas who wo—”

“I’ll do it,” I grind out, loud and clear.

The clearing falls silent except for one very feminine voice from the crowd.

“The hell you will,” Emily states, walking away with her head held high.