Page 40 of Bitten Shifter (The Bitten Chronicles #1)

Chapter Forty

My pulse races. Oh no. This is bad. They don’t understand what they are up against. These magic users aren’t merely bureaucrats; they are powerful and will defend their authority with lethal force. If a fight breaks out, someone on our side will die—maybe everyone.

I can’t let that happen. Two days isn’t worth anyone’s life.

Merrick moves as though he is about to stand, but before he can, I clamp my hand around his forearm. My grip is steady and firm, even though I’m trembling inside. “It’s okay,” I say again, forcing calm into my tone. “I can do two days.”

His jaw clenches, muscles flexing beneath my hand. “No.”

“Can you stay with me?” I ask, hoping for a compromise.

“No,” the stern woman cuts in before Merrick can respond. Her smile is thin, her tone dismissive. “It’s only two days. You will be perfectly safe here, Mrs Winters. Nothing will happen to you.”

Merrick’s nostrils flare, his anger barely contained. He tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his touch almost painfully gentle. “We will all wait for you,” he says quietly, his voice hoarse. “We will find accommodation close by. We can be here within minutes if you need us.”

“Excellent.” The woman’s smile broadens, as if she’s just scored a victory and won a prize. “I look forward to working with you.”

Not if I’ve got anything to say about it. “I’m not working with you,” I tell her flatly. Her expression darkens. “I don’t trust you. I don’t like you, and frankly, you have been nothing but rude.”

Colour flushes her cheeks. “Well, you need to work with someone,” she snaps.

“I will work with the lady in the blue cardigan, if she is willing.” I glance towards the elderly woman I’ve been watching.

Her grey hair is neatly pinned into a bun, and her kind brown eyes are quietly observant. Throughout the meeting, she’s remained calm, her reactions more genuine than performative—like when she winced when the man with the glasses declared that shifters were not human. The subtle anger that flickered in her gaze felt like a defence of us—not just politeness.

Real empathy.

She is the only one here I feel I can trust. If I’m going to learn, I want someone who values what I am, not someone who barely tolerates my existence.

“Me?” she asks, pressing a hand to her chest in surprise. Her voice holds warmth and uncertainty. I nod, meeting her gaze.

“Well, Mary,” Dayna says with a hint of a smile, “do you have time? Will you help?”

“Of course, I would love to.”

“The Professor is long retired,” the sharp-tongued woman interjects, her voice almost frantic. “She does not?—”

“It would be an honour to help guide the Alpha’s mate,” Mary interrupts smoothly, her gaze never leaving mine. “I have time,” she adds, her smile deepening. Her measured tone leaves no room for argument. The other woman snaps her mouth shut, frustration etched across her features.

“Thank you,” I say.

Mary dips her head in acknowledgement.

The chamber door creaks open, and the human official in a sharply tailored suit strides in, adjusting his collar. A sheen of sweat glistens under the magical lighting, and his gaze settles on me with undisguised contempt.

“Ah, Minister, thank you so much for coming,” Dayna greets him. “The Alpha and his mate were just leaving. Mary will escort Mrs Winters to the training room.”

Mary stands, her steps slow as she beckons me forward. “This way, dear.”

Reluctantly, I follow the two women into the corridor, Merrick following close behind. His fingers brush mine.

“You can say your goodbyes now,” the sharp-tongued woman announces, looking between Merrick and me, then at Mary. “Mary, can I have a word, please?”

Mary offers a serene smile, her endless patience evident as she allows herself to be led down the corridor. The woman’s voice drifts back, sharp and clipped, “Mrs Winters needs to learn…”

I tune her out. My full attention settles on Merrick. “What about the vampire problem?”

“You will be perfectly safe,” he reassures me. “This place is a fortress. No one is going to get near you here.”

Including you? The thought coils in my stomach. What if I’m trapped here? My breath catches, and I force myself to exhale slowly. The Council can’t hold me indefinitely unless they decide I’m a threat. Then I might never get out at all.

Merrick’s voice pierces my spiralling thoughts. “While you are continuing your education,” he says carefully, “I will organise the search for Paul. My best team is already on it. If he is findable, they will find him, Lark.”

The knot in my chest pulls tighter. “I don’t want to see him if you do. I just want him safe and far away from me.”

“We can arrange that,” Merrick promises.

“Thank you.”

His expression softens. “Are you sure you will be all right? You don’t have to do this if you are not ready.”

I bump him lightly with my shoulder, forcing a small smile. “I will be fine. I’m nervous—maybe even a little scared. Perhaps a little excited. I guess it’s better to get this over with now.”

“If you need me, call.” His lips tilt in a faint smile. “Remember your code word?”

“Yeah, yeah, funny guy,” I say with an exaggerated eye-roll, failing to hide a grin.

He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek, leaving me with a pang of longing. “Stay safe. I will have your things sent over.”

Riker gives me a sheepish, almost guilty smile as he walks past. “Have fun with the magic stuff,” he teases, though his eyes betray his worry.

“I will,” I promise.

With one last reassuring squeeze of my hand, Merrick and the other shifters disappear down one corridor, while Mary and I head down another.

Her steps are short and shuffling—her pace slow. I adjust mine to match hers and glance back just once before the corridor curves, blocking Merrick, who gives me a final wave, from view.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear,” Mary says kindly. “You must have been terribly frightened. May I ask why you never told anyone you were a technomancer? We are not as bad as you think—if you would have come to us, you would have had nothing to fear. You could have avoided all this unpleasantness.”

“I didn’t even know about my magic until I was fifteen,” I admit. “By then, I’d already been sterilised. I was terrified the human government would find out, and they would kill me to prevent an international incident.”

Mary’s brown eyes widen, her brows knitting in concern. “My goodness, you are quite perceptive. I daresay you were probably right. The human government can be… shortsighted.” She shakes her head, her voice gentler now. “And you have kept this secret all these years? Taught yourself? You were just a little girl.”

“I did what I could,” I say, the words heavier than I intend. “I didn't have a choice. The magic seemed… quite willing, almost eager, once I realised it was tied to my emotions. If I kept myself under control, the magic followed.”

A sparkle lights Mary’s eyes, deepening the lines at the corners. “Remarkable. Truly remarkable. And your magic—it came quite naturally, didn’t it? Quite willing, as you put it.”

I nod, unsure how to elaborate.

She pats my arm gently. “I noticed you scan the chair and the Council’s table. That isn’t something just anyone can do. Your instincts are good, your basic skills are excellent, and you have a deep well of untapped potential. Not many can taste magic.”

“Taste magic?” I echo, surprised. My mind flicks to Lander’s words in the warehouse. I’d been too scared then to consider what he meant.

“Oh yes, dear,” she replies, laughing lightly. “Very rare, very exciting. I haven’t met a technomancer in years. My grandmother was one. Of course, back in her day, technology wasn’t nearly as advanced as it is now. She only had radio waves to work with, and she made them do all sorts of interesting things. But you—oh, with modern technology, I can only imagine your potential.”

She tilts her head, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “So, tell me—what can you do?”

Hesitantly, I explain my knack for working with computers and networks, tracing and manipulating data.

Mary’s smile grows with every word. “Oh, that’s excellent! Absolutely marvellous! Your human education must have been a great help, giving you a solid understanding of how these systems work. A grasp of technology, blended with magic? You are quite formidable. You are a clever girl.”

“I’m forty-seven,” I say gently, hardly a ‘girl.’

Mary chuckles, the sound soft and chiming. “Eighty-three,” she counters, “and to me, you are a spring chicken. I remember being your age—so young and full of promise. Now look at you, on the cusp of something extraordinary.” She gives my arm a reassuring squeeze. “I’m not sure who’ll learn more, me or you. But I promise, when you leave, you will take away some valuable knowledge, techniques, and, I hope, new friends. And remember this: you are not alone anymore. You have a magical family now.”

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat is making it difficult for me to speak. “Thank you,” I manage, my voice barely above a whisper.

“And you are a shifter too,” she adds, her tone brightening. “You have the shifters, your mate, and I hear you are a sigma. You really are remarkable, Lark. Truly remarkable. May I call you Lark?”

“Yes,” I whisper, my throat still tight. “Of course.”

“Splendid!” Mary exclaims, clapping her hands lightly. “Now, you are probably exhausted after your journey, but I thought we’d work through lunch. There’s so much to do, and I’m eager to begin.”

“That’s fine with me.”

“Excellent! So, what do you like to eat? Do you find yourself leaning more towards a carnivorous diet these days, or do you still enjoy?—”

“Pasta,” I cut in, relieved by such a simple question. “I love pasta.”

Mary’s entire face lights up, as though I’ve just shared a marvellous secret. “Ah, pasta! Do you know, I believe they are making lasagne today!”

Her excitement is infectious. For the first time since arriving in this sector, I feel a spark of warmth and a quiet reassurance that somehow, everything might be okay.