Page 9 of Collar Me Crazy (Hollow Oak Mates #8)
SONYA
T he bell above Bloom & Blossom's door chimed as Sonya entered, carrying the morning frost on her jacket. The apothecary smelled like dried herbs and peace, with bundles of lavender hanging from the rafters and bottles of tinctures lining the walls in neat rows.
"Perfect timing," Freya called from behind the counter where she was grinding something that sparkled faintly in the November sunlight. "I could use an extra pair of hands this morning. We've got three different orders of protection charms due before noon."
"Happy to help." Sonya shed her jacket and rolled up her sleeves. "What do you need me to do?"
"Start with those dried sage bundles. They need to be tied with red thread for the warding properties." Freya gestured toward a pile of herbs on the work table. "And don't worry about getting it perfect. The magic responds to intention more than technique."
Sonya settled into the rhythm of the work, finding comfort in the simple, repetitive motions. The apothecary felt peaceful in a way that reminded her of her grandmother's kitchen, all warmth and purpose and the quiet satisfaction of creating something useful.
"Thank you for offering. Moira said you’d be willing to help. I really appreciate it.”
“Absolutely,” Sonya said with a smile as she continued tying.
“So," Freya said, crushing dried rosemary with a mortar and pestle. "How are you settling in? Hollow Oak can be a lot to take in at first."
"Everyone's been very welcoming. Well, mostly everyone."
"Ah." Freya's tone turned knowing. "You met Ryker."
"Briefly." Sonya concentrated on her sage bundles, not trusting her expression. "He wasn't exactly thrilled to see me."
"Don't take it personally. Ryker's been skittish around new people since he arrived here. Especially people who might actually matter to him."
The bell chimed again, and two women entered in a swirl of animated conversation.
Sonya recognized the first as Cora from when she had stopped into the Book Nook, her pale blonde hair caught back in a practical bun.
The second woman had thick black waves and sharp hazel eyes that took in everything at once.
"Morning, Freya," Cora said, unwinding a bright scarf from her neck. "We're here for the monthly gossip session disguised as herb shopping."
"And to meet the mysterious seer who's got everyone talking," the dark-haired woman added with a grin. "I'm Katniss, by the way. I run the true crime podcast that probably drove half this town crazy last year."
"Sonya." She set down her sage bundle and offered a smile. "And I think I'm the one driving people crazy this time."
"Only the right people," Cora said diplomatically. "How's the settling-in process going?"
"Complicated." Sonya returned to her work, needing something to do with her hands. "I'm starting to think my visions brought me here for reasons I don't fully understand yet."
"Visions usually do," Katniss said, settling onto one of the stools around the work table. "Mind if I ask what you're seeing?"
"Ryker, mostly. But also flashes of Hollow Oak itself, and they're not all pleasant." Sonya hesitated, then decided these women might understand better than most. "Has anyone else noticed changes in the town's magic lately? Fluctuations or instabilities?"
Freya and Cora exchanged glances.
"The protective wards have been a little temperamental," Freya admitted. "I've had to reinforce the ones around my shop twice this week. But I figured it was just seasonal variation."
"Callum mentioned something about the boundary markers feeling different during his patrols," Cora added. "But he thought it might be related to all the mate bonds strengthening the overall magical structure."
"What if it's the opposite?" Sonya asked. "What if something about the concentration of mated pairs is destabilizing rather than strengthening?"
"That's a terrifying thought," Katniss said bluntly. "Especially considering what happened when the rogue pack tried to mess with the town's foundations."
"Speaking of difficult men," Cora said, clearly changing the subject before it could get too dark. "How are you handling Ryker's determined avoidance? Because I have experience with stubborn shifters who think they're too dangerous for their own good."
"He ran away. Literally." Sonya tied off another sage bundle with more force than necessary. "The moment we touched, he looked at me like I was going to end the world and then disappeared into the forest."
"Sounds familiar," Cora said with a knowing smile. "Callum spent our first month together trying to convince me I'd be safer if I left town. Kept insisting he was too territorial and possessive for a normal relationship."
"How did you change his mind?"
"I didn't. I just refused to let his fear make my decisions for me." Cora picked up a bundle of dried chamomile and began separating the flowers. "Eventually he realized that pushing me away was hurting both of us more than taking the risk of letting me stay."
"But what if he's right?" Sonya's hands stilled on the red thread. "What if I really am safer staying away from him?"
Katniss said gently, "If safe was your priority, you wouldn't have driven halfway across the state following visions that led you to a supernatural town full of alpha shifters."
"Fair point."
"Besides," Freya added, "some things are worth the risk. The question is whether you think Ryker is one of them."
Before Sonya could answer, another vision flooded her present awareness.
Hollow Oak at night, but wrong. The streetlights flickered and died while shadows poured through gaps in reality like water through torn fabric.
The Veil, usually invisible, became visible as it shredded apart in long, ragged strips.
Magic bled out of the town in luminous streams, leaving buildings dark and lifeless.
People running, screaming, their supernatural abilities failing as the protective barriers collapsed. The seven mated couples fighting desperately to hold the pieces together, but their combined power wasn't enough.
In the center of it all, a figure she couldn't quite see clearly, standing alone while chaos raged around them.
"Sonya!" Cora's voice dragged her back to the present. Strong hands gripped her shoulders, steadying her as the apothecary came back into focus. "Are you okay?"
"The Veil," she gasped, her throat raw like she'd been screaming. "It's going to break. Soon."
"What did you see?" Freya demanded, her usual gentle demeanor replaced by sharp urgency.
"The town under attack, but not from outside.
From something that's been feeding on the magical energy here.
" Sonya pressed her hands to her temples, trying to process the flood of images.
"The seven mate bonds aren't stabilizing the magic.
They're overloading it, creating too much power in one place. "
"And you think Ryker's connected to this somehow?" Katniss asked.
"I know he is. The question is whether he's the solution or the catalyst." Sonya looked up at the three women surrounding her, seeing her own fear reflected in their faces.
"How long do you think we have?"
Sonya shrugged, unable to tell the time in the chaotic flashes of scenery.
"Based on what I've been seeing in the protection wards?" Freya bit her lip, calculating. "Weeks, maybe. A month at most before something gives way."
"Then we need to figure this out fast." Sonya stood, her mind already racing ahead to possibilities and plans. "Because if my visions are right, Hollow Oak doesn't have time for Ryker to work through his issues at his own pace."
"What do you need us to do?" Cora asked, and Sonya felt a rush of gratitude for the immediate, unquestioned support.
"Help me understand what we're really dealing with. The history, the magic, the connections between everything." She looked around at their determined faces. "And maybe help me figure out how to convince a terrified alpha wolf that sometimes the greatest danger is doing nothing at all."
"Now that," Katniss said with a fierce grin, "sounds like a challenge worth taking on."