Page 26 of Fated to the Wolf Cowboy (Cowboys of Collier #1)

Tricia

I was overwhelmed by the reception we had. It was insane.

New Yorkers would never come out to help a person like this.

I had a big screen television now hanging on my wall in the living room with a couch and two recliners to enjoy it. Sure, they didn’t match at all, but people just gave them to us.

I could not wrap my head around what was happening.

And there were so many people that came through and introduced themselves.

I felt bad because there was no way I was going to remember all their names.

And these people didn’t just offer a hand, they hugged.

It was a little unnerving to be touched by so many strangers, yet my wolf seemed to crave their touch, too.

They openly discussed my powers and many joked around about how I’d nearly driven Brady to the looney bin. Many of them seemed to get a good laugh about that, but I felt like it was still a bit of a touchy subject for my mate. Still, there were plenty of good laughs to be had on the subject.

Brady had been right, they went out of their way to make me feel accepted just as I am.

I didn’t have to hide any part of me. It made me feel vulnerable and exposed for it to be so out in the open, but every time my nerves began to spike, he’d just reach over and squeeze my hand, wrap his arm around me, or drop a sweet, possessive kiss on my temple like he knew I needed a little something at exactly that moment.

I’d never really stopped to think if I wanted Brady as a mate.

He was my true mate and the overwhelming draw to that had left it unquestionable.

But as I watched him, hyper aware of his every action throughout the day, and I saw firsthand how much people cared about him and his family, I knew this was exactly what I wanted in life—community, family, and a man that I knew would take my breath away.

Sure, we were going to fight. We were both stubborn and too passionate not too. Exact opposites. Fire and ice. City and country. But we had similar experiences and trauma that we’d overcome as well. I was still overcoming I supposed, but with him by my side, I knew everything was going to be okay.

“Hi, it’s Tricia, right?” a woman asked me.

“Um, yeah. Hi.”

She smiled warmly. “I’m Ginger and this is Talia and Brenda. We wanted to stop by and personally welcome you to Collier.”

“Thank you so much. I’ll admit this is all a bit overwhelming. But it’s so nice to meet you.”

Brenda hugged me. I was starting to get used to that.

“You are not alone, my dear.”

I looked at her curiously and she winked at me.

“We’re very excited you’re here,” Talia said, throwing her arms around me. “Ginger can camouflage herself.” I looked over at her. On second she was there, the next she was gone and then she was back again. “Cool, huh? Brenda is super fast. And I’m a shadow walker.”

“Witches,” I whispered. They were like me.

Talia shrugged. “We don’t really think about it. It’s just who we are.”

“And people here are okay with it?”

“Not much they can do about it. We were all born this way, same as you. It’s common knowledge, but not something we make a big deal about.

The rumors floating around here are saying you accidentally outed yourself.

That sucks. You don’t have to hide who you are.

People around here will accept you. We’re all proof of that.

But if you didn’t want everyone to know, then I’m sorry that happened to you.

It’s a part of you and you should be able to share or not share as you’re comfortable with. ”

Ginger reached out for my hand and squeezed it. “But you are not alone here,” she assured me.

I struggled to keep my emotions in check and when the three of them hugged me, I started to sob.

“Thank you.”

Brady must have sensed my heightened emotion because he nearly ripped them away from me to get to me.

I smiled and laughed. “I’m okay. Better than okay.”

“We’ll be in touch soon, if that’s okay with you,” Brenda said.

“I’d like that very much.”

“Are you okay?” he demanded.

I hugged him. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For all of this. For accepting me as me. I feel stronger here and with you, I finally feel safe.”

He kissed me so hard that it caused people nearby to take notice and cheer him on. My cheeks burned from embarrassment.

How was this my life now?

People came and went for several more hours. By the time the last one left I was physically and emotionally exhausted.

“Peyton did all this for you?” I asked.

“Seems so. She’s pretty incredible.”

“You’re lucky to have her.”

“We’re lucky to have her.”

“Look at this place. It actually looks like a house already.”

“I certainly wasn’t expecting this. Growing up the way we did, I never thought anyone gave a shit about me and my brothers. And Oliver would have beat the shit out of us for taking a handout. Smith boys don’t do that. But this felt different. I don’t even know how to explain it.”

“I know exactly what you mean.”

“This is one ugly couch, but damn isn’t comfortable.”

I squealed as he pulled me down onto it with him.

“Are you okay? Today was a lot.”

“It was, but I think you were right. I’m going to be okay here.”

He nuzzled into my neck and kissed a spot that sent chills up my spine.

“Maybe better than okay,” I confessed.

Before things could even start to heat up between us, his phone rang. It was Thomas again. I’d mostly heard their conversation.

As he hung up, he looked at me, frustrated. “We’ve been summoned back to the Alpha house.”

*****

“They put my mate as threat number one on their stupid list. What are they thinking? I just hope no one is dumb enough to come after her,” Kyle Westin said. “Because it will not end well.”

Kyle Westin was actually here, along with his mate and two sons.

I knew Lily had mentioned being a Westin. Logically I even knew that her brother was the Alpha, but standing in his presence was something else. The man was a legend amongst shifters and a champion of witches. Of course I stood there in awe.

Kelsey snorted. “No, it would not go well in their favor if they try to come for me.”

“Wait. You?” I asked. Kyle had said his mate. “You’re a witch, too?”

She grinned. “I am.”

“And a Pack Mother?”

“And a Pack Mother,” she confirmed.

“Ha! The only two level 5 witches in the known world right here at my table,” Lily said proudly. “I’m honored. I dare them to even try coming at us. Don’t worry, Tricia. We’ve got your back.”

Thomas chuckled. “Babe, you can’t make blind threats like that.”

“He’s right. We don’t take these things lightly,” Kyle agreed. “I have Westin Force already investigating and looking for any possible threats to our Packs.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “Puh-lease. The Grand Council is just onboard because you rankled some fur when you turned your back on their mating games. God, I hated those trials.”

“The Mating Trials?” Tricia asked.

“Yup. Barbaric nonsense and so is this new witch hunt.”

“They aren’t dumb enough to come after Tricia and Kelsey, are they?” Peyton asked.

“Not if they know what’s good for them,” Kyle said. “I will not stand for them threatening my mate.”

I shivered. He was so intense. I would be terrified to be on the wrong side of him.

Kelsey just shrugged. “They’ve tried before.”

As dinner wrapped up, the kids went off to play in other areas of the house. Lily and Peyton took cleanup duty while the men excused themselves to talk. That left me all alone with Kelsey.

“Can I ask what your powers are that landed you at the top of the list?”

“It’s not a secret, Tricia. I stopped hiding who I was a long time ago. But I’m a triple threat with multiple powers and a natural born Alpha she-wolf.”

I gasped. “No wonder they’re scared of you.”

“How about you? I heard a little, but I’d rather you tell me.”

“It still feels weird to talk about it openly. But I can talk to animals and when I need to, I can command them to do stuff for me.”

“So it’s true. What’s the largest animal you’ve controlled?”

I blushed. “A horse.”

“Why does that embarrass you?”

“You haven’t heard? I commanded a horse to help me out of a predicament.

When I use my powers in that way it’s almost like a piece of me goes with them.

I don’t really know how else to explain it.

They sort of take on my scent. It’s helped me to confuse trackers who go looking for a sewer rat instead of me.

But it also confused Brady who thought he was destined to be mated to that horse. ”

Her jaw dropped and then she burst out laughing.

“Shh. It’s not funny. He was so furious when we finally met. And people keep talking about it which doesn’t help the situation.”

“Because it’s hysterical. Poor Brady.”

It really felt like I’d met a kindred spirit in Kelsey.

“But why does that put you at the top of the list with me?”

“They seem to think that if I can control animals, then I can control their animal spirits.”

“Can you?” she asked without judgement.

“I honestly don’t know. Thomas and Luke want to test me to see. I don’t know what that entails. And frankly, I don’t even want to know it’s a possibility. What if I can? That’s a lot of power to put on one person. It’s not something I want at all.”

“I understand, but it’s better to know exactly what you’re capable of. Trust me on that. No matter how scary it feels. You need to know so you can decide what to do with it and not risk accidental use out of fear.”

“Thanks. It’s a lot to take in.”

“It is. And you’re not alone in this.”

“I met three local witches earlier who told me the same thing.”

“Hey, us witches, we stick together.”

“That’s probably what terrifies the Grand Council more than anything,” I joked.

Kelsey seemed to consider that. “You know. You’re probably right, but we aren’t going to bury our heads in the sand and wait for confirmation on that.

Make no mistake. If they press this issue and force our hand, we are prepared to fight for every witch out there.

That includes you, but I also hope you’ll consider joining us. ”

“I was on my way to Westin Pack fleeing New York when I got stuck here,” I confessed.

“You were?”

“Of course, rumors are everywhere that Westin Pack is the biggest, safest sanctuary for witches.”

She sighed. “My mate won’t be thrilled to hear that, but it’s probably the truth.

And with Westin Force we have the numbers and the strength to protect them all.

But Thomas and Lily will fight to protect you here too.

You’re always welcome in Westin Pack whether that’s a visit or a permanent relocation.

But Collier Pack is family to us, two halves of the same hole.

If the Grand Council comes after you here, you have allies, Tricia. We take care of our own.”

“I can’t leave Brady here and I can’t ask him to leave, especially not after today. These people are willing to accept me. I’ve never had that before. They are supporting us in ways I never dreamed people would. Plus, his family is here. I don’t really have family.”

“Yes, you do. You have Brady and his family too. They’re your family now. And you have all of us as well. The Westin-Collier alliance is unbreakable. Do you hear me? We’ll battle this together.”