Page 79 of Fated to the Wolf Cowboy

“Level 5,” he muttered.

“What?” I asked.

“They’ve ranked you as a level 5 witch, Tricia.”

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“On a scale of one to five with one being the least concerning, they have you listed as a 5. Currently only one of two documented level 5’s in the entire world.”

I looked at my mate. She was no threat to us.

“Why?” I asked.

“Yeah, why? I’ve always been the weird-o, not a threat to anyone. I talk to animals,” she blurted out. “How does that rank me the most dangerous of witches?”

A laugh escaped me. “She’s right. This is ridiculous. It’s a joke, right?”

“I’m afraid not. There’s a kill on site order in place for all level 5 witches,” Thomas said, solemnly.

“This really isn’t a joke?” Tricia asked.

Thomas shook his head.

“Why is talking to animals a threat to anyone? I mean, besides me and the whole horse confusion thing?”

“You don’t just talk to animals, do you, Tricia?”

She stiffened next to me.

I scooted my chair closer and wrapped my arm around her in silent solidarity. I wasn’t sure what I could do to protect her from two born Alphas and a trained security wolf, but I would sure as hell die trying if it came to it.

“It says here that you also command animals,” he continued.

“We already know that,” I pointed out. “And when she does, it’s like a piece of her goes with them. While she was injured out on the range, she sent Clementine into town for supplies and help. Her scent on the horse was what made me think it was my mate. She’s already explained it to me. We aren’t hiding it. She’ll tell you whatever you want to know,” I assured him.

“Yeah, but it says here that she can control any animal. Including our wolves.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks.

“What? Is it true?” I asked her.

Tricia’s jaw locked and she started to shake her head, then stopped and shrugged. “Not that I’m aware of. But I’ve never actually tried. I always thought of it more as working with the animals: rats, squirrels, small critters like that. Clementine was the first large creature I’ve ever tried it on. We don’t exactly have many in the city. The horses in Central Park are all ownedby humans or the human police. I wouldn’t have dared to think to try messing with them. The only time I even use my powers is when there’s a threat and it always felt more like the animals were coming to my rescue than me controlling them. Otherwise, I just make friends with them. That’s it. I’m as harmless as they come. Like I said, the weird girl who talks to animals. Nothing more.”

“You’ve never controlled a shifter in animal form before?” he asked.

“No! Never! I wouldn’t dream of even trying something like that.”

Thomas looked to me for clarification. He didn’t have to ask for me to know his unspoken question.

“She’s telling the truth. I’m certain of it.”

I actually didn’t know one way or another, but I had to trust her. She was my mate.

He nodded.

As my Alpha, he could no doubt sense how close our connection was becoming. If my mate were lying, I’d know it. Wouldn’t I?

“Well, the question now becomes, what do we do with this?”