“Checking up on you.”

  “Out of the two of us, I’m not the one who needs checking up on.”

  She whirled, looking offended. “Hey, you’re talking to the newest coven leader. I think I can handle myself.”

  I snorted. “These people have a short memory if they think you should be in charge. You were a menace in high school.”

  She grinned. “Yeah, but I always had you to get me out of trouble.”

  “Why do I feel like that’s what you’re about to ask me again?”

  Her smile dimmed. “Because I am?”

  I groaned. “What now? And do not say you need me at some diplomatic dinner because you know I hate people. And, turns out, they hate me.”

  “No dinner,” she said, ignoring my jab at what had become a sore spot in my social life. “Just one tiny favor and I swear I won’t ask you anything else.”

  “It can’t be that tiny if you’re swearing.”

  “The thing is, there’s this guy. His name is Silas—”

  “The lupin? No way. Don’t even think about involving me.”

  “He’s not just lupin, Chloe. He’s hexerei too. A hybrid.”

  “Even worse.”

  She sighed. “Look, he has hexerei blood but his gifts aren’t developed. If he can learn how to wield his magic, the coven will begin to see him as one of us.”

  “Why see him at all?” I asked. “Send him back to his pack and be done with it.”

  “He can’t go home,” she said and I scowled because yeah I knew that. I’d been there when the whole thing went down three months ago. Didn’t mean I had to accept it. Or him.

  “Fine. So he needs to learn to use his magic. I’m not the only teacher around. In fact, I’m technically not a teacher at all.”

  I had been. Sort of. Back when no one had magic beyond the earth’s energy to draw upon. But now, no one cared about the old ways. Not when they could shoot things like fire and ice from their damned fingertips.

  “You’re the only one I trust,” Kel said, and I shook my head, not even close to falling for her bull shit.

  “No one else will work with him,” I said knowingly.

  She winced. “That too.”

  “Unbelievable,” I muttered. Crossing my arms, I said, “he’s a pariah. If I work with him, no one will want anything to do with me.”

  “Perfect. You said yourself that you hate people. This will keep them away.”

  “You’re taking advantage of me.”

  “Name your price.”

  I stared at her, surprised.

  “Why do you want to help him so badly?”

  “Because he’s my family,” she said quietly. “And because I’m not like Cohen. We have to break the hate if we’re ever going to live in peace.”

  I sighed. I didn’t disagree with her. But this? She was asking me to commit social suicide.

  “A favor,” I said finally. “Of my choosing. To be named at a later date. That’s my price.”

  Kel bit her lip. I could see the wheels turning. Our kind didn’t trade in unnamed favors often. There were too many horror stories—legends, fairy tales, myths that weren’t myths—to warn off anyone thinking of actually saying yes. The fact that Kel hadn’t outright refused me immediately was a pretty good indicator of how badly she wanted this.

  “Okay,” she said hesitantly. “But I won’t kill anyone for you.”

  I barked out a laugh. “That’s where your mind goes? Don’t answer that. Ugh. Wow, I didn’t actually expect you to agree.”

  “You should know me better than that,” she said. “I don’t bluff.”

  “No,” I agreed. “But neither do I.” I blew out a breath. “Fine. Where is he staying?”

  “Ah!” Kel hooted and ran around the counter to hug me. “Thank you. You won’t regret this, I swear.”

  Famous last words.

  Wolf Revealed is coming in 2022!

  Pre-order now to read about Silas & Chloe!

  Heather Hildenbrand lives in coastal Virginia where she writes paranormal and urban fantasy romance with lots of kissing & killing. Her most frequent hobbies are truck camping with her goldendoodle, talking to her plants, and avoiding killer slugs.

  You can find out more about Heather and her books at www.heatherhildenbrand.com.

  Or find her here:

  Facebook

  Reader group on FB

  Instagram

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  Other titles by Heather Hildenbrand:

  A Witch’s Call

  A Witch’s Destiny

  A Witch’s Fate

  A Witch’s Soul

  A Witch’s Prophecy

  A Witch’s Hope

  Twisted Tides

  The Girl Who Cried Werewolf

  The Girl Who Cried Captive

  The Girl Who Cried War

  The Winter Witch

  The Spring Witch

  A Witch’s Heart

  Midnight Mate

  Goddess Ascending

  Goddess Claiming

  Goddess Forging

  Kiss of Death

  Knock Em Dead

  Death’s Door

  Dead to Rights

  Dead End

  The Girl Who Called The Stars

  The Girl Who Ruled The Stars

  Alpha Games

  Alpha Trials

  Alpha Chosen

  Dirty Blood

  Cold Blood

  Blood Bond

  Blood Rule

  Broken Blood

  One Hour: bonus novella

  Imitation

  Deviation

  Generation

  Guarded by the Alpha

  Alpha Undercover

  Mated to the Wilde Bear

  The Bear’s Fated Mate

  Protected By the Bear

  The Badge and the Bear

  Tragic Ink: A Havenwood Falls story

  Contemporary Romance

  Risking My Heart

  Betting My Heart

  O Face

  For a complete list of titles, visit Heather’s website.

  Heather also writes contemporary romcom under the name Moxie Rose. Find out more about her books at moxierosebooks.com.

 

 

  Heather Hildenbrand, Wolf Chosen (Lone Wolf Series Book 3)

 

 

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