My heart was breaking for this woman. I didn’t know her, but hearing more of her story and knowing she was family, I wasn’t going to let her hide anymore. We’d all been doing too much of that. It was time to break the family trait.

  “I’m assuming Beatrix knew who you were, though, if she allowed you to stay in the coven,” I said, urging Reah to continue.

  She let out a quiet laugh. “Yes, she figured it out as soon as she saw me. I denied the help then, worried things wouldn’t go how I felt I needed them to. That was when I tried to raise Benjamin on my own, but Beatrix found out about the troubles I was having and agreed to welcome me into the coven as just another witch with a son and a past we didn’t want to talk about.”

  Charlie gasped and looked at Benjamin. “Beatrix didn’t ask you to help only because you’re an excellent tracker.”

  He shook his head. “I didn’t know until after Andie saved me, but no, I think Beatrix thought my blood ties to Andie might help in the search.”

  My emotions were shaken. I didn’t know what to do next. “I won’t tell anyone what you’ve shared, but I would love to get to know you better if you’re comfortable with that.”

  My phone vibrated, and I almost ignored it until I realized Foster was the only one who would be calling me. I apologized to the others before answering. “Hey.”

  “Are you okay?” he asked quickly.

  “Of course. Why?” I glanced around, making sure I didn’t sense anything I might have been missing.

  He let out a heavy breath. “The bond. I sensed your emotions changing.”

  “Oh. Well, I have some news to share, but it’s not bad. We’ll chat when you’re back.”

  He grunted. “I’ll be there as soon as I can be.”

  The call ended and I turned back to the group. “Sorry about that. I meant what I said, except for when it comes to Foster. I can’t keep this from him.”

  Reah nodded, and there was a sadness in her eyes. “I understand, and I’d love to get to know you as well.”

  I bit my lip, not wanting to upset her, but needing to know. “Are there others out there? Who are part of Mom’s family?”

  “A few, but most of them split up after the kids grew and began to leave. We didn’t grow up in a coven like this. It was family, but it wasn’t safe. We stuck together as long as we had to, and then out into the world we went.”

  That was an awful way to grow up, but I was grateful they’d both found their way to Beatrix’s coven. She wasn’t conventional in the way she ran things, but this was a place of family and comfort. Nobody could deny that.

  Well, except for my mom. She’d left, doing what she’d thought had been the only choice after the way she’d grown up.

  I gave my head a slight shake. I couldn’t fall into the past. There was nothing any of us could do to change things, but I could make an effort to know Reah and stay close to Benjamin.

  “Thank you for coming to tell me,” I said to both of them. “I’ve thought I was alone for so long, and coming back here has meant everything to me, but this makes it all that much better.”

  “Maybe Foster won’t look like he wants to kill me when he finds out we’re family,” Benjamin joked.

  Charlie laughed. “Good luck with that. I think that’s his permanent facial expression.”

  Not long after that, we said our goodbyes and I walked back to my house with Charlie. My mood was lifted, and I was ready for the book part of my training that Beatrix had insisted we continue.

  I just hoped Foster also brought good news home with him.

  12

  FOSTER

  After going over preparations with Holden and Mack for a few hours, I asked to see the boy who had attacked Andie. Holden had said he didn’t remember much, but still, I wanted to hear it for myself.

  I’d been tempted to race back to the coven instead, but Andie’s emotions had been positive since I’d called her. Being an overbearing mate wasn’t going to do me any good when she was safe within the coven.

  “We’ve kept James in the pack house while we wait for him to recover. His mother is staying with him. She’s more bite than she is bark, so tread lightly,” Holden warned.

  I nodded stiffly as we walked up the stairs to the second level of the house. We passed three doors before turning down a short hallway and cracking open the first room on the left.

  Holden knocked first, then called out. “James? Lila?”

  “We’re still here, Holden,” a woman droned.

  The alpha smiled. “Yes, I just wanted to make sure we weren’t interrupting anything.”

  “We?” she asked before noticing me, then she glowered. “What’s he doing here?”

  Holden stepped between Lila and me. “Foster is just here to chat with James. He means no harm.”

  She brushed dirty-blonde hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms while narrowing her light-blue eyes on me. “I think my son has done enough talking. He did nothing wrong.”

  I softened my face and nodded. “I agree, ma’am. But it was my mate who was the target and I’d just like to ask a few questions myself to have some peace about the incident.”

  “You nearly took his head off that night,” she practically growled with darkening eyes.

  “I did, but if you have a mate bond, then you’ll understand I wasn’t exactly in control over my actions. I didn’t know he’d been spelled with dark magic,” I replied earnestly.

  She raised a brow. “And if you had, would that have changed what happened?”

  I was tempted to lie but thought better of it. “Doubtful.”

  Surprising me, she smiled. “You can stay. For a few minutes.”

  For the first time, I noticed James propped up in the bed by several pillows. His skin was pallid, cheeks sucked in, and his brown eyes were dull. He might have even been trying to smile, but the action looked more like a grimace.

  I stood at the foot of the bed with Holden right behind me. “Hello, James. I’m Foster.”

  “I know. I’m really sorry—”

  I waved a hand, cutting him off. “Don’t waste energy with an apology. I’ve seen what dark magic can do. You had no choice.”

  He nodded, and I continued. “Holden told me everything you shared, but I’m curious if you’ve remembered anything else since then. Like maybe how they got the thought into your head in the first place.”

  James shared a look with his mother, and she nodded. “We were going to tell you today, Holden.”

  “Tell me what?”

  James cleared his throat and tried sitting further up. “The voice is still there, but it’s quieter. I thought it was just a hum from being zapped by the witch, but it’s getting louder…clearer.”

  I gripped the footboard, the wood creaking from my grasp. “What is it saying?”

  “Kill the woman or kill yourself,” he said, his voice trembling.

  Holden patted his leg but looked at Lila. “Do you trust me?”

  She nodded. “I wouldn’t be here otherwise, and you know it.”

  “I’m going to bring Andie here to help James,” Holden said.

  Lila was out of her seat in an instant. “You want him to kill her?”

  A snarl ripped from my chest. “No.”

  Holden sent a wave of calming alpha energy through the room. “Andie can pull the dark magic out. Beatrix told me she did the same for the other boy, right?”

  I nodded stiffly. “But that was different. Beatrix can help with this one. Or any other healer, for that matter.”

  Holden grimaced. “Beatrix already did help. We thought James was getting better, just slower than expected, but if he’s still hearing a voice, whatever Beatrix did wasn’t enough.”

  Fuck. This didn’t make me happy in the slightest. Once Andie found out, she was going to want to help because that was who she was. I could keep it from her, but then I’d have to keep her from the pack and that wasn’t going to work, either.

  Holden clasped my shoulder. “Remember what I said earlier, Foster. We need to keep things minimal. Andie is who we need right now.”

  My wolf’s growl echoed through the room while I turned for the door. I didn’t even bother using the stairs. I leapt over the railing and landed with a thud on the first floor before storming out the front door.

  James might have been a kid, but he still wasn’t in control of his actions. Just the sight of Andie could set him off, and I was supposed to risk my mate being hurt just to save him?

  I wasn’t okay with this one damn bit.

  When I arrived back at the coven, some of my ire had fled, and I was a little surprised I hadn’t heard from Andie. The bond should have alerted her to my mood change, but when I walked into the house, she was laughing with Charlie, acting as if everything were fine.

  At least until she heard the door slam and met my eyes.

  Her chair toppled over, and she was rushing across the house in the next second. “What’s wrong?”

  “You didn’t sense anything before I walked in?” I asked first, because I couldn’t let it go.

  She shook her head. “But I can hardly breathe now that you’re here.” Her hand covered my chest. “You’re hurting.”

  “No, I’m pissed off.”

  Charlie grabbed her stuff and stood from the table. “That’s usually the same thing for men.”

  I didn’t hold back my growl.

  She held a hand up. “Easy, Wolf. I’m leaving unless there’s anything I can help with.”

  I looked down at Andie, hoping Charlie would see herself out. “We need to go to the pack. Tonight.”

  Andie glanced back at Charlie, then up at me. “Can she come? I’d like her to meet some of the wolves, and it’s been over a month since we’ve been going back and forth.”

  My jaw clenched. “Tonight’s not really the night.”

  “What happened?” Charlie asked, all joviality gone from her voice.

  I hesitated to reply, but she was going to know eventually.

  “The kid who attacked Andie still has dark magic in him. Holden doesn’t want to involve Beatrix, so he’s asking for Andie’s help.” I met my mate’s confused eyes. “He heard what you did for Benjamin.”

  She nodded. “Right. Well, I’m happy to try again. Is he awake?”

  My grip tightened painfully at my sides. “He is, and whatever spell he was hit with is still telling him to kill you. And if he can’t, he’s supposed to kill himself.”

  Andie reached for her jacket behind me. “We need to go. Now.”

  I took a deep breath. I’d known she would want to help, but I wasn’t ready.

  Charlie met my fiery gaze. “Let me come with you. Andie will need supplies. Items I already have in my bag in case I’d needed them earlier while training. I can help her. She shouldn’t do this by herself yet. You got lucky Beatrix showed up last time.”

  Charlie wasn’t wrong. I didn’t like the idea, but we didn’t have much of a choice if we couldn’t involve Beatrix.

  Andie peeked her head around me. “I’m still here, in case you forgot while you were discussing what I can and cannot do.”

  Charlie winked at her. “Can’t miss that pink hair of yours.”

  I cut off their banter. “If you come, you need to avoid as many wolves as possible.”

  She tightened the hold on her bag. “I’ll follow your lead.”

  I narrowed my eyes, my voice deepening. “I mean it, Charlie. No games while we’re there.”

  Charlie gave me a curt nod, and I turned for the door. Andie was smiling at me, but I couldn’t offer one back. Not until she was safe from whatever she was about to do.

  “Thank you,” she said quietly.

  I grunted. “Don’t thank me yet.”

  She grabbed my hand and led me out the door. Charlie jogged ahead of us and turned around. “A quick lesson.” She pressed her hands together and then pulled the right one away, facing it toward us and making a big circle. “Do that, but with your energy, Andie. While your palms are filling, think about where you want to be and how you want to get there. Picture the portal you want to open and what should be on the other side.”

  Andie gulped but nodded and released my hand before stepping forward.

  I wanted to say we didn’t really have time for even quick lessons, but I preferred this to teleporting any day.

  Charlie moved to stand behind Andie, guiding her movements without actually touching her and offering short pieces of advice while Andie did her best to create the portal. The first few times, there were nothing but flickers in the air, but within five minutes, Andie had a portal opened in the forest, and I could see the dirt road leading to the pack house.

  Andie let out a small whoop and hugged Charlie. “Thank you!”

  Charlie smiled and squeezed her back. “That was all you.”

  This was a side to my mate’s best friend that I’d yet to see, and I wasn’t disappointed. Andie was in good hands with Charlie as one of her trainers. That made me feel only slightly better about this whole shitty situation.

  I stepped forward and kissed Andie’s temple. “You did great.”

  She blushed before grabbing my hand again. I could sense her pulse increasing, and that had my thoughts returning to the fact that she hadn’t been able to sense me until we’d been in the same room.

  Maybe our bond wasn’t as complete as I’d thought it was, or maybe things were going to be more different between us than I’d been prepared for.

  I waited for my wolf to pipe in with his words of wisdom, but there was nothing from him. That didn’t me feel any better.

  Charlie helped Andie close the portal, and we walked toward the pack house. I let Holden know we’d arrived, and he was waiting out front for us.

  You didn’t tell me you brought a guest, he said through the pack connection.

  Andie is still too new to handle this on her own. It was either this or Beatrix. Plus, it shouldn’t be out of the ordinary for her childhood friend to come visit.

  He gave me a curt nod. I guess not.

  “Good evening, Holden. This is my best friend Charlie. I hope it’s okay that she came with us,” Andie said, breaking the tension I’d created with the alpha.

  Holden smiled. “Of course. I’m surprised you didn’t bring her by sooner. Come on in.”

  Charlie stayed quiet, and we followed after Holden, who went straight up the stairs and toward the room James was in. I pulled Charlie and Andie back once we got to the top and kept my voice low.

  “You’re to remove this dark energy only. You’re not responsible for healing him or anything extra.”

  Charlie patted my arm. “You got it. No need to worry.”

  My lip lifted, but Andie grabbed my chin and made me look at her. “I know you’re nervous, but I need you to believe I can help this boy. Otherwise, I’m going to be distracted and this isn’t going to work.”

  Fuck. Her words cut deep, and guilt nearly drowned me. “I’m sorry, Andie. It’s not you I don’t believe in. I promise. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  She let go of my chin and offered a small smile. “Then stand by my side and make sure that doesn’t happen.”

  I pulled her into my arms. “I can do that. I will do that. For you. Whatever you need.”

  The erratic feeling of keeping Andie safe had been changing over the last day. Ever since she’d gotten her magic back. Something wasn’t right, and I was worried it had taken me too long to figure out, but there was nothing we could do about it right then.

  Andie needed me to keep my shit together so we could help James. That was what I’d do. We’d figure the rest out afterward.

  We walked the rest of the way toward the room and found Charlie waiting just outside the door with a grimace on her face. “Can you feel that?”

  Andie placed a hand over her chest and nodded, but I had no clue what they were talking about. “What are you feeling?”

  “The heaviness from the dark magic. There’s more there than even Benjamin had,” Andie answered quietly.

  “A lot more,” Charlie echoed.

  Andie looked up at me. “We’re going to need more jars just in case.”

  “I don’t care what Holden wants. If we need Beatrix here, then I’ll get her here,” I said before I considered heading to get the requested items.

  Both Charlie and Andie shook their heads. “We can handle this,” Andie answered.

  They both entered the room with tense shoulders, but their heads were held high and smiles were pasted on their faces. At the same time, I felt like my heart was going to rip from my chest when I headed to get the needed containers.

  What is happening to us? I asked my wolf.

  He groaned. Bond isn’t right.

  What does that mean?

  You bonded to Andie, but she didn’t bond to us. I thought time would settle things out, but her magic isn’t accepting us and it’s making me tired.

  Fuck. This was why he’d been so quiet. I should have known something wasn’t right sooner.

  How do we fix this? I asked him.

  We still need Andie’s necklace. Junie’s magic isn’t enough.

  Will you be okay until we find it?

  If my wolf was in danger, there was no more working alongside the witches—I’d be finding that necklace on my own terms and soon.

  Just need to rest so I’m there when you need me. I’m fine. For now.

  I was already in the kitchen and grabbing jars when I felt him fade away again. Whatever was happening wasn’t okay, but we had to tackle one problem at a time, and Andie wasn’t going to let me pull her away from this boy. Not when she felt responsible for his condition. Moira never would have messed with the wolves if my mate wasn’t getting closer to the pack.

  Racing back up the stairs, I entered the room to find James lying flat on the bed with his eyes closed, jaw tight, and light-yellow magic shimmering around him I assumed to be from something Charlie did. His mother Lila was backed into the corner, and Holden was standing with her while Charlie and Andie took positions on each side of the bed.