Chapter 383
Chapter 383
46 – Elara
We drove northwest, the car filled with a comfortable silence that stretched between us. After about twenty minutes, he still hadn’t uttered a word, but I noticed a subtle shift in his demeanor-he seemed more at ease the further we distanced ourselves from Richard and Sebastian.
Breaking the quiet, I glanced over and asked, “Are you going to tell me what we’re doing, or should I start worrying that you’re taking me somewhere deep in the woods without a clue?” My eyes narrowed in suspicion, waiting for some kind of explanation.
He exhaled sharply, frustration evident in his voice. “I got a message from Tommy and Alpha James. We have a meeting p>
“Was there any chance you were going to fill me in? Give me a heads-up? Or did you want me to walk in blind and look like a complete fool?” I leaned my elbow against the window, resting my chin on my hand, clearly annoyed. Get full chapters from
He shrugged, avoiding eye contact. “I wasn’t sure you’d go along with it p>
“Well… I’m sitting right here with you in this car. Doesn’t that say something about the trust I have in you? Maybe you could show me the same respect.” My frustration bubbled over as I crossed my arms and turned my gaze back to the road ahead. I thought we had reached some form of understanding. He was here now, part of my pack. I’d taken a huge risk trusting him, and while he was one of the few people I leaned on, there was still so much left to build between us. I had hoped this situation was common ground.
He finally spoke again, his voice low and serious. “Her name is Briana. She’s a Nature Witch and the leader of the Verdant Coven. She’s just as determined as we are to either eliminate or contain the Ember and Ash Coven. Whether she wants to help us or simply protect her own kind, I don’t know. That’s all I have p>
“So, let me get this straight,” I scoffed without looking at him. “We’re supposed to meet a witch, with zero backup, who might not even be on our side p>
“Who said I didn’t bring backup?” His tone dropped to a low growl, and despite my irritation, I felt a familiar shiver run through me.
“You never told me what the plan was beyond the two of us meeting some coven leader,” I countered.
“Do you honestly think I’d throw you into some unknown situation without a plan? With everything going on, I thought you knew me better than that. How many times have we gone scouting, patrolling, or exploring caves without a team?” His words hit home. He was right-he always planned for the worst. Like an old man preparing for every possible disaster before leaving the packhouse.
Still, I was tired of assuming people were doing their jobs properly.
“So, who’s with us?” I barely managed to ask before my phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts.
“Hello, bosslady. Bossman said you’re giving him a hard time,” Jax’s voice crackled through the link, full of teasing laughter. Seriously? Were they having secret conversations about me?
“Will you cut the guy some slack?” Dev chimed in, as if I’d been arguing with them instead of Ben.
“What did he tell you about this mission?” I demanded. If they knew more than I did, Ben was definitely sleeping out on my balcony tonight—silver cuffs included, to keep him from shifting.
“Some witch leader who’s into nature magic wants to talk about our witch problem,” Jax replied, sounding indifferent. “That’s all we know p>
“And you’re both okay with jumping into the unknown with your new Beta without checking in with me first p>
“You two are inseparable when he’s around. It’s safe to assume if he’s going somewhere, so are you. So tone down the third-degree interrogation, bosslady. We knew you were coming and figured you knew the plan. Now let’s go get some answers.” I could hear his breathing quicken before the link cut off. They must be patrolling near our truck.
It was impossible to stay mad at them. This was exactly what I would have done. I just hated being left out of the loop.
“Why didn’t you tell me we were doing this?” I turned fully toward Ben, my voice firm. This was my pack. I wasn’t about to be kept in the dark about anything. It was part of why we were in this mess to begin with.
“Honestly?” He gave me a sidelong glance.
“Yeah, that’s pretty much the question p>
“I wasn’t sure how your meeting with Richard and Sebastian would go.” He slowed the car as we neared a clearing.
“Explain I urged.
He shifted into park, took a deep breath, and faced me. “It could have gone so many ways. They might have lied to us. You might not have had the nerve to Alpha command them, considering they were your father’s former team. The most likely scenario, I thought, was that you’d unleash all the anger you’re still holding onto from your parents on Richard. I also figured you might go after Jeff again. We need answers, but I wouldn’t have stopped you either.” He stepped out of the car at that, leaving me stunned. What the hell? That wasn’t an answer-it was more like a warning.
“Ben, wait.” I grabbed his shoulder, spinning him back toward me. “Why didn’t you tell me p>
“I made a judgment call. I planned for both possibilities—bringing you in or letting you grieve however you needed. Telling you upfront would have influenced how you reacted today. You know now, and she’s here somewhere. Let’s go.” He nudged my shoulder with his own before turning away.
I scanned the dense forest surrounding us. “How do you know she’s here p>
“Have you not been on patrols with the guys lately p>
“I have, but I’ve been busy. You know, traitors in my pack and all.” I smirked as we carefully pushed through thick brush. There were no visible trails, which meant this spot was rarely, if ever, visited. There was something calming about a piece of forest left untouched. Sure, we tried to stick to our paths and disturb as little as possible, but this was something different—almost sacred.
“You feel it.” Ben’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see him watching me closely, and I stumbled slightly. As usual, he caught me before I could fall flat on my face. I swear, I’m only clumsy around him. Probably why I felt the need to remind him, “I’m the Alpha p>
“Huh p>
“I can see it on your face—you sense the magic around us. She must have some kind of barrier up. I’m still learning, and Tommy’s researching too, but I can smell it. The air has this clean ozone scent and a faint metallic taste p>
Closing my eyes, I focused. Almost instantly, the sensation hit me—the scent, the taste, the calm that settled over the clearing. Fascinating. “Is that all magic, or just hers?” The longer we stood there, the more curious I became.
“It’s a side effect of Nature Magic.” A soft, melodic voice floated through the trees, silky and soothing. I could have listened to it forever. That kind of power was dangerously captivating.