Page 80 of Rejected By the Alpha King

“Until?” Cam prompted. “Why did you stop speaking to my father? He was heartbroken, you know. There was a time when he thought surely you were dead.”

“When I left the Spellkyn coven, I worried about retribution. I feared he and any other witch I was friendly with would be a target, so I cut ties with them. I am sorry to say that I never spoke to him again.”

“And this Spellkyn coven? Are they responsible for your attack and his death?” Maeve hissed. “What secrets are you keeping from us, witch?”

“The Spellkyn coven is responsible for the death of dozens of witches,” Irene said in a hard voice. “And the Darkwyn coven culled them for it. Two witches escaped, but they were killed over a year ago. There are no Spellkyns left. That is why there are no more covens in these woods.”

Maeve frowned. “How have I not heard of this before? Wolves share these woods, and I knew of no battle between witches.”

“It didn’t involve the woods, so the Darkwyn coven kept it quiet. It was our burden and our shame,” Irene said bitterly.

I touched her arm comfortingly. “Witches are being attacked again, Irene. Are there any similarities?”

“The Spellkyns were accused of stealing power,” Irene said slowly. “And killing for it. It’s against witch law, but it does happen. It’s happening now, but the Spellkyns are dead. If any of them remained, one of the Darkwyns would have seen it, and I did not recognize my attackers.”

“Tell me, how is it that someone as young as you survived when the man who helped mentor you is dead?” Power emanated from Maeve. Jax growled, but Maeve didn’t back down. Her eyes glowed silver as she leaned forward, and I could see the fury in them. “Perhaps it is you that is behind these attacks. Seeking refuge with the Darkwyn coven or conspiring against them?”

I felt the magic brewing in Cam just before it lashed out. This time, I was not the target, but before I could blink, Irene was on her feet and Cam was against the wall.

Holding her hand out steadily, Irene narrowed her eyes at Cam. “You dare to come into my home and threaten me?” She hissed. “You are half the witch your father was. Perhaps you’d like to join him.”

36

Jax

“Irene,” I said in a stern voice. “Release her.”

I felt Irene’s arm waver, but we both knew she didn’t have the power to go through with her threat. Instead, she released Cam.

Maeve drew herself up to her full height. “And here we all thought your witch was powerless,” she hissed.

Clearing her throat, Cam brushed herself off. “She is,” she said before offering a soft smile.

“My father said you were so powerful you could command the wind with your pinky. But for now, that is all you can do.”

Irene tossed her hand experimentally and frowned. “And now it appears that I cannot even do that. I hope you found whatever it is you are looking for. I am now defenseless against the other witches.”

Narrowing my eyes at Maeve, I snarled. “Give me one damn good reason why I shouldn’t kick you and your witch off my land right now, and don’t you dare tell me that she was acting of her own accord. I saw you signal to her to attack.”

“I will not apologize. It was a non-lethal attack,” Maeve said as she drew herself up to her full height. “I know what you did to find your witch. You know how far I’ll go to avenge mine.”

To my surprise, it was Anna who stepped forward. “Irene, was the attack lethal?”

“No,” Irene admitted. “It was not. I also understand where Alpha Frost and Cam Lee are coming from. They are mourning, and they want answers. I do as well.”

Anna continued. “Cam, it seems like you have history with Irene. Will you be able to handle your magic around her?”

“If I could trust that she was not responsible for my father’s death, I was hoping to ask her to mentor me while I am here. She isn’t wrong. I am not the witch my father was, and if I am to keep my place with the pack, I need to be stronger and faster.”

Irene nodded in agreement, and I relaxed. It hadn’t occurred to me that Maeve or her witch would consider Irene a threat.

Anna had stepped up beautifully.

“In that moment, he was a hero. I succumbed to this girlish notion that I was facing a happily-ever-after and he was my knight in shining armor.”

Was there any truth to that? If it was a blow intended for me, it hit the target. I couldn’t look at her now without thinking that.

Cam offered to stay with Irene, and we drove Maeve back to my home. After a tense dinner where she had far too many questions for Anna, I was finally alone with my mate.

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