Page 5 of Dawn of the Pack

“After that, my mom finally showed them what she could do, and let me tell you, they were impressed.”

“I don’t see what this has to do with the knife.”

“I’m getting to it, patience little Leaf. Anyway, after that my mom put even more pressure on me. She promised the alpha she’d send me to complete the job you shirked on, and she was determined to make me into the witch she expected. If I’d had any doubts about my plan before that, they were long gone at that point. So I told her I wanted to do a dry run, and I needed the knife to practice.” Azalea snorts derisively. “She was so desperate to see any improvement, she fell for it. She thought I was going to do a moon sacrifice, which I guess I did in a way. But she didn’t realize she’d be the sacrifice.”

“So why-”

“The spell required the knife. It had to be a runed blade with certain properties, one of which was being imbued with the power of thirteen witches.”

This was the first I’d heard of the knife having such powers. “I thought it was an ordinary ritual knife. How did it have the power of so many witches?”

“You really need to do some reading, Leaf. When a blade is used by a witch to perform a ritual, the blade becomes an extension of that witch. Therefore, a trace amount of her magic remains in the knife. That one had been handed down in our family for so many generations there were probably far more than a dozen.”

“Why do you say ‘were’?”

Azalea shrugs. “Because the spell used that power to transfer my mother’s magic to me when I slit her throat. I was a complete and utter dud; not a drop of magic in my blood. Which is why the blade was necessary—I needed other witch’s powers to make it work. Now, of course, I’ve used it up. Hence why I had no problem returning it to you. Thought you might like the keepsake.” She grins evilly.

“I guess in the end, I’m glad you got revenge on your mom. She deserved it.”

“Thank you.” Azalea fakes a bow from her seated position with a flourish of her new knife.

Since we’re on these friendly terms, I decide to push my luck. “I mean it, Azalea, that woman was evil. I’m sorry she treated you the way she did. You didn’t deserve it.”

Her chin wobbles, eyes softening for just a moment, before the sarcastic mask returns. “I guess what they say is true after all: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Or in my case, if you can’t beat ‘em, take their place with a blood sacrifice.”

“But you don’t have to become her, Az,” I press in my gentlest tone. “I consider your payback fair and square, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use those powers to be better than your mom ever was.”

“I rather like being a badass witch, thank you very much. At least now no one fucks with me. They respect me.”

“And I’m happy for you, truly. But I don’t see what that has to do with keeping me in a prison cell. I was never mean to you.”

Azalea’s eyes flash and she stands abruptly, power crackling around her like an oncoming storm. “No, but you never helped me, did you? You were my big cousin, the closest thing I had to a brother, or really any family at all. You and your mother just abandoned me to the wolves… literally.” Her expression shifts, and she affects a carefree demeanor. “But no matter, I have all the power I could ask for now.”

She settles back in her seat and flips the knife in the air, deftly catching it by the handle. “And it turns out the alpha is very grateful for my help. He’s quite generous, in fact. Compared to having some random human off the street or weak-ass wolf as a daddy, you could certainly do much worse.”

“Is that what he wants me for, then? To be his son?”

The wicked grin returns to her face. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Chapter Three

Lilliana

Eventually the cold from the ground seeps into my bones, complimented by the biting wind, and I have no choice but to get up and make my way back to Harridan House. Even though I still feel Derrek’s absence, my emotions have settled enough for me to start strategizing again. It’s still early afternoon, and incredibly difficult to accept that twenty-four hours ago I was getting a make-over from Roxanne for the big homecoming dance that never was.

Passing through the kitchen door without drawing attention from the staff, I slip upstairs and into my suite.

The tv is on but muted, and Milo is on the couch, staring anxiously down at his phone. Surprise crosses his face when he sees me, followed by a relieved smile.

“Hey Lily, did you get what you were after?” He taps a few words into his phone before setting it on the table and crossing the room to greet me.

“Yeah, I feel better. That’s definitely what I needed. Is… everything okay?” I glance pointedly at his phone, now facedown on the coffee table.

“Of course.” Milo grips my jacket at the collar to help me slip out. “We were just worried about you being on your own. I promised Landon and Jared I’d let them know you made it back safe.”

“Sheesh, and here I thought becoming alpha would mean I got to be a grownup now.” It’s only a little sarcastic; their concern for me is part of our bond, and I know it’s not a reflection of how capable they think I am.

Milo opens his mouth, but I press a finger to his lips before the apology could cross them. “I’m just teasing. I know you don’t mean anything by it.” I replace the finger with my lips, hoping a kiss will completely erase the sting from my comment.

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