Page 31 of Cursed Wolfsbane

But then I actually forgot about Papa. Now I feel like I’m that scared seven-year-old again, trying to understand a world without my dad. Only this time, I don’t have my mom to hold me when I wake up at night sobbing from nightmares about Papa. She’s gone too.

Before I can suffocate in the pain of losing my parents, Nan asks, “Are you finished with your memories, dearie?”

I give a small shrug as I look at her. “I think so?” No new memories have appeared in a little while, and I don’t feel like I have any blanks.

“Then it’s time to take the other potion.” Nan turns back to the cauldron she’s been working on. She dips a ladle into the bright purple liquid before carefully pouring it into another glass bottle for me.

She hands it to me, and I inspect it curiously. “What does it do?”

“It unlocks your mage magic, of course.”

“What do you mean ‘mage magic’? I’m a wolf shifter. I already got my wolf.” Getting my memories back means I know a lot more about supernaturals. One thing that’s well-known is that interspecies pairings don’t work. There’s never been a hybrid between a mage, shifter, vampire, or any other supernatural. It just doesn’t happen.

“Holy shit,” Saint whispers from behind me.

Nan turns wide eyes to me. She opens and closes her mouth a few times before finally asking, “How? How did you get your wolf? There hasn’t been a female wolf shifter in generations.”

“Uh, through a series of unpleasant events. I drank the wolfsbane potion, not entirely by choice, and didn’t die from it. A week later, my wolf appeared.” I shrug because I’m still notexactly sure why I didn’t die. Like, it’s cool and all that I’m not dead, but I’d like to know why.

“Would you like me to murder the vermin known as Patrick for you, child? I have been around for a long time. I know many methods to prolong suffering and maximize pain when killing someone.”

I choke on my laugh at Dido’s unexpected offer.You know, I might take you up on that if we ever find him.

The Wyldharts all growl at the reminder of my almost untimely demise. It makes me realize I had completely forgotten about them while getting my memories back. I turn around hesitantly and stare at their shoes. I’m unsure what I’ll find on their expressions if I look up. I did just launch myself at another guy after finding out he’s also my mate. I’d be livid if any of them ran up to another woman and touched her.

“Baby girl,” Malachi rumbles. He sighs when I still stare at the floor. “Look at me.” At his sharp order, my gaze snaps to his. Instead of anger or disgust, all I see is concern pinching his eyes. He raises an eyebrow before crooking a finger at me. Rolling my eyes at his wordless command, I walk over to the Wyldharts.

When I reach Malachi, he startles me by grabbing me by the back of my thighs and lifting me up into his arms. My legs wrap around his waist and my arms wind around his neck automatically. I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes.

My frame trembles slightly as everything really starts hitting me from today. I now remember who I was, but that doesn’t help me figure out who I am now. I’ve gone through so much that the old me couldn’t have ever imagined experiencing. I’m broken in ways I wasn’t before. I don’t really feel like the same person, and I don’t know how I fit into my old life anymore.

“What’s going on in that cute head of yours, pretty girl?” Bastian asks from my left.

I lift my head to look at him. His mouth is quirked up in a smile, but his eyes are worried. “Are you upset with me?” I blurt.

Smooth, Briar. Really fucking smooth.

My eyes close in embarrassment at just outright asking that.

“Nope.” Bastian moves closer and cups my face with one hand. I unconsciously lean into his touch, feeling more grounded with two of my mates touching me. “What has you worried, sweet girl?”

“I found another mate—or, I guess, I remembered another mate. I’d be pretty upset if the roles were reversed.” That’s an understatement. I’d be more than a little murdery if they even thought about taking another mate, which makes me a raging hypocrite.

Bastian grins at me, a genuine one this time. “Feeling a little possessive, are we?” he teases. I give him a small nod. “That’s hot. But none of us are upset or angry or disappointed or any other negative emotion with you. Mates are a gift from fate. Finding another mate isn’t something you can control, and it’s something to be celebrated. Honestly, the more people you have on your side, the better, pretty girl. Besides, we all know I’m your favorite.”

I snort at the cheeky smile Bastian flashes me. Shaking my head at his antics, I look back at Malachi. It’s weird being even with his navy gaze. This close, I can see that his eyes aren’t a uniform color. Instead, they have an almost black ring around the outside. The dark blue of his irises lighten up to a medium blue as they get close to the pupil, forming a starburst effect.

“He’s right. We’re not upset at you at all, baby girl,” Malachi reassures me, breaking me out of my assessment of his eyes. I give him a half smile, feeling relieved that the Wyldharts don’t hate my guts.

Glancing over at Xander, I see him standing rigidly with his hands balled into fists at his sides, his knuckles white from howhard he’s squeezing his fingers. His jaw is also clenched, and he’s avoiding eye contact with me. I guess I should say two out of the three Wyldharts aren’t pissed at me. Although, that’s Xander’s default setting when it comes to me, so who even knows what he’s furious about this time.

Letting my head thump back down on Malachi’s shoulder, I take a moment to compose myself. Xander being angry at me is just the cherry on top of this shit sundae. But I don’t have time to fall apart. I have another mysterious potion to take, more people to see, and the reason female wolves can’t shift to figure out.

No biggie.

Just the fate of an entire species resting on my super unqualified shoulders.

What could possibly go wrong?

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