Page 18 of Hellcat

Seeing the relationship between the two alphas and the rest of the pride was enlightening. Tania had understood that the alphas were to be obeyed without question, like kings, but it didn't seem to be the case, even with the scary woman who was looking at her too pointedly from time to time.

"So, tell us about you, Tania. I used to work with Valley Vets when I rescued stray cats; I don't think I've met you before."

She nodded. "Yeah, I've only been around for a couple of months. My uncle owns the practice."

"Donald Martin, right?" Ace asked.

"That's it. He had a car accident."

"Sorry to hear that. How is he doing?"

"Not too bad, but the recovery's taking some time, so I'm helping out. I used to work in a practice in LA."

"They gave you months off to help your uncle?" Rye asked. "Generous."

Now Tania shook her head. "Hell, no. I had to resign. They threatened to sue me for violation of contract and docked my last pay. Which is fair; I was contracted to work with them for two years, and I was at twenty months."

"Bastards," Rain muttered. "Want me to curse them?"

Tania was almost afraid to ask. "Curse?"

"I'm a witch. A bored one. Cursing assholes is as good a pastime as any."

Now that was fascinating. While shifters had been fairly open about their nature, there wasn't much to be found online about witches, other than rumors and fictional stories.

At least, one would hope they were fictional. Otherwise, witches were scary.

"What does a witch do? I mean, are there witch jobs?"

Rain bobbed her head. "’Course. I mean, sometimes we mainstream. There are witches who own restaurants, bakeries, or spas, and spell their stuff so it's the best you've ever experienced. I'm not into the deception, though. I have a mobile store wherever I go, and Ian has helped me by putting it online. I mostly work by word of mouth."

"So, someone can order a spell online?"

She'd seen websites like that, but she'd assumed it was just a bunch of fakes.

"Sure. I mostly sell cures, stuff like that. Occasionally I get more colorful requests. I don't tend to accept all of those, though."

"Like, what do you refuse?"

Rain grimaced. "Some dude asked for a love spell; he wanted to get his secretary into him. That's just a no. But I had a guy who can't go more than once, poor bastard. He asked if I could make him a potion that would allow him to cum a bunch of times on his wedding day. Kinda sweet, right?"

Tania laughed with the rest of the pride. Then came dessert, choux-a-la-creme filled with custard and with hot caramel poured over it. Tania was tempted to ask for Ian's hand, like Rain had, by the time she'd polished her plate.

Rye pulled his phone out of his pocket, frowning. An instant later, Ian's, Jas', Ace's, Luke's, Daunte's and Cali's were also ringing. Their expressions became grave as they read their messages.

"I'm guessing we're all getting the same alert. Anything we need to know about?"

"They'll come for her in the night," a little girl said.

Tania was good with names, but she'd been introduced to too many people tonight. Was it Hsu? Her eyes were hollow, fixed in the distance, wide open but seeing something beyond this room.

The rest of the table fell silent, their attention right on them.

"Seventeen of them. Take her from her bed and burn her on—"

"That's it. Enough," said Rye.

Hsu immediately came out of the funk, looking up toward the alpha.

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