Page 28 of Witches Be Damned

I bowed my head for several seconds, paying my respect. “Thank you, Alpha. You have my word that I won’t endanger the commune ever again.”

“Good. Now that that’s over, introduce me to your mate.” She extended a hand to Astra. “Hi, I’m Liv. This is my sanctuary. I’m hoping we can start afresh after this business?”

“Hi, Liv.” Little Wolf shook my Alpha’s hand, and I brushed my mate’s back for showing her respect. “Yes, I’m all for a clean slate.”

Liv’s tight jaw vanished with her smile. “Raze has told us a lot about you.”

“Has he now?” Her head tipped back to look at me, and I rumbled at her. “What did he say? Hopefully all the bad things.”

I rumbled at her for being cheeky.

Liv laughed, but Dash didn’t crack a smile, still on edge, hand on his jacket if the need arose to retrieve his gun.

“Absolutely,” Liv replied, her phone going off with a message and she slipped it out to check. “The warlock is here. I have to let him in. I hope we can catch up for dinner some time.”

“Sure. I’d like that.” Little Wolf waved the two of them out of the cabin.

The door clicked closed behind them, and I lifted my mate into my arms, carrying her back to the seat, lying her down and nestling her to his front.

“Quick. We only have a few minutes to make those quads.”

CHAPTER 10 - ASTRA

Oh, no he didn’t. All talk of kids was off the table after thinking about how painful Aaliyah’s swollen belly looked.

“No pups.” I giggled and shoved at Raze, and he rumbled and nuzzled his nose into my neck.

“You’re no fun,” he teased, seeming more like himself than he had been an hour ago when his wolf went wild to save me.

I sensed our healer removed some memories for the better, and I tried not to dwell on our tribulations when I wanted to be present with him and not set his wolf off again.

I was relieved and thankful at Liv for inviting Aaliyah and Castor to tend to my wolf and me, and for forsaking punishing Raze for breaking his commune rules.

Though, I couldn’t completely relax knowing I had to leave at some stage. In a few days perhaps, and the idea of leaving him behind again opened a hole in my heart. I pushed that aside to sink my fingers into his hair and revel in the masculine silkiness of it.

We didn’t get long to enjoy each other’s company when another knock sounded, and Raze’s eyes snapped to the door.

“Come in, Luna,” he growled.

Luna and I hadn’t spoken since I contacted her a month back to connect with my wolf and look after him. I was worried he might sink into depression after his exile from the prison without having a pack to fall back on. Luna came through, found him this place to stay, gave him a job helping her team track down gantii traffickers, and provided him resources to track Jaz’s missing box and secure the evidence to prove my men’s innocence and ensure their release from prison.

“Bestie!” Luna burst into the cabin with the gusto I usually had with her, a backpack on her shoulder.

God, she looked good. Silky curls over her shoulders, new purple glasses, salmon eyeshadow bringing out her hazel eyes. Fit and curvy in her tight jeans and classic pink leather jacket. Glowing with happiness, probably from being adored by her Academy harem.

Gable trailed behind her with a messenger bag over one shoulder, a backpack over the other. “Long time no see, Covalent Bonds.”

I laughed at his affectionate name for me, teasing my chemistry magick and all around nerdiness for math and science.

Raze rumbled at the flirtatious note in the warlock’s greeting, and I squeezed his arm, telling him to quiet.

“Hey, there!” I bounded off my wolf’s lap and into my best friend’s arms?—

something I wouldn’t have been able to do so easily without Aaliyah’s healing. “It’s so good to see you.”

I squeezed her tight, appreciative of seeing her and for looking after my wolf. Luna gasped at my iron grip. Nope. Not easing up. This moment deserved this kind of hug.

“Damn, you smell nice. Did one of your knights buy you a new perfume?” I leaned back to finger a curl. “Look at your hair. What are you using?”

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