Page 34 of Resting Witch Face
Alex Greywood stilled along with his mate, until Amber flicked her gaze between Danika’s arrogant stance and me trying to blend in with the fabric of the chair while gaping at her in shock. The Alpha’s mate squeezed his forearm, and it was like flipping a switch. He relaxed and nodded at my grandmother to continue.
“Your child was never in danger, I swear it on my life. I just needed you to see who Hazel is. That she would do anything, including harm herself, to help others. So, if a time like this came to pass, you wouldn’t think twice about protecting her.”
“After admitting of using my only son to play your games witch, that is a tall order to ask.” No expression crossed the Alpha’s face. He was closed off as tight as a nun in an adult store.
“You would do anything for the blood of your blood. So would I.”
Some unspoken conversation passed between them none of us were privy to. Their stare down ended when Amber spoke directly to me.
“Hazel, I would like you to stay here in our home until they fix this mess.” Her dainty hand flicked between Alex and Danika. “Don’t you look at me like that Alex Greywood. If that was our boy, I would lie, cheat, and kill without remorse to make sure he was safe. I would do it for all our children, just as you would.” She rounded on her mate when he lifted an eyebrow at her. “Hazel is a sweet girl.” I almost swallowed my tongue. Sweet? What the actual fuck? “A little spitfire, but so am I. Isn’t that what you told me just a day ago? That she reminds you of me when I was her age? We will give her a safe place to stay.”
“Very well.” Alex smiled indulgently at his mate, and she grinned back.
“Hang on a minute. I can’t stay here.” I jumped on my feet, my arms wide like I was trying to ward them off from attacking each other. “No. Just no, mm-kay? I’m a hazard to everyone, including myself. You guys should lock me in a basement if anything. In a cage.” The way the Alpha’s brow creeped up his forehead was fascinating. “Cage.” As if he didn’t know what that was, I made a box with my hands in the air.
“We can speak freely among each other—”
“Hello,” I cut Danika off, pointing an accusing finger at River. “All this shit started when he showed up like a bad omen in our coven. Ever crossed your mind that he is a snitch?”
Seeing Danika rub a hand down her face was like finding a unicorn. “I asked Mr. Blackman to join the coven personally. He agreed to join me so we could protect you better, Hazel.”
“I had no coven until I answered your grandmother’s request.” River had a quirk at the corners of his full lips that rubbed me wrong. Like he knew something I didn’t, and I was too dumb to figure it out. “I assure you, I report to no one but myself, and her.”
“Are yours ever going to join this clusterfuck they left us to deal with?” Alex addressed River, but Blondie just shrugged without comment. That earned him a shake of a head from the Alpha.
I had no idea what they were talking about, and I was too busy convincing them they should put me down like a rabid animal. “Be that as it may, I am still too dangerous to be around anyone. This … this thing”—My arms flopped around, thankfully without demolishing the house— “Is unpredictable. I’m not willing to place others at risk just to save my own ass.”
“The Blackwood pack is in cahoots with the vampires.” Alex leaned heavily on his desk, lacing his fingers. “The last seven to eight months, the rest of us have been putting out fires because of the vampire elders. If you think having three shifters from that pack after you is a coincidence, you are very mistaken, young lady.”
“It’s not just the vampires. The council members from the other covens demand her magic be tested, and if she’s too dangerous they will want to destroy her.” Danika just sharpened an executioner’s ax like we were discussing the weather. “The grapevine is whispering about the Fae coming from their hidey hole, as well.”
My ass hit the chair when my legs gave out.
“You started it by pulling aces from your sleeve.” Alex accused her, but he was staring at River.
Danika nodded in confirmation.
“I’m missing something here.” Sissily was mute and of no help to me at all. “What are we talking about?”
“That is a discussion for another day. We have a lot to do if we are to prepare ourselves.” My grandmother stood with the grace of a gazelle. “Double your guards, and tighten ship so no one without your explicit green light enters your land. I’m sure I don’t need to stress how important it is to stay on our guard right now.” Alex nodded and stood too. “River and Sissily will be coming with me for now because I can use all the help I can get at the moment.”
“We will guard her with our lives, Danika. You will be in debt to me and my pack for this.” They clasped hands while I watched, too stunned to argue or say anything.
“The moment we have news, you’ll hear from me and let’s make it the other way around, please.”
Curled on the chair lost and confused, I watched Amber hug everyone, including River, before they left the Alpha’s office. Sissily paused at the door, her gaze locked on me as her mouth opened and closed a few times, and then a tear trickled down her cheek before she rushed out of the room. There was no stopping the fat droplets rolling down my cheeks either, so I sniffled pathetically, until only Amber and I were left in the room.
She kneeled next to the chair I used as a bastion for my misery. “You will be fine, dear. I’m sure everything is too much now, but it takes time to adjust to any change. If you need to talk, you know my ear is always ready.”
“I can’t live with myself if I hurt anyone.” Admitting my greatest fear was easy to the sweet woman. Her kind face held no pity, just understanding, which helped. “I-I can’t control it. It has a mind of its own and reacts to my emotions.”
“Which makes the pack a perfect place to be.” At my confusion, she laughed. “Have you seen hormonal teenagers before their initiation in the pack as adult shifters?” My lips twitched despite the dread trying to drown me. “We are the best teachers you will find when it comes to controlling your emotions and instincts. I’ll tell you what. Starting tomorrow, I will train with you on how to control them, but you will have to cook with me at least twice a week. Deal?”
“Maybe I won’t have to stay here that long.” It was pathetic to hear the hopeful tone riding my words.
“However long it may be.”
“Deal.” Tears still rolled down my cheeks, but I smiled when she hugged me. Apart from Sissily, no one else had hugged me like that.
