Page 28 of Pitch a Witch
“What do you have in mind?” To his credit, Alex acted rational, although we could all see him struggling not to shift. There was a wild, ferocious glint in his mismatched gaze that made all the short hairs on my body rise to attention.
“I don’t think Amber was the intended target.” River glanced at the door when Ace entered, tracking the beta until he stood beside me, and his gaze narrowed when the shifter squeezed my shoulder in reassurance or greeting, but I had no idea which. “From what I’ve seen so far, they are not big on subtlety. The brutes have no tact. That tells me they thought Hazel was in the car.”
“I gathered as much myself,” Alex grumbled. “Ace, any news?”
“All teams are ready and waiting on your word.” The beta snapped to attention like a soldier. “We haven’t heard anything from Blackwood thus far.”
“We are going with you.” Denial was written all over the Alpha’s face even before I was finished talking. “Don’t even try it, Alex. If you don’t take me with you, I’ll just find my own way there.”
A menacing growl rumbled in his chest. If he thought that would scare me, he shouldn’t have called me a friend that morning. My chin came up a notch and we had a short-lived stare down.
“I will take them with me.” Shocked, I gaped at River, but he wouldn’t look at me. “I’m guessing you are not planning to simply take your mate and child back. We can return with them while you deal with their alpha.”
“I will level them to the ground.” Alex’s reputation was abundantly clear from that one sentence. A shiver rippled down my vertebrae. “Sissily will come with us. We can use her help.” One sharp look and my protest died on my tongue. “You can protect Hazel better if she’s the only one you are focused on. We don’t know what’s waiting for us when we get there.”
Wisely, I stayed silent.
All of this was my fault, and I had a feeling if I objected too much, they’d just leave me behind. Sissily took hold of my hand, silently assuring me that everything would be okay, and I squeezed hers in return.
Besides, I had a suspicion my designer shoes wouldn’t be very comfortable while walking from pack lands to wherever the Blackwood pack had their snake nest nestled if I tried getting there on my own.
“It’s settled then.” Blondie tucked a hand in his pocket and nodded sharply at both shifters. “I will follow behind you in my car. All the SUVs are packed.”
With slow, deliberate movements, Alex reached back, took hold of his t-shirt, and tugged it over his head. His ebony skin rippled when he rolled his shoulders, barely restraining the violence coming off him in waves. Glowing, mismatched eyes landed on mine, his stone-cold face not showing anything that might be going through his head, but I could take a guess.
“We can mess them up for turning my Mercedes into a harmonica, too,” I blurted out for the sake of saying something. I never thought I’d say it, but it was spine-chilling to stare a murderous Alpha in the eye. “Alex, I hope Amber—”
“Amber is my mate, and our son is with her. Blackwood pack should be more afraid of her than me, Hazel.” Alex bared his teeth in a perturbing smile. “Let River lead, and don’t play a hero. We will teach them a lesson they’ll never forget, but it will be all for nothing if you are hurt or taken. Am I clear?”
“I’m just a back-up, got it.” My salute earned me a quirked eyebrow.
“Let’s move.” Alex slapped my shoulder in passing, and we all filed after him toward the front yard where an entire convoy of SUV’s were lined up as far as I could see. “I’ll see you when we get back.”
Sissily gave me a quick hug and rushed to keep up with the long strides of the Alpha. I stood watching them pile into the vehicles and reluctantly trailed after Blondie when he cleared his throat. My magic was restless inside me, so I had to remind myself that it was best for everyone if I didn’t light up unnecessarily before we reached our destination.
Awkwardly, I slid into the passenger side of River’s two-seater and trailed him as he closed the door and jogged around the front to join me. I’d never seen a brand of vehicle like it but didn’t want to ask about it. Questions opened conversations, and talking to people humanized them. I had trouble keeping my hands away from Mr. Pigeon as it was, so I didn’t need any more reasons to act on my idiotic impulses.
“Amber and the boy will be okay.” Misunderstanding the frown twisting my face, Blondie watched me from the side of his peepers.
“I know,” I mumbled out loud, but inside?
I didn’t doubt that they’d be fine.
But I had no idea if I would be.
19
“I’ll wait.” Tapping his forefingers on the steering wheel, River slouched in the driver seat.
“Obviously.” My drawl made his full mouth twitch, so I had to push the rest through clenched teeth. “Unless you know where to find the Blackwood pack.”
“I mean, I’ll wait for you, but you need to hurry.” Slowly, he turned to face me, and his eyes danced with humor on his handsome face. “I’d suggest you go now, or we’ll lose them.”
“Are you high?” Arching my eyebrow, I shook my head at the idiot. “What are you on about, River?”
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t find it absolutely adorable.” His peepers dragged down my body until they focused on my feet. “But my guess is you might need shoes if it comes to a fight, firefly. The socks are cute, but not deadly enough.”
With a string of curses that would make Danika die from an epilepsy attack and River’s laughter follow in my wake, I bolted back inside the house to grab my shoes. Slipping and sliding on the polished wooden floor, I bruised my hip when I slammed into the doorframe, but at least I was in and out in less than two minutes. Stella was fast asleep on my bed, with the shifter woman we asked to take care of Amber’s daughter sitting next to her and petting her hair. The poor girl must’ve exhausted herself from crying. Seeing her like that sent a sharp stab through my heart.
