Page 6 of The Witch's Spell
I look to Alden. His grip is firm on the handle of his axe, but he stays where he’s at, as if his movement may further enflame the situation.
The strange black wolf huffs, stepping forward. My gaze flicks to it, and Faolan growls.
And then the wolf transforms.
I watch with wide eyes, fingers still tangled in Faolan’s dense hair. He continues growling, but it’s lower pitched now, not so aggravated as when I arrived.
The wolf’s body twists and contorts, bones rearranging themselves amidst the sounds of cracking and popping.
And when the metamorphosis is complete and the man stands upright and meets my eyes, my lips part in surprise.
Perhaps I should have known, should have at least expected this. But my fear for Faolan was so overwhelming, it chased even the most logical thoughts from my brain.
The stranger stretches his arms, toned muscles rippling beneath his umber skin. Then he runs a hand through his short black hair, and his blue eyes glimmer as he smiles and says, “Hello, brother.”
Chapter 5
Faolan
IF NOT FOR AURORA SHOWING up, I may have fully lost myself to the wolf, may have lunged for Cathal’s throat, aiming to inflict the same amount of pain upon him as he did me the last time we saw each other.
Now, Aurora’s fingers are tangled in my fur. Her unrelenting grip keeps me tethered. So long as she’s here, I refuse to lose myself. I’d never put her in danger like that. I can feel her shaking, and her emotions are confused as they slip through our bond, edged with worry.
She wants to know why he’s here.
And so do I.
But I don’t trust him enough to transform back into my human skin. Not until the wolf behind him steps forward and shifts as well.
And it’s exactly who I expected: Orla, Cathal’s mate and alpha female of the Emberstone pack. Even in her human form, her eyes are a vivid yellow gold. Her long chestnut hairfalls across her shoulders and down her chest, and her brown skin is made darker by the shadows she’s standing within.
And Cathal, the prick, is standing there with his hands on his hips, cock on full display.
I nudge Aurora back with my snout, and she hesitantly releases her grip on my fur. Then I take two steps forward and transform.
As soon as the cold air hits my heated human skin, I push to my feet, clawed hands curling into fists.
“What,” I growl, voice low, “are you doing here?”
Cathal smirks. He’salwayssmirking at me. “What? Aren’t you pleased to see me?”
Orla eases toward him, and when he glances her way, the smirk on his lips falters, if even just for a moment. She meets his eyes, and I imagine they must be speaking through their bond. Whatever she says to him, it makes him nod, and when he meets my eyes again, his don’t look nearly so irritating.
But I’m still pissed.
“You have no right,” I say. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Hand on Cathal’s shoulder, Orla steps forward.
“We’re sorry for surprising you,” she says. Her voice is low for a female; it makes her sound wiser than her years.
My voice is still edged with irritation as I say, “You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”
Orla’s brows pinch together in the middle.
And that’s when Aurora decides to step forward. I hold out an arm to stop her—I don’t want her anywherenearmy twin brother—but she gives me such a sharp look that I’m startled enough to let her slip past me. She doesn’t go far,stopping a step in front of me. I can still grab her and push her out of the way if I need to.
“Hello,” she says. “I’m Aurora.”
