Page 7 of The Wolf's Bullied Pregnant Mate
“Don’t worry,” I sighed. “They won’t. I’m out of here.”
“Oh, no, I hope I don’t make the superior all-knowing witch feel as though she has to leave for my benefit.” Zephyr’s smirk crawled beneath my skin, all smug and irritating. I wondered if I could burn it off the way I had with the top layer of his palms.
“Can’t you two try to get along again? The party is next week, and I still have parts of it to plan. Not to mention, I don’t want any drama during the party itself.” Harper’s distress almost made me cave, but I couldn’t. I would not submit to civility to a man like Zephyr—he was arrogant and rude, inconsiderate of what I actually did for this island. He had disrespected me, my coven, and my abilities. Added onto that, he thoughthewas superior. That wolves were the saviors of this island when witches had been protecting it defensively for years.
“She’s a witch,” Zephyr snapped while I cried, “He’s a wolf!”
We both glared at each other. Alex coughed into his fist, but I saw the hint of his smile.
“Sounds like a great pair,” Harper chirped. “And a great way to showsmall childrenthat we can all get along, no?”
Zephyr snorted. “Sorry, Harper. I’d lay down my life if you asked me to but be civil with a witch who isactuallya bitch—”
“Language!” Alex called.
“Oh, c’mon, I’ve heard you say worse around the kids,” Zephyr complained.
“Well, if you’llexcusethis bi—witch—I have work to do.” I stood up, hating that I would have to shoulder past Zephyr on my way out of the door.
“Wait, but—”
“I’m sorry, Harp.” And I really was apologetic. I knew I shouldn’t let mine and the wolf’s issues get in the way of being a good friend, but the longer he remained in the room with me, the longer I would be antagonized. I had lost my cool with him in the store when I shouldn’t have. But he was haunting my dreams; that left me on edge.
I stalked across the living room. When I got closer to Zephyr, I could feel the heat radiating from his body. Shifters always ran at a high temperature, and had he been a nice guy, I’d have made some sort of line to win him over.
But he was the last damn person I wanted to be looking in my direction in any way. Once, I had found him handsome, gorgeous, a mysterious, talkative man draped in dark aesthetics that matched mine. Tattoos and piercings, the dark hair, the bright eyes, the smile that tugged his full mouth so alluringly…
“Don’t let the wolves bite you on the way out,” Zephyr drawled.
It was the final reminder I needed that he was the last man I would ever be interested in. I scowled at him, sent a blast of wind to knock him sideways, satisfied at his stumbling and cursing, and left the cottage.
***
On the waterfall trail in the woods, where I had once hiked with the shifters and the triplets and Harper, peace andenergy abound. I always came here whenever I felt low—both in powers and spirit. Whenever I had been torn up about something, the water energized me. It was no wonder this exact scene was sneaking its way into my dreams. They were a sign, a realization that I needed to spend more time here than I had been.
I sighed, letting my bare feet submerge where the rocks met the pool at the waterfall's base. The water was chilly at this time of the evening. I didn’t realize it had gotten so dark, but that had never scared me. I drew further inspiration from the night hours, when the moon was out. My powers only heightened during those times.
I basked in the peace I found without slipping fully into the pool. That felt too much like the dreams I was trying to escape. Once my energy felt settled, with no lingering uneasiness from Zephyr’s barbs, I turned around, intent to start on my shields. They had begun to take shape—one singular line that would eventually form a circle around the island's perimeter. To look at it would be like looking at the haze above a flame, a slight shimmer of air but nothing too noticeable.
I had started on the beach, along the shoreline, as most demons had come up from the ocean, but I needed to work inland soon. I wanted to find a better spell—something bigger. Something that might even bury shields into the roots of the very island to protect any portals from being opened anywhere.
The slower I worked, the longer another part of the island was defenseless. I hated that the demons lay claim to the Cove. This wasmyhome. A home so many people—humans and witches alike—shared. The Hellspawn had no right to threaten that peace and safety.
I had to get to work. One day, the demons would be banished for good. My role was to do more to protect Azure Cove and encourage more witches to enlist their coven’s help, too.
Just as I went to slip my feet back into my sandals, I heard a voice. It was a ghostly, eerie echo drifting through the trees.
Adalyn.
I straightened, righting myself. My eyes went wide as I searched the dark woods. A blue glow that was what Hector had told me to look out for. I knew that anyway, but he had gathered as much intel as I had, and we had been conferring data.
Adalyn.We know you can see us, Adalyn. Come out to play, little witch.
My heart rate increased, and I shuddered, listening to the eerie tune. Demons. I knew it. I braced for an attack, fear pulsing through me. My palms grew clammy, and the back of my neck prickled. My power built in my chest, ready to be unleashed at the first sight of blue.
But it never came.
There was no blue portal, demon, or weapon slicing through the air. No faces staring back at me from the pool.
