Page 44 of The Wolf's Bullied Pregnant Mate
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, sharply nodding.
“Alone.” She scoffed. “Or as alone as we can be with this insufferable form of communication.”
“Of course.”
He ducked out of view of the phone, and rather than hover, he disappeared into the cavern with the pool. I flashed him a warning look to not enter it, but he just shrugged. I didn’t hear the sound of a splash, at least.
“Gramma—”
“Let me speak.”
Her voice was sharp, commanding. I fell silent.
“I do not have an issue with the shifters. They have protected us and fought both for and with us. Harper means the world to me, like a second granddaughter, and she is in love with a shifter and has a beautiful family. I support her.
“But she is not a witch, Adalyn. You are. And you have obligations and duty both to yourself and your family.”
“Gramma, I couldn’t help it,” I insisted. “We were instructed to get someplace safe with whoever we were with.”
“I know.” She nodded. “Again, that is not my issue. Myissueis where you decided to take that shifter.” Her eyes flashed with danger and displeasure. “You have purposefully brought ashifter into our most sacred home, Adalyn. The old caves are not like the Emporium where anybody can go in and be around our history or learn from books. Those caves aresacred, where we gather to continue asking for the regenerative properties the pool provides. Where we can honor the earth and thank our brethren for the gifts they have bestowed upon us, the magic we carry down through generations. Azure Coveisthe home for witches, Adalyn.”
“I know,” I said. “I know—”
“I did not tell you about it so you could bring a shifter into it.”
“Zephyr just—”
Gramma shook her head. “I told you about that placebecauseZephyr was causing you heartache. Once, our bloodlines were united, Adalyn, but they caused the problems first. Coming back here to protect us this summer does not make up for every wrong. I accepted Alex because of Harper’s happiness. But I cannot accept that you have taken Zephyr to such a coveted place.” She paused, shaking her head. “You must ask for forgiveness lest they think your loyalty wanes.”
I hung my head, nodding. As a child, I had asked my mom how witches could still be together as a coven if we were so spread out.
We are always watching over one another, dear child, she had told me with a smile.We are always there for one another, ready to accept any sort of help that might be required.
And right now, in these caves, I felt the weight of my coven watching me.
“I will ask for forgiveness, Gramma,” I said, and then corrected myself. “Matron.”
Her chin lifted slightly as she looked at me. I knew to be grateful a phone screen separated us. A witch’s stare was not something to take lightly. I would be on the ground, apologizing, begging for forgiveness instantly if she was in the room.
“Do not forget,” she said. “One day, you shall walk in my footsteps. You must know all and everything about our lineage. Including Zephyr’s place within it.”
“What place?” I asked.
“Child,” she said. “There is much for you to understand, but he must prove himself to you before you find out. Let him fightwithyou, let him learn that you two must be side-by-side if you are to ever co-exist. That is the only way I will accept him around you.”
“Gramma, nothing is happening with Zephyr and I.”
She only gave me a hard, long look.
Shame crawled through my chest. I felt as though my sins against my kind were branded on my forehead: I had taken a shifter into our most sacred place and slept with him—twice. I had submitted so eagerly, so unburdened. I had let him take everything away from my mind, leaving me only with a delicious mix of pleasure and pain that lingered like a craving.
“Apologize,” my grandmother reminded me. “And when we leave our places of safety, you and I will talk long and hard.”
“Yes, Matron,” I answered before bidding her goodbye and hanging up.
***
I wandered into the pool area, but Zephyr was nowhere to be found.
