Page 59 of Curvy Alpha Bride
“I had a look at Allan’s journals last night,” Finnah replies, looking into the flames. “He ran out of wood because he couldn’t go into the woods to bring back more. He couldn’t go out to hunt, and the garden eventually failed. He could leave the cabin occasionally, but he wasn’t able to go far.”
“That means we can’t, either,” I reply.
Finnah shakes her head. “Back then was different. The witch had more power and could probably attack in the daylight, even though she’d still be weak around noon. That’s why he couldn’t go far from the cabin. Because if he was exposed at the wrong time, she’d be able to get him.”
“And she’s not as strong now?”
“No,” Finnah answers, her eyes flicking over to the other girls. “She hasn’t… had enough sustenance.”
I look down at my hands, swallowing hard. I can tell she doesn’t want to upset the others by mentioning what happened to Dove, and I don’t really want to hear it, either.
“She’ll weaken, then?” I ask. “This time won’t take twenty years?”
“It shouldn’t,” Finnah says. “We just have to take every precaution right now, especially with you.”
Alarm bells ring in my mind, like a series of dots connecting together, and the truth hits me like a sledgehammer.
“She wants the blood of a luna!” I gasp, feeling so stupid that the clues have been stacking up and I missed every single one of them.
Not surprising. It’s not as if this is information I’d want to hear.
Finnah grimaces. “Yes, dear. If she feeds on a luna, she can attain full strength. If she harvests an alpha at the same time, she’s unbeatable. It’s only through my brother’s bravery that we managed to stop her before.”
The fear that rises in me then is a truly terrible feeling, far worse than any I’ve had up to now. It’s not just that the threat is more personal—it’s that I have more than myself to worry about. I almost wrap my arm around my belly in a protective gesture, but stop myself just in time.
I don’t want anyone to know yet. What can any of us do? Nothing. Maybe if I keep denying it, all these symptoms will just go away… but I think that would break my heart even more.
“So, we can’t take any chances,” I say. “Not with any of the others, or with me,” I answer, trying to focus on the conversation.
“It’s okay,” Lyssa says, putting down her knitting to come over to me. “We won’t let her get you.”
“We can’t let her get you, either,” I answer, giving Lyssa a hug. She leans into me, and we sit for a moment with our arms linked around each other.
I had good friends back in Cyan Lock. I’ve known Cass for as long as I can remember, but this is different. It’s like suddenly having a whole bunch of sisters.
“Back to the issue at hand,” I say. “That was the last gift basket. Do you think it will be safe to go outside tomorrow?”
“Maybe,” Finnah answers. “I haven’t felt that aura of dread that usually hangs over the place, and Xavier has been here at noon almost every day. I think if the witch was able to come down, she would have.”
I ignore her comment about Xavier, not wanting to acknowledge that he’s been trying to talk to me, and I’ve refused to answer him.
And now it has very little to do with my reaction to his decision to stay. I understand that completely. But I don’t know how to tell him about this… I’m afraid that the second he looks at me, he’ll know, and instead of feeling joy, all he’ll know is fear.
“She might be saving up all her strength for me,” I consider, and Finnah nods.
“She might be.”
“There’s no way to contact the town, is there? To tell them to bring supplies?”
“No,” Finnah says, shaking her head. “But I think they’ll bring some tomorrow. Serra is good at planning these things.Either way, next time Xavier visits, we can tell him through the door if it doesn’t feel safe to go out.”
Even though Finnah didn’t mean anything by her comment, a sick feeling of guilt rises in my guts, making me feel like I’m about to vomit. Angrily, I shove the feeling away.
I shouldn’t have to feel guilty. He screwed me over not once, but twice! Now I’m trapped here, and I don’t know how to tell him he doomed more than one life by making that decision.
“Are you alright, dear?” Finnah asks. “You’ve gone terribly pale.”
“I’m fine,” I reply. “We still have plenty of tea, don’t we? I’ll make some. It will settle my stomach.”
