Page 76 of Sigma
“Fuckin’ alphas,” Cicely mutters with an eyeroll.
Erica Savage giggles.
“I’ll be right here on the other side of the door,” Linc says. And he and I catch one another’s eyes, and I give him what I hope is a meaningful look, hoping he knows how much his friendship means to me, how hard I’ll work to make sure nobody on this council regrets taking this on as their responsibility.
He jerks his chin up after Mitch passes him.
I need to make sure he knows.
“Be right there,” I say and tip my head in the opposite direction so Linc will step out with me. Cicely waits between Tyson and her father, who studies me with a cold expression.
Once we’re outside, I grab Linc’s left hand with my right and bump my shoulder with his.
“Thank you, Linc,” I say low. “Savin’ my ass yet again.
“Meant it,” he says, his voice gruff. “You’re part of the pack now. Part-time, full-time, whatever. Give you whatever space you need. This is home for you two. Yeah?”
“Appreciated,” I manage, my voice a little choked up. “Thank you. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure nobody regretsstepping up for me with him. Because we both know he’s gonna deem my wolf a danger to the public.”
“We’ve got you. The coven hasn’t given up, either. They’re working on a spell that’d isolate your wolf when it needs to run in the woods, so you won’t have to go far, just wear a spelled dendritic opal that’ll open the portal for you. They’ve used this spell before, and it worked for two-hundred years. They’re working on a concoction too to help isolate you in either form if you need to do it urgently, similar to that shield Grey’s dead brother-in-law used. They’re seeing if they can modify it to leverage a cloak as well. That one’s a work-in-progress, though.” He laughs. “Rye’s mate had a small fire in the house yesterday. He put it out before any real damage but we’re all riding her about it. Might take a minute to figure it all out but the girls are on it and Grey’s enjoying every minute as he’s learnin’ while they do their thing.”
The sensation running through me right now is foreign. I haven’t had a pack in so fucking long, never a functional pack like this one. But I’m feeling like I’m part of it. And it feels right. It feels really fucking good, too.
“I… appreciate everything,” I manage.
Fuck, I hope they don’t regret this.
“Our pleasure, brother,” Linc says with a shrug. “Not totally selfless either. Your skills are handy to have in our back pocket.”
“You woulda had them anyway,” I tell him.
“Knew that. You’ve shown it more than once. Go back in? Get past this?” He claps my back.
“Yup,” I say and take a couple deep breaths as we make our way back inside.
Once in the waiting room, I make what I hope is meaningful and appreciative eye contact with each of the present council members as well as the witches.
“Thanks to all of you,” I say. “For all your help.”
“Our pleasure,” Mason says.
“Anything we can do,” Erica Savage adds.
“Except burning the house down. I draw the line,” Riley quips.
Erica rolls her eyes. Her sisters laugh.
The last set of eyes mine hit belong to my mate’s father.
He jerks his chin up. “Welcome to Arcana Falls.” He holds his hand out.
I shake it.
“Appreciate it, sir.”
“Says a lot about your character that all these folks are willing to go above and beyond. I got one thing to say and that’ll be it from me.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
