Page 63 of Cursed Love
Serena nodded, and Ryan could see the concern in her eyes. She was a good priestess and cared for the coven. He knew she would heed the warning and gather their people as soon as she left.
“Xander, the pack needs to be made aware of the situation. Brandy is one of our own, and no one is to touch a hair on her pregnant ass.” Peter’s eyes flicked to her stomach, and Ryan saw the mix of concern and excitement in his gaze. In the little time she had been around, the two had formed a special bond.
“The pack? Is Xander Peter’s alpha?”Brandy asked.
“No, Peter’s the alpha. Xander’s his beta,”Ryan told her.
His lips fought not to smile at the cute way her jaw dropped at the news.
“Goddamn it, you two. Will you pay attention?” Peter snapped as he glanced from one to the other.
Thoroughly scolded, they returned their attention to the matter at hand. Peter’s next words landed in his stomach like stones. “Volark is looking for her.”
“Volark? How the hell did she end up on his radar?” Xander asked, chuckling in disbelief as he sized Brandy once again.
Ryan respected him well enough, but he didn’t like that someone who was meant to help them wasn’t taking the threat seriously.
Peter narrowed his eyes at his beta and spoke to Brandy. “Babycakes, would you like to explain to Xander why Volark cares, by showing him what you can do?”
She looked at Ryan. “You’ve got this,” he told her with a kiss on her temple and stepped aside.
Xander relaxed his arms at his sides, amusement fading from his eyes as her hands became engulfed in flames again. She tossed a fireball at the werewolf beta, who stepped aside faster than she expected. Ryan smirked at the frustration on her face. Her lower lip pinched between her teeth before she lifted him and held him in midair. She let Xander land on his feet, but before he could do more, she froze him but released his head.
“What the hell?” Xander muttered, his eyes darting around the room.
“Doesn’t feel great, does it?” Serena asked quietly.
Ryan tilted his head, curious to see what else Brandy had up her sleeve, when she lifted her palm to her lips and blew. No longer frozen, Xander flew backward with a strong gust of wind. An outline of his body formed when his back struck the wall. Half a ring of fire appeared around him, too close to escape.
“Enough!” Peter roared.
Brandy flicked her fingers, and water poured over the werewolf, putting out the flames and soaking him in the process.
“Damn it, babycakes! You’re ruining my place,” Peter snapped.
A sheepish look crossed her face as Xander stared daggers from his drenched state. With another quick blow, she dried the were and the remaining water.
“Sorry about the wall, Peter. Give me some time, and I’ll figure out how to patch it up,” Brandy said and slipped her arm around Ryan’s waist.
Annoyed, Xander ran a hand through his hair as he returned to his alpha. “Now I see why Volark is looking for her.”
“Next time, don’t underestimate someone because they have tits,” Serena told Xander before her eyes fell on Brandy. “Are you going to challenge my position?”
“What?” Brandy asked, her brows knitting together with confusion.
“You’re more powerful than her. You can challenge her and, if you win, take over the coven.” Xander explained about the hierarchy, which was similar to the werewolves’. Anyone could challenge Peter for his spot as alpha, something everyone expected Xander to do, only he hadn’t.
Brandy guffawed. “Nope. You can keep your coven. Although…”
“What?” Serena asked as she studied Brandy.
“I’d love to meet more witches,” Brandy whispered, nerves flashing in her eyes.
Serena smiled and nodded. “That we can do.”
“One more thing,” Peter said to the group, and Ryan stood straighter at the unease he heard. “If the tubar I… found early this morning wasn’t lying…”
Ryan smirked. The tubar Petertorturedwas more likely the case.
