Page 3 of Wolf Bonded (Rejected Moons 2)

“Is this where your whole coven lives?” I ask. “Here in this tower?”

“This one and the one next door,” he says. “This side is mostly public spaces—but there’s a place you three will be able to bunk down while you’re with us. The residences are in the other building.”

“This looks like an apartment building,” Nate says.

“Yeah, I think it was,” Wilder says. “We knocked down some walls to make the spaces bigger—you’ll see that. And we took down the doors, too, so we just wander in and out of rooms all the time. Almost nothing in this building is private.”

“So of course this is the building you want us to stay in,” Milo says.

Wilder glances at him. “It’s just because this is where our guest quarters are,” he says. “Nobody is going to bother you.”

“We just have your word for that,” Milo says.

“No one is making you stay,” Wilder says. “I just think we can help each other.”

“You think three shifters can help you?” Even Nate sounds dubious. “Our kind are mortal enemies.”

“Except you’re not just three shifters,” Wilder says. “You’re hybrids. I saw you doing magic during the fight with those wolves. Ifeltthe magic you were doing just now, on our way here.” The last two sentences are addressed to me specifically, and they make me feel strange and exposed. I shiver.

“I’m no hybrid,” Nate says.

Wilder reaches the top of a staircase and opens the door leading off the landing. “Through here,” he says.

We follow. Even Milo follows, though his face is cloudy.

Wilder leads us to a doorway. There’s a curtain hanging in front of it.

“You weren’t kidding about taking down all the doors,” I say.

He shakes his head. “It’s the first thing we did when we claimed this place,” he said. “We wanted to make sure it was open for everyone. There are a few interior doors. The bedroom and the bathroom. But the door from the apartment itself out to the hall is gone.”

“Why’d you put up the curtain, then?” I ask.

“We thought guests might want privacy.”

“And you get a lot of guests, do you?” Milo asked coldly.

“Sometimes.” Wilder’s voice was just as cold. “Look, no one is keeping you here against your will, so there’s no need for you to act like it. Take the room or don’t.”

“We’ll take it,” I say quickly before either of my mates has a chance to disagree. I know that if it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t be here.

“All right,” Wilder said. “I’ll come and get you in the morning, then, and take you to meet the High Sorcerer.”

“The what now?” Nate demands. I swear I can actuallyfeelthe tension in his body.

I turn to Milo for an answer.

For once, he doesn’t look upset or alarmed. “That’s just a title,” he says. “It’s what Moon Casters call the leader of their covens. It’s like alpha, kind of.”

Well, that just makes me wonder what kind of powers the High Sorcerer has over the rest of the coven—and what powers they’re going to have over me.

But I don’t want to ask. Not right in front of Wilder.

“There’s food inside,” Wilder says.

“We’ve got our own food,” Milo bites.

Wilder nods. “Fine,” he says. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

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