Page 120 of Enspelled

“Everything is different,” I murmur against his chest. Even my clothes are different. Now I practically live in plain blue mechanic overalls, and can’t remember the last time I went near anything pink or frilly.

“I didn’t think I would stay here,” Keane admits.

“Me too. How does it feel being alpha?”

“You mean of a pack where half the members want me dead, and the other half are just waiting for me to fuck up?” he drawls. “I think your friend is doing a better job than I am.”

I would never admit to it, but he’s probably right.

With no coven in Madden Grove and Sera suddenly the strongest witch in town, she’s created her own. Not a green witch coven, but one where any witch can join.

Even non-witches like me can.

Sera doesn’t care, as long as there’s no toxicity or spite like there was before. Everyone works together, or they can leave.

She’s tougher than I thought she’d be, but she’s fair too. And she cares about her small coven more than any other leader before, so she’s won most of the witches over.

“You’ll figure it out,” I say.

“I wish I’d spent more time paying attention to the lessons my dad tried to teach me,” he admits, his voice low. And I know it's something he wouldn’t share with anyone but me—this weakness he sees in himself.

“You have your memories. Reach for those.”

“You mean, like how he kept threatening to throw me in the fire pit because I never listened?” he snorts.

Peeling my face from his chest, I lean back so I can meet his eyes. “No, I mean like how he loved you so much that he knew you could do better. He saw your potential, and maybe that’s what you have to do with the pack.”

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes tracking the motion. “Or maybe you could meet with Rhys and threaten him with those phoenix powers. Maybe that might work.”

I lift my wrench and jab him in the gut with it, making him grunt. “Nope, I’m not a wolf, so pack stuff has nothing to do with me. But maybe he could do with a friend.”

“And if his attempts to kill me continue?” Keane asks.

Even though Rhys admitted that he’d hired Greg to kill Keane for not going to Texas to deal with the out-of-control beta, I know he isn’t really worried. We both know that we’re dealing with a grieving wolf and not one on a killer rampage.

“Rhys will stop when he realizes why you had to stay in Madden Grove. Ten years is a long time to go without justice for having someone kill everyone you love. If anyone will understand that, it’s him. He’ll come around.” I tug on his hand. “Now come on, it’s time for a tea break. I was doing some baking this morning after you left.”

I still don’t know what we’re going to do about a place to live. Right now, we’re all staying at Sera’s house, since Erin Sue returned from vacation to find a much different town to the one she left behind. I know we can’t all live with Sera forever, but the thought of moving into Aunt Mel’s house makes me feel sick.

“And have you thought about what I told you?” Keane asks, his voice neutral as we enter the tiny kitchen just off the main mechanic workroom.

That’s been one of the biggest changes in my life. My decision to take my love of fixing cars to the next level. I’m by no means fully trained yet, but between the courses I’m doing and learning on the job, I love it.

I remove the plastic container lid for the banana nut muffins I baked and hold it out for Keane to help himself.

He doesn’t look away as he reaches in and grabs a muffin. “Briar? Have you?”

After snagging one for myself, I return the container and lean my back against the counter before picking at the muffin. “I might.”

“And?”

He steps into me, gripping my chin and angling my head up. “How do you feel about it?”

“How do I feel about you being in love with me?” I ask, keeping my voice casual and unaffected as if it doesn’t mean the world to me.

“Yes.”

“Well, I suppose I could live with it.”

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