Page 58 of So I Won a Werelion

“But not away from shifters.”

“No. I meant what I said at the beginning of the show—humans are boring. And even though I hadn’t found my shifter, I knew he was out there.”

Bibi tapped her finger against her chin. “If you were in charge of the search for the Sempiternal Scepter, what would happen?”

I didn’t have to think about it because I’d been dreaming of this scenario for most of my life. “I’d work with the local packs to research the information and the area, make sure they were involved every step of the way. We’d make sure it was stored in a safe place for all the local packs and prides to benefit from.”

“Now that you’ve found something that we think might be the Scepter, do you still think that’s possible?” she asked.

My heart sank. It wasn’t like Bibi to give up. “Which part?”

“Do you think the rest of it can be found without starting a pack war for control of its powers?”

“As long as humans—besides me—stay away from it, I think finding the Scepter will bring the packs together.”

Chapter

Eighteen

Wendy

“I’m so glad you came,” Laura Hemmings said when Bibi and I arrived at the library. “I’ve been dying to talk to you ever since I found out you had an archeology background, but things have been so crazy with the show and of course, having a baby.”

“You’ve been a little busy. Is she here?” I asked.

“Yes! I can’t believe I’m starting all over again. Pearla’s sleeping right now.” She motioned to a bassinet. “If she wakes up hungry, I might have to nurse while you’re here.”

“Let us know what we can help with.” Bibi peeked over the edge of the bassinet and beamed at the baby.

“I just can’t wait until she sleeps through the night.” Laura covered her yawn and grinned when she pulled her hand away. I wasn’t sure if her bun was librarian-chic or exhausted new momma. “It’s worth it, even in my forties. Are you thinking of having kids?”

I’d given up on the possibility of having a baby, but I was definitely feeling some sort of way around that sweet little girl, who already had a full head of dark hair and clenched her fist as she slept.

“We’ll see what happens. It’s crazy to think Gabe and I have only been on one date.”

“That will change soon,” Bibi promised.

“Things happen faster with shifters. We’re used to human rules. Throw them out the window. None of that matters when he’s intent on claiming you.” Laura rocked on her heels. “Are you ready to see the books?”

“I’m so excited. I wish we had a chance to stop by my house and pick up my books so we could compare.”

“It’s better that you stay away from your sister and her associates until we solidify the work stoppage on Ranchero Hills.” Bibi had already explained this to me, but it didn’t stop my disappointment.

Laura carefully opened a creaky door that revealed a closet housing leatherbound books. She’d done an amazing job renovating the library. The building had been falling to ruin before Mason claimed her. In addition to her naughty wolf romance book club, she had a picture book reading for the littles, and had put together the most comprehensive shifter history collection in the area.

“Some of these books will crumble if we look at them wrong,” she whispered. “I haven’t studied them too much because I was more concerned with keeping them intact than discovering shifter secrets. But I’ve pored through all the recent books, and interviewed every elder I could get to before Pearla was born. I was hoping more of the pack would come in to see the collection.”

A shiver went down my spine. “Maybe it’s a good thing they haven’t.”

I considered the bindings. Many of them didn’t have titles. I chose the biggest one, which needed both hands to lift from the shelf. I inhaled the scent of leather, dust, and decay. Over the course of my studies, I’d learned to love this scent.

“Let me close the blinds.” Laura hurried through the large, sunny room to protect the text as I set it on the table.

The pages weren’t paper, they were parchment. Their edges were ragged from use and probably also neglect. There was no telling where this book had been before Laura had rescued it. The pages were spotted with humidity, and possibly mold.

“It’s not in English,” Bibi said.

“Do you know which language it is?” I asked. It was handwritten, and it was possible that it could have been an ancient iteration of English, but some of the characters were completely unfamiliar.

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