Page 10 of Fated To The Wolf Lord

“And I will recover from this, too. You’re clearly exhausted, and I am not a witch. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to do anything to help you until Walter gets us to Colorado.”

My mate studied me for a few moments before surrendering, her shoulders slumping. “That’s true,” she finally said, her gaze lingering on my burns before finally drifting back to Kal. “I just…I wish I could dosomething.”

“You did,” I argued. “If not for your vision, we probably wouldn’t have known anything was wrong until it was too late. Kal would already be dead, and his attackers would’ve come for us next.”

“How can you be so sure?” she asked.

I wrinkled my nose. “Because I’ve seen that warlock before. He works—worked—for Faulkner. I’m surprised to see him continuing to carry out Faulkner’s will, but…” I shrugged. “I suppose there would’ve been no one left to spread the word that Bryne died.”

Celeste went quiet, digesting what I’d told her. When she finally spoke again, she changed the topic back to healing. “Do you think any of the shifters or witches in the Snowmass Pack could help me learn a little more healing magic?”

I nodded. “I am sure they’d be happy to, if you asked them.”

She paused. “So…what kind of magic, exactly, is going to be required at the ceremony? The eclipse one.” Celeste looked down, fidgeting a little. “I don’t have all the time in the world, so I’d rather prioritize what’s actually relevant.”

I frowned, frustrated by how valid her concern was. I would have much rather given my mate all the time she needed and let her explore whatever her heart desired instead of focusing on one thing. One end. I knew it wasn’t fair to withhold information from her—what information I had, anyway—but I didn’t want to overload and overwhelm her, either.

The stark inequity of the situation hit me then. A wolf never asked for their fated mate. Celeste and I were lucky in that we got along, even if it wasn’t constantly. I knew of a shifter years ago whose fated mate truly could not stand him. There were others who had never found their mate. We—I—had been lucky enough to find Celeste, yet my situation demanded more of her. She had to learn magic. Not just any magic, but something I would’ve wanted her to have decades to practice.

Instead, she had mere months, but she was willing to do that for me. It was only fair, then, that I trusted her with the knowledge I had, even if she could undo me with it. I’d never be more vulnerable than during the eclipse.

“I understand,” I said slowly, taking her by the hand. “Sadly, it will be the first time for both of us, but—”

I was interrupted by the shrill ring of the cabin phone. Celeste shrieked and nearly jumped out of her skin. The sound alone almost sent my wolf into a frenzy, but thankfully, I was able to pull him back, recognizing the frequency a moment later.

I got back on my feet and hurried over, picking up the old plastic landline. “Hello?”

“Sir,” Walter’s familiar voice greeted me. “I’ve gotten in touch with Keziah Palm, and she is ready and willing to harbor the Lunar Lord and any of his associates.”

“Did you explain to her that we may present our own danger?”

“I have explained whom you are sheltering from, and that Celeste may be linked to Sabine. I made it clear we do not know the complete degree of danger. Keziah has accepted all of this. She is confident that even if Sabine traces you to her pack lands, she has the strength to ward her off.”

“Good,” I growled, nodding. I could always trust Walter to be discreet with allies while still getting the point across.

“I have also gotten in touch with Delila Devins. She will be arriving shortly.” Walter paused for a brief moment. “I would note, Fenris, that her mood is as pleasant as ever.”

I chuckled. “Thank you, Walter. Stay safe.”

After hanging up, I returned to Celeste’s side, looking for anything we might need to carry with us as I repeated what Walter had just told me.

Celeste simply looked puzzled. “She’s arriving shortly? How can she do that without knowing where we are? Doyoueven know where we are?”

“Not precisely,” I replied, shrugging one shoulder. “The Alaskan wilderness.” The exact coordinates hardly mattered to me. “I’m no warlock, but I understand the highest degrees of transportation magic involve something with the target’s essence. I gave Delila one of my books. I used to pore over it as a young shifter, and I’ve spent countless hours with it. As Delila works with Keziah, I am sure she has one of Keziah’s belongings as well. If not, then she’ll have something belonging to another shifter within the Snowmass Pack.”

“I see,” Celeste said, frowning. I could practically hear the gears turning behind those pretty silver eyes.

I gave her a stern look. “Do not attempt transportation magic,” I said, aware we’d already gone over it.

Celeste shook her head. “It’s not that.”

She looked like she was going to say something else when a flash of magic lit up the room. Delila stepped forward, as if sensing we’d been discussing her. She sniffed, looking down her nose at me before glancing at Celeste and Kal.

“He looks pitiful, doesn’t he?” she remarked, reaching up to adjust her small hat perched on a nest of messy brown hair. Where many witches I knew took great measures not to fall into the stereotypes humans associated with them, Delila leaned right into it. She dressed in all black. Her skin was wizened, and her nails were long and a bit yellowed. She was no older than Val, but she looked much more like a crone than my house witch.

Delila’s many necklaces and bracelets jingled softly as she moved closer, leaning over Kal’s still form. “Am I supposed to take him, too?”

“Please,” Celeste said, almost breathlessly.

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