63 - ra


    "You do realize you can''t just outrun anxiety, right?" My wolf''s voice sneers inside my mind, clearly enjoying every moment of my torment.


    I grit my teeth, pushing my pace even harder. "I gave them all the exact same instructions..... yet not a single one checked in yesterday. Not Sebastian, who''s supposed to be *my* Delta, nor Richard, who treats following orders like some sacredw. What am I supposed to think? Everyone knows Ben''s affected by this magle crap, and he''s the only one under twenty-one in the group that went out. There have been so many ''random'' rogue attackstely it''s almost expected now." My breathes out in a rough grunt as I elerate. I should shift, let my wolf take over and run wild, but that kind of burning muscle fatigue is what I really need-not the relentless pounding of my wolf''s energy.


    "We both know he''s fine. We can feel it. You need to rx a little," she says, her voice calm but firm.


    I shake my head. "What about the others? Owen, Damon, Richard, Sebastian-they


    all went with him. What if something''s wrong with all of them? I get why my dad kept Mom so close all the time."


    "You can sense every member of your pack. Don''t try to fool me with that," she counters sharply. "And if something had happened to the witches, they''d have called Brianna and Marietta by now. Why not reach out to Ben?"


    "And look desperate? Absolutely not. We have better things to do..." I mutter, trying to push the thought away.


    "Like running patrols suspiciously close to Red Fang territory every two hours? Yeah, no. You don''t look desperate at all,” she teases.


    "Shut up!" I growl, but I can hear herughter echoing inside my head. Despite myself, a small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. I''m not fooling her or anyone else—but I''ll deny the desperate need to know he''s safe for as long as I can. I have to get through this on my own first. Then, maybe, I can figure out this mate bond and whether he was telling the truth about Kennedy.


    A hot shower is exactly what I need after that exhausting run. As I head back inside, I pass several coven members going about their tasks. I''ve relocated some families with young children into the guest wing—it just feels easier for them that way. These kids possess powers I''ll never fully understand, but at their core, they''re still human and not built for harsh elements. No child should have to spend winter nights in a makeshift tent. I''ve offered to bring more of them in; some declined, probably enjoying the freedom of the forest just like my wolf does. Brianna and Marietta share a room nearby, with some of their elders taking rooms close by. It keeps them near my mother''s old office, which I''ve allowed them to use for storing their books and scrolls safely. If they''re not using their magic to protect those items from the weather, they can focus more energy on the pack and the coven''s needs.


    We''ve been working long hours—from early morning well into the night-brewing potions and crafting whatever else is necessary tobat the Shadow Markers that keep cropping up. I just wish I knew if they were all set long ago and there really are just so many of them, or if someone is sneaking behind us, nting more.


    Signs of the coven are everywhere in the packhouse, and the more I discover about them, the more I appreciate their way of lifepared to the stuffy traditions my parents clung to. Herbs hang from every beam, and I''ve never seen our private greenhouse so full of life. My mother adored her nts and spent hours tending to her flowers, but these witches have transformed the space into a vibrant, living apothecary. They even transnted some of Mom''s favorites into a special corner to honor her memory.


    "I know you don''t want to hear this, and you''ve got a thousand things on your te, but at the very least, you should mark each other," Brianna says gently one evening. "You''re both leaning towards the bond. It''ll make you stronger, your pack stronger. That connection? It''s huge for morale. Forget anyone who thinks it''s just a male/female thing—it''s about leadership. It''ll keep you both safe, especially if this magic stuff is as nasty as Jason and Tommy say."


    “Well, at least you gave me some logic,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. "I''ll talk to him when he gets back. He''s visiting Junior right now. We haven''t heard from him, and Ben''s worried something''s wrong." I sigh, holding my phone between my shoulder and ear as I straighten my chair and sit down. "No promises, but I will bring up marking. Okay?"


    "That''s all I ask,” she replies in a voice so sweet it''s almost teasing. She''s definitely used to getting her way.


    I lean back, letting out a breath I didn''t realize I was holding. The weight of everything still presses down on me, but maybe just maybe I''m starting to find a way through the storm.