I''ve alsoe across candles, small clusters of tree branches, and symbols crafted from scattered debris, all carefully bound together with twine, scattered throughout the forest. They seem to serve a dual purpose-both protective charms and decorative elements. Had someone asked me a year ago if I''d wee such chaos, I would have firmly said no. Yet, strangely enough, these arrangements now offer me a sense of security I hadn''t expected to feel.
Before stepping inside my office, I inhale deeply the soothing scent ofvender and lemongrass hanging just outside the door. The calming aroma steadies my nerves for a moment. No sooner have I closed the door behind me than my phone starts ringing. My heart leaps with hope it might be Ben.
"ra?" A feminine voice breaks through, slightly breathless.
I blink a few times, trying to shake off the disappointment when I realize it isn''t the deep, familiar baritone I''d been longing to hear. "Uh, yeah... hello?"
"Hey! Umpf... I hope this is a good time. I just wanted to check in on you and see how Ben''s settling in. He''d never call us for a chat like this, and Jeremiah''s worried about his best friend."
"Oh, hey Rayna! Are you sure now''s a good moment? You sound like you''ve got your hands full." I catch a muffled grunt in the background.
"There really isn''t much downtime with pups, honestly. Especially when you have two who are already channeling the most extreme behaviors of their father and aunt -skipping straight past crawling and walking, too. I''ve pretty much given up on some aspects of parenting and safety rules. Believe it or not, Jer and James are actually watching the twins right now. I just have to keep the door open in case one of the big boys gets hurt." Sheughs, and I can''t help but smile at her humor despite the chaos she describes.
The idea of pups still feels foreign to me. Though I''ve been around them all my life, growing up as an only child without cousins means my experience is limited mostly to training school-aged kids. The tiny, fragile babies intimidate me.
"Well, since you''re off duty for the next five minutes, what do you want to know?" I ask, trying to keep the mood light. I''m guessing she wants to hear if Ben is settling in well and making friends-her full "mom" instincts kicking in because of her own pups.
"I want to know how your mate bond is going. I wasn''t really paying attention thest time I saw you, but Jer and Jason said you''re both struggling with it." Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Of all the things she could have asked, that''s where she started?
“Uh, well, things have been pretty hectic around heretely, so the mate bond isn''t really our top priority right now. You know, with the spells and a witch coven moving into the pack to help us..." I hadn''t meant to say so much, but I hoped to distract her.
"What do you mean it''s not a priority?! How can you protect the pack if you haven''t even bonded?" Her voice sounds shocked, almost incredulous.
Since I began integrating coven members into the packhouse, the elders have only spoken to me briefly and sparingly. They don''t approve of witches on ournd, but Rayna''s right. It''s my decision-my instinct to work with them to save the pack, and I''m wasting energy arguing with the elders about it.
"But what am I supposed to do about Ben? I know how he feels about her. I know she''s mated to your brother, and that''s tearing Ben apart. And now this magic stuff is just another barrier keeping us from even having a moment to figure out what any of this mate bond stuff really means."
hints at underlying conflicts that may soon surface, testing alliances and challenging long-held traditions. Hazel''s struggle to bnce the expectations of the elders, the needs of her pack, and her own heart will likely lead to moments of vulnerability and fierce determination. The emotional undercurrents set the stage for a chapter rich in tension, where every decision could ripple through the lives of those she holds dear.