Page 4 of Plus-Size Sold Mate
The remaining elders stand along the left side with my father, brother, and sister nearby, and everyone else fills in the gaps. The sound of nocturnal life continues around us, muted from within the walls of the boathouse.
I pull in a discreet breath and stand my ground. “I’ll say it again, and as many times as I need to. The ban on magic is outdated.”
As expected, a wave of irritation ripples through the group. They aren’t surprised by my words, as they’ve been said enough times now. Though there’s a difference between hearing and understanding.
“We’ve had this discussion many times over,” one of the elders states, likely hoping that will be enough to end it.
“Yes, we have. Yet it hasn’t gotten us anywhere.”
At this rate, we will continue to have it until something changes. Until someone outside my siblings and me finally grasps the need for change.
“Perhaps that is because the current way of things still works,” Elder Jonah says, eyes steady and calm.
“It might’ve worked before, but that isn’t the case anymore,” I return, firm but not angry.
I don’t raise my voice or slam anything, not when that’s what they’d expect from a young Alpha with too much to prove. They’ve already been pushing back against me, and I refuse to hand that to them.
“The humans both here and on the mainland are always evolving. Other packs evolve too, as they should,” I tell them, not just addressing Jonah. “We’re one of the last few groups clinging to laws based on fear.”
That word hits harder than intended, evoking several frowns from the pack.
Magic was outlawed some time ago when old Alphas were questioned, and their authority was in peril. While it seems like ancient history, some of the oldest members still rememberthose stories when they were fresh, and they’ve yet to let them go.
According to them, magic brings ruin and corruption. It attracts attention from humans, it undermines an Alpha’s control, and it maims and kills in unnatural ways.
I’ve heard those sentiments since I was a young boy, and while I believed them once, I’ve also seen what it can do with my own eyes. I’ve seen the warmth and security it can bring when harnessed by the right hands.
“The sea gives as it takes,” Elder Jonah says with his arms folded in front of himself. “Magic was not given from her waters…it is a foreign thing.”
Of course…there it is.
Traditions and superstitions always seem to have a way of stunting progress, all because new ideas don’t fit into that specially made box.
“The sea is not the only natural force around us,” I say, despite knowing that ruffles more than enough feathers. “We don’t know where magic comes from, yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s inherently bad.”
More wolves mutter among themselves, not seeming convinced.
“Give us an instance where magic hasn’t destroyed more than it has fixed,” someone says, obviously intending it as a verbal trap.
“Caleb and Lila Graves,” I return without missing a beat. “Lila and their daughter are magic users, and they saved their family with it. It had a significant part in their survival. You all know that.”
The others speak again, saying nothing of significance, as it all blends together.
Caleb’s fight with Dawson Voss set a precedent. Dawson lost publicly, and not without humiliation, and even if Caleb brought him down with his jaws, he had help. Without Lila and her abilities, there’s a chance she and Astrid wouldn’t have made it out of that place unscathed in the first place.
Elder Jonah releases a breath and waves his hand vaguely. “Those were exceptional circumstances.”
“Exceptional or not, it’s the truth.”
As the others fall silent, I press on. “Is our ability to shift not close to magic itself? Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, some bloodlines carry it, and ignoring that won’t erase it. It just means we’re ostracizing those who do, and leaving them untrained. In my eyes, it makes more sense to understand it than to let it get out of hand.”
“And what happens when humans witness this magic being used?” Jonah proposes. “It’s precarious enough not letting them see our kind.”
“The humans won’t know unless we’re careless, or if we let the likes of Dawson Voss get his hands on magic users,” I utter, firmer this time. Immediately, the air shifts at the mention of him. “Dawson lost to Caleb that night, and as we know, his authority has weakened. I have the feeling he’ll be looking for new angles, leverage, or someone else to blame. He’s unstable, which means we need to be rational about all of this.”
I catch the way my brother, Isaac, glances from the pack to me. “You think he’ll move on to neighboring packs?”
Pulling in a breath, I rub at my chin. “He couldn’t maintain his footing in Briarwood, and if he means to keep hisposition, he’ll need to find another strategy. So yes, I wouldn’t put it past him to try something.”
