Page 120 of Black Willow Witch
‘Saying what, exactly?’
‘They’re just pleased that their Alpha is content. He’s been alone a long time, and he gives so much of himself to the clan. Neither of which is healthy for any werewolf, but particularly not for an Alpha. Werewolves aren’t built to be alone.’
‘Is it affecting you now that the Change has fully settled into your cells?’
Paisley placed a hand to her stomach. ‘There’s like this urge to belong. To stay close to our clan. To watch over each other. So I can totally get why Ripper eats up your time and pokes his nose into every aspect of your business – it’s, like, encoded in his DNA. Hehasto know you’re safe and well. Crew is the same with me, but I don’t at all mind. To be honest, it’s a two-way street.’
Emberlyn felt her lips hitch up. ‘I’ve noticed that you seem to be getting alongverywell.’ They spent a lot of time together.
‘I can’t say for sure that anything serious will come of it. I’ve learned that he typically tends to avoid “serious”. But then, so does Ripper. And you, for that matter. Now look at you both – you make a true power couple.’
‘Power couple?’
‘Yeah. You both scare most of the townsfolk. That makes you both socially powerful. Put the two of you together andbam.’ Paisley’s eyes widened in interest. ‘Ooh, nice purse.’ She plucked it off a peg and turned it this way and that.
Emberlyn snickered at how easily Paisley was distracted by something shiny.
‘Nota nice price tag, though. Ugh.’ Paisley returned the purse to its peg. ‘So what were we talking about? Ah, how scary you and Ripper are. I’ll bet the coven’s idiotic faction is quailing in its boots. Theymassivelyfucked up last weekend by setting you up like that.’
They had indeed. The day after Emberlyn and Ripper had paid a visit to those who’d attacked, Reena had turned up at the manor. She hadn’t been too happy that some of her coven had had the fear of God instilled in them by Ripper, but shedidunderstand why he and Emberlyn had confronted those members – or so she’d claimed.
Emberlyn still didn’t trust her. Never would. But she’d keep up the temporary truce for as long as necessary.
Reena was unfortunately no closer to identifying the witches of the faction. It was driving her nuts. She also worried that divisions would form in the coven. While it was good that all were now intent on unmasking the faction members, considering them traitors for bespelling their own, it meant that many were also looking at others with distrust.
Often people came to Reena claiming that this person or that person ‘had’ to be part of the faction. But they had no evidence, so she could only promise to ‘look into it’. That was never enough for her witches, meaning they weren’t happy about her inaction.
Basically, the coven was ripe with issues right now.
Gasping, Paisley plucked a tee from a rack. ‘This is so cute.’
‘It has a werewolf with devilish horns printed on it.’
‘Yeah. Cute.’ Metal scraped metal as Paisley flicked through the hangers on the rack. ‘Please have my size, please have my – aha.’ She grabbed a particular tee, grinning broadly. A grin that faltered ever so slightly as her eyes slid to something behind Emberlyn.
‘What?’ Peering over her shoulder, Emberlyn tracked her friend’s gaze to the glass-front window. CeCe’s friends were passing the store –fast. And totally avoiding looking at Emberlyn.
‘Are they still keeping their distance from you?’ Paisley checked.
Emberlyn turned back to her. ‘Yes. Which is good, because I’m rather tired of Ripper having to butt into situations on my behalf.’
‘You’re tired of it, or you’re worriedhe’lltire of it?’
‘A little of both. Anyway, it seems to be working, because I haven’t heard a peep from them or CeCe.’
‘They have been keeping a low profile lately.’
‘Wise of them. Because I don’t think Ripper was bluffing when he warned them what the consequences would be if they kept coming at me.’
‘He wasn’t bluffing. A temporary ban is no joke. You’d lose that feeling of belonging. You’d have no one to run with on a full moon. And not one clan member would lift a finger for you.’ Paisley exchanged a brief smile with a worker tidying shelves. ‘Joining another clan wouldn’t be an option for them – no other Alpha would accept a temporarily banned wolf, because they’d be interfering with a punishment.’
‘Kerr told me he wouldn’t be all too shocked if CeCe switched clans.’
‘She might. I mean, she has to know at this point that neither Ripper nor Logan will ever be hers. Right now, she has a front seat to the Emberlyn and Ripper show. Getting some distance would be healthy. But she may have the feeling that it’sherclan, so why should she have to leave?’
‘I suppose we’ll see.’ Emberlyn glanced down at the items draped over Paisley’s arm. ‘You gonna buy those or what?’
‘Yes.’ Paisley patted them. ‘Checkout counter here we come.’
