Page 79 of Black Willow Witch
‘And if there was?’ he challenged, flicking up a brow.
‘I would . . . I would tell you.’
‘Ha,’ Paisley burst out. ‘A total lie.’
Emberlyn gently poked her shoulder. ‘Hush, you. You’ve said quite enough.’
‘Andyoudon’t say enough,’ Paisley sassed.
‘You’re both such whiners.’
Ripper frowned. ‘We just want to be kept firmly in the loop about important things that happen in your life.’
‘Exactly,’ said Paisley, sliding her a haughty look. ‘Forgive us for giving a damn.’
‘You’re forgiven,’ Emberlyn deadpanned.
Paisley only rolled her eyes.
‘I have to meet with Crew about something, so I’m off,’ Ripper announced, backing up a step. ‘Six-thirty, Emberlyn.’
‘I’ll be ready.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Emberlyn unclipped her seatbelt and plucked her purse from between her feet. The passenger door was pulled open, and then Ripper held out a hand. He did that now. Opened doors for her. Helped steady her whenever she stepped in or out of his truck.
When it came to werewolves, that stuff wasn’t mere courteousness. It was a sign of respect. If someone had told her weeks ago that there’d come a time when the anti-witch Jax ‘Ripper’ Stone would respect her, she would have laughed.
Emberlyn took his hand and slid out of the vehicle. The evening breeze was cool, but her white long-sleeved shirt and taupe high-waist tailored pants provided a nice buffer.
He released her hand and cupped her elbow. ‘You ready for this?’
‘Yes. I’m interested in how it’s going to play out,’ she replied.
As they crossed to the town hall, Kerr, Logan and Crew slipped out from behind the shadowed columns.
‘The hall is packed, but our wolves are keeping some space free on the front row for us,’ announced Kerr, opening the glass door. ‘The only council member who hasn’t yet arrived is Reena.’
‘She’s usually the first here,’ Ripper absently noted, urging Emberlyn into the building.
Then . . . it was like they were a bridal party ready to march down the aisle, because the other wolves gathered at his and Emberlyn’s backs as, side by side, they walked into the grand hall.
The large space was crowded. Many people sat. Others stood behind the benches or leaned against the walls.
The coven and Carver’s clan had taken up one column of benches – among those on the first row were her family, Tyra and Sera. The other two werewolf clans had taken up the second column of benches.
Catching sight of Paisley and Kage on the third row, Emberlyn gave them a quick smile as she walked by.
Ripper guided her straight to the front bench. The wolves there scooched all the way over to make room. Once Logan slipped in, Ripper gestured for Emberlyn to take a seat, after which Kerr and Crew joined them. As such, she ended up safely sandwiched between several wolves – no doubt by design.
Being made to feel ‘part’ of a group was . . . strange. A little too foreign to be comforting just yet. It would take some getting used to.
After giving her a long look, Ripper climbed the steps to the platform and took the empty seat between Shane and Carver.
Kerr bumped his shoulder into hers. ‘Your cousin Ames is trying to get your attention.’
‘I know,’ said Emberlyn, keeping her gaze forward as she placed her purse on the floor. Her peripheral vision had caught him waving his arm from the parallel bench.
