Page 51 of Black Willow Witch
Paisley cast him a quick glance. ‘Hey, I’m just calling the situation as I see it.’
‘Why have you got to be so mean?’ demanded Kage. ‘I’m your brother. You should adore me.’
‘And yet . . .’
Her eyes dancing, Emberlyn sipped from her drink.
Ripper shifted slightly, bringing Paisley’s attention back to him. ‘Why is it you’d like to take the Change?’
She rested her hands on her thighs. ‘The thought of it always appealed to me, even when I was little. I think maybe it’s because clans are so tight and the weak are protected. It doesn’t work like that in a coven.’
He frowned. ‘You consider yourself weak?’
‘Not as a person, no. But my magick isn’t strong, so most of the coven consider me a runt. It made me ripe for bullying at school. Of course, they stopped targeting me for their own amusement when Emberlyn became my bestie – she only had to smile at them and they’d slink away like thieves in the night.’ Paisley snickered.
He cut his gaze to Emberlyn, who was sipping her herbal tea again. She was a protector just as much as she was an avenger, he thought. Returning his attention to Paisley, he asked, ‘Is your family aware that you wish to take the Change?’
‘Yes. My parents are not pleased about it. Far from it. But as Emberlyn said, I can’t live my life trying to keep other people happy. My mom and dad should want me to put my happiness before their own. It hurts that they don’t, but it is what it is. My hope is that they’ll eventually come round to the idea.’
‘And if they don’t? Because this isn’t something you could take back. Once done, it can’t be undone.’
‘If they don’t come round, they don’t come round. I’ll have no regrets,’ Paisley stated with such certainty that he believed her.
‘I take it you would prefer to join my clan because your twin is part of it.’
Her nose wrinkled. ‘No, it’s not a factor here. If anything, I’d prefer to be away from him – he’s a fucking idiot.’
Kage narrowed his eyes at her. ‘I despise you,’ he said matter-of-factly.
‘Well, that’s new,’ Paisley deadpanned without looking at him. ‘Carver’s clan needs shaping up, to be frank,’ she said to Ripper. ‘Shane’s clan is tight and orderly but, let’s face it, yoursis tighter and more controlled. I’d feel safer in your clan. I never had that in the coven.’
Ripper had never really understood why witches were so obsessed with ‘perfection’. Perfection, in their eyes, being strong and in full control of their magick. They looked down on those who didn’t meet that standard; targeted them rather than protected them. He didn’t get that mentality at all.
‘The Change is no easy thing to go through,’ he told Paisley. ‘It’ll take a few days. Aside from the initial bite, it won’t hurt. But you’ll be tired. Feverish. Drift in and out of consciousness. And there’ll be times you’ll—’
‘Want a lot of sex, I know.’
‘Then you know you’re gonna need a wolf to fuck you during most of it,’ he said bluntly.
She swallowed. ‘I’m really not going to have a problem with that.’
Emberlyn choked on her Danish, her shoulders shaking.
Paisley blushed. ‘What? They’re all hot as hellfire. I’m not gonna lie and act like it’ll be a chore.’
Ripper’s lips threatened to twitch. ‘If you’re sure this is what you want, I have no objection to you joining my clan. Are there any unmated wolves in it who you feel comfortable with? If so, I’ll ask if they’ll put you through the Change. It’s not something I do.’
Emberlyn tilted her head. ‘How come?’
‘As you’ll know, a werewolf injects an enzyme into a person’s blood to Change them,’ he explained. ‘Each werewolf has an individual enzyme like they do a fingerprint. She’ll always feel a slight platonic connection to the wolf who Changes her due to that enzyme. I’m the Alpha – it’s important I’m not more connected to some clan members than others. The only exception is mates and family.’
‘Gotcha,’ said Emberlyn. ‘Makes sense.’
Paisley twisted her mouth. ‘I’ve met quite a few of your clan during my time working at the laundry hub. I can’t think of any who I don’t feel comfortable with, so I’m not fussed.’
‘All right. I’ll talk to some of my unmated wolves and get back to you.’
A delighted smile split Paisley’s lips. ‘Awesome.’
