Page 10 of The Witch’s Daughter

I flushed the bowl and dropped to my knees to scrub the outside with a rag.

I was going to die here in this pack, cleaning toilets and being warded off by packmates, eating fresh kill every night instead of grilling it.

It’s not so bad, my wolf offered comfort.

I gave her a mental pat and stood, catching Alec’s reflection in the mirror.

My sister gave me a knowing look.

“I think you should go,” Alec said.

I nodded despite the trembling sensation her words invoked. A witch without magic didn’t belong at a magic festival, and she definitely had no place being tested against other powerful witches and warlocks like she was worth something more than she was.

“Don’t do that.” Alec shook her head and turned to gather up the flannel blankets and sheets.

“Do what?” Meg asked as she wrapped up the vacuum cord. Alec headed down the hall without answering.

Don’t bother her with this.

With tears blurring my vision, I blew out a heavy breath. “Nothing.”

Meg’s worried expression tore at my heart. “You’re nervous about seeing Jaxon today.”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” I said, too quickly.

She studied me. “And the others? I don’t think I’ve seen them all in one place since Gram died. Is that why you blew up Mom’s kitchen this morning? Are you trying to bribe them with cupcakes?”

“Can you please stop nitpicking me for once in your life?” I moved to close the bathroom door and then hesitated. “Also, you missed a spot.”

4

Jaxon

Someone is coming, my wolf warned as I shifted to my human form at the crossroads where Cerberus, Cadejo, and Amarok territories met.

Someone is always coming through here, I told him. This was a popular road to travel and the most common border crossing. Usually, a representative from the territory would meet guests upon arrival. But we’d been here enough times to not need an escort.

A few yards ahead of our tri-corner was the Fenrir border. Anubis pack to the south of Cerberus and Fenrir territory completed our western region. These four packs made up my neighbors and allies.

Like other regions, we surrounded a human city, keeping nature’s balance in check and ensuring history didn’t repeat itself should humans decide to run amok again.

My pack lands stretched further away, but I provided the bridge for our region to the north, while Anubis bordered the plains to the east. Cerberus territory was a central hub of travel now that the western regions’ imposed isolation on them had been lifted after the death of the mad Alpha.

It felt good to be visiting again. This land held a special place in my heart. Not only since she lived here, but because this territory had been a safe haven when I was merely a pup learning to manage my power.

And I wasn’t the only one who felt the same.

I sniffed the air, sensing the wolf-witch somewhere in the cover of the Amarok woods.

Each witch or warlock I’d ever met had a signature, an aura as unique to them as their magic, and those of us wolf-witches had a little something… extra.

Damn straight.

I internally sighed at his cockiness.

Wolf-witches were rare, but the irony didn’t escape me that so many, around my age, were born in the same region. Fate had its hands in this, somehow. I just didn’t know the how of it yet.

I don’t think any of us did.