Page 16 of BeWolfed

My phone vibrated. Lola. Three missed calls already. The clock showed 6:30 a.m., which meant news of our mating had already spread through supernatural channels.

I slipped from the bed and moved to the kitchen to return the call.

"Tell me you didn't," Lola demanded without preamble.

"Good morning to you too." I kept my voice low, glancing toward the bedroom.

"A witch, Rudy? In the middle of all this? Are you trying to paint a target on both your backs?"

My wolf bristled at her tone, but I forced myself to remain calm. "It wasn't exactly planned. Cash put something in our drinks"

"That manipulative bastard,” she said. “What was it?"

"Something called Twilight Spirit. Supposedly enhances existing connections."

"Existing—" Lola broke off, then sighed. "So you were already halfway there. Should have known from how you talked about her."

Had I been that transparent? I'd spent years mastering control, keeping my emotions hidden. But apparently one witch with unpredictable magic and steel in her eyes had cracked that facade without even trying.

"The pack knows," Lola continued, her voice dropping. "Curtis was at The Glitter & Stone last night. He's been... changed since he returned. The blood magic is stronger in him than the others."

"Changed how?" Curtis was the enforcer Elspeth had mentioned in connection with Rose's disappearance.

"Like he's not entirely himself anymore. Like something else is driving him." The concern in her voice was palpable. "He reports directly to the alpha now, and he was watching you two last night. This mating will complicate the rescue operation."

Understatement of the century. A lone wolf mating a witch during the worst supernatural tensions in decades was more than a complication—it was a declaration. A challenge to both the pack's blood magic corruption and the growing divisions between species.

"Any news on Rose?" I asked, refocusing on what mattered most.

"Nothing concrete. But there are whispers about a major ritual planned for the next full moon. Something bigger than their previous attempts." Lola paused. "And Rudy? The pack isn't the only group taking an interest in your new mate. Oscar Katz has been asking questions about Elowen."

A protective growl escaped before I could stop it. Through our bond, I felt Elowen stir in response, her consciousness reaching drowsily for mine.

She appeared in the doorway moments later after I had hung up with Lola, wrapped in a blanket, hair tousled from sleep. The mate mark stood out clearly on her shoulder, already healing with supernatural speed. I couldn't feel her emotions, not fully, but there was something... a faint pull when she looked at me. Recognition. Connection.

"Was that about Rose?" she asked immediately, moving to the coffee maker.

Her first thought was for her aunt—not the life-changing bond we'd formed, not the dangers we now faced, but Rose.

"Lola, with an update on pack movements," I replied.

She nodded.

I studied her, searching for regret in her expression. Instead, I found quiet determination, her focus sharpened by urgency. A warmth flickered in my chest—mine or hers, I couldn't tell. The bond wasn't clear enough for that yet.

"You're handling this... well," I observed cautiously.

A wry smile touched her lips. "Freaking out won't help us find Rose." She poured coffee into two mugs. "Besides, I've always adapted quickly. Had to, after my parents died."

The casual reference to her loss struck me. She rarely mentioned her parents. Like me, she kept her pain private, controlled.

"There's something else you should know," I said, meeting her eyes directly. "Dr. Katz has been asking questions about you. Specifically you, not just about Rose."

Her brow furrowed, concern flickering through our bond. "Why would he care about me?"

"I don't know. But his timing in Midnight Creek, his interest in blood magic research..."

"You think he's connected to Rose's disappearance?" Skepticism colored her voice.

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