Page 5 of Magic Pussy

And yet it didn’t feel like much of a joke.

For the last five years, Rain had traveled the globe, rarely staying put for more than a month.

In the old days, "home" had been the LA apartment she'd shared with Ace, Faith, and Vivicia, but three years ago, Ace had moved to Lakesides.

Rain used to visit sporadically, but since the Wyverns had busted into Ace's life, they'd truly made the place a home. Something in Rain was at peace around their little group, although she was but an outsider.

“Auntie Rain!” Victoria squealed, rushing to tell her all about the hair product that had changed her life.

Victoria was of African descent, like Rain, so along with pouty lips, mahogany skin, and big eyes, they'd inherited impossible hair. Rain's wasn't much of a problem; what was the point of being a witch if one couldn't tame a few curls? But when Victoria was left to her own devices, she was prone to hiding in the bathroom with a pair of scissors and chopping off her curls, rather than brushing them.

Now, the girl had an inch of neat curls. Rain had bottled up some of her own product for her during her last visit.

“Thank you so much for that. I've been begging her to leave her hair alone for years,” said Christine, the only submissive in the pride.

It had been a long time since Rain had seen her. Christine spent some weekends in Texas, in the territory of the Vergas Pack of werewolves. Her mate was helping out his brother during his transition as alpha there, holding the position of beta without really having the title.

Rain and Christine had managed to miss each other the last few visits. Rain hugged her warmly, glad to reconnect. Christine was good people, like everyone in the pride.

“Anytime. Make her tell me when she runs out, I'll ship some over!”

The entire pride used to live in the house Rain had just walked in; it hadn't been a problem, it was certainly large enough, but shifters liked their privacy.

Over the last few months, they'd revamped some cabins around the lake, and most of the pride members had moved there. Now, only the children, the Alphas, and one or two of the guys lived in the pride house.

They still used the living room as their common space. Ariadna, Ian, Jas, Daunte, Clari, and Luke weren't present, probably patrolling the territory, but everyone else greeted her from the sofas, chairs, and windowsills.

Rain immediately noted that Ace was watching her closely, eyes narrowed.

She’d exchanged pleasantries such as “how have you all been doing,” and “did you finish decorating your cabin, Clari?” with the other members of the pack for all of six minutes, when the alpha female snapped.

“Alright, enough of that. Tell me what's wrong.”

Rain might have smiled in other circumstances. She was not surprised, and certainly not offended. Ace knew her too well, and she wasn't one to beat around the bush when she could feel that someone she cared for was troubled. It wasn't in her nature as a born alpha.

“Oh, you know,” she replied vaguely, scratching her arm nervously.

“I don't,” Ace stated plainly, before tilting her head. “Do we need to speak privately?”

Rain sighed. She wasn’t used to this. Asking for help. She knew she could, but it was physically painful to make herself do it.

To make things worse, she heard the main door open behind her, and she knew who had walked in.

People had an aura, a distinctive presence as identifiable as their eye color or the shape of their chin. Rain could recognize most witches before she saw them, but shifters generally felt a little nondescript to her. The exception was Ace, who emanated a different aura, wilder and more intense. She could also identify Rye, Ace's mate, because his presence was immense, potent, overwhelming.

And she also could recognize him. Luke.

She didn't know why he stood out that way. He wasn't a super-alpha like the Wayland-Crosses. He certainly wasn't a witch. Maybe it was because he was European? Who knew.

She knew very little about Luke. Unlike the other Wyvern, who had always merrily chatted around her, he'd barely said a word to her in their acquaintance. Sometimes, he glared at her. Other times, he stared. She could feel that he was somehow suspicious of her, mistrusting.

Which meant he was smart.

Feeling self-conscious with all eyes on her, Rain mumbled, “You know what? It's just something stupid. I can probably work it out myself...”

“Rain, you've done my walls for years, you put yourself in the line of fire many, many times for me and for this pride. Whatever it is, say it, and it'll be done.”

She hadn't doubted it.

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