Page 14 of Bear Your Fate

The only way it could have been done that quickly after Nixon and Nyssa’s birth was if there were spies in Bear Creek. I stood and walked to the window over my sink, my gaze scanning the back yard before I moved through the living room to look out front as well. After I confirmed that there wasn’t anyone nearby with a line of vision into my house, I switched the call to speaker phone and tapped out a quick group text to warn my sons and Parker that they needed to be hyper vigilant because there was a possible threat to the family. “What are the chances that these protests were made completely separate from each other?”

“Slim to none.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too.” I set the phone down and rubbed my face. “Witches and shifters banding together against infants. Not just any babies, but part of my clan. And not just any members. Nixon and Nyssa were my flesh and blood. My grandchildren.”

“You going to be able to keep your shit together?”

“Who the fuck do these people think they are, daring to question Nixon and Nyssa’s place in my clan? I’m the motherfucking alpha of the McMahons.” My voice rose during my rant until it was a bellow.

“I’m going to take that as a no,” Damien sighed as I heard Audra’s footsteps on the stairs. “Can I talk to your witch instead?”

I was so angry; I didn’t catch how he referred to Audra as mine. Swiveling on my stool, I turned to face her as she raced into the kitchen. “What’s wrong? I thought you said it was just Damien and nothing for me to worry about, but then just as I fell back asleep I heard you yelling something about the babies.”

Hearing his deep chuckle through the line, I hit the mute button again. “C’mere.” I held out my hand, and tugged her towards me as soon as our palms touched. I waited until she was standing between my legs with my arms around her to explain the reason behind Damien’s call.

She took it about as well as I did. Her green eyes burned bright as she muttered, “By the Goddess and all the powers she’s given me, I vow that whoever is behind this foul deed will pay. And the price will be high.”

“You’d better fucking believe it. They’ll have to go through the entire McMahon Clan before they’ll be able to get near Nixon or Nyssa. Bear Creek is about to experience a lock down unlike they’ve ever seen before. It’s hard to believe anyone connected with the clan would conspire against us in such a manner, but nobody outside of the family is free from suspicion. Not until we can determine beyond a shadow of a doubt that they’re not a part of this.”

“Selene and I will set up several layers of protection for Nixon and Nyssa. Protection amulets they can wear around their ankles. Spells on all the homes and cars. And I’ll call Tempest. She already proved her loyalty a year ago and can be trusted to provide assistance.”

I nodded, and my gaze slid back to the phone. “Damien has proven himself as well.”

“He has.”

I begrudgingly un-muted the call. “Can we count on you for your assistance?”

“Absolutely.”

“Thank you, Damien.”

Audra poked me in the chest, and I took it as a hint. “We appreciate it.”

“You almost sound like you meant that,” Damien chuckled.

“I actually do. It’s a relief to know you’ll have our backs when the council meets to discuss the petition.”

“About that,” he drawled. “Seth is going to call for a meeting this afternoon, and he’s going to give everyone forty-eight hours to gather. But he wanted me to give you an early warning so you wouldn’t be caught unaware. It’ll give you a head start on setting up protection for your family before you and Audra need to leave.”

The wolf shifter who served as the head of the council had also proven to be a valuable ally in the past. I hadn’t appreciated how he’d handled certain things—like allowing Selene to risk her life in order to prove to other shifters what she was willing to sacrifice for her mate—but he’d demonstrated his support when he’d asked Selene to serve on the council. It wasn’t the easiest path he could have taken, but it had been the right one. He’d earned my respect with that decision, and giving us advance notice of the trouble heading our way only reinforced it for me. “Let him know I appreciate it.”

“Will do.”

“Does this new development change the plan for me to step into Selene’s position on the council?” Audra asked.

“Not at all. They might’ve been fast with their petition, but they weren’t quick enough because Seth already made that announcement last night. Had they gotten their request in before that, it wouldn’t have been good.”

“Would it have made that much of a difference?”

“Definitely,” I answered. “With a decision undecided on the petition, if Seth had moved forward with placing you on the council, it would’ve appeared that he was giving my family preferential treatment since I serve on the council. His hands would’ve been tied until after the situation with Nixon and Nyssa was settled.”

“It’s possible that’s exactly what they were hoping for,” Damien added. “But we ruined that plan by being quicker than they expected, even if it was only by a handful of hours.”

Our win was by a small margin, but I’d take it. A win was a win. Period.

10

Audra

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