Page 79 of Claimed

“But what you two have been through apart and now together, you’ll move forward knowing how precious, how important things are. How worth it the fight is.”

“Absolutely,” he agrees.

“You’re not done fighting, Riley. There are things to come. Dangers. For you. My niece. For all of you.” Her gaze turns tome. “And you’re going to be very involved in all of it. You’re needed.”

I’m listening.

She holds my gaze as she continues. “I want you both to step up and support the coven, family to the both of you. Things may go south in that meeting tomorrow. If I’m put under sanctions, I may not be able to help much. I don’t trust them based on their track record, and I do trust my intuition, which tells me we have a battle ahead.”

“How can I help?” I ask.

She smiles. The smile takes years off her face as her eyes twinkle. She holds her hand out, so I move to her and give her my hand, which she takes in both of hers, examining my palm before turning my hand over and squeezing.

Her eyes flash an even brighter illuminated silver color for a moment, just the way mine do when I’m feeling things deeply. That’s obviously not just a trait in council alphas.

“I’ll tell you exactly how you can help, Greyson Blackwood. And it’ll be the beginning of your training to take your place within the Young coven. It’s a place that might surprise you.”

Everything in me is paying attention. And there are tingles in my body the likes I’ve never felt before. Like something is waking up inside me, something that’s been asleep. Something not unlike my inner wolf. But it’s new. It’s untapped. It’s strange. And I can’t fucking wait. This feels like something that’s been a long time coming. Something that’s mine, that’s been either kept from me or waiting for this moment to reveal itself to me.

“Can you give us the room, Riley Savage?” Mimi asks.

“Absolutely,” Riley replies, rises and is about to move to the door, but Mimi lets go of my hand with her right and reaches for Riley. He accepts her hand; she keeps hold of mine with her left.

“You’re exactly who Erica needs. Everything she’ll ever need. And she’s everything you need.”

“I know,” he replies gruffly.

“In order to take care of her tomorrow, you’ll need to manage your temper. But also… don’t take shit from them. They’ve shoveled enough at you both this past seven years.”

“Absofuckinglutely,” Riley growls.

She nods and lets go of his hand. “I’ll need to talk to Greyson now. He’ll likely need everyone’s help but he’ll succeed with what needs to happen. I don’t know much of it, but I know this much, which is enough.”

“He’s got us.” Riley slaps my back and leaves the room.

Our eyes are locked again.

I want to ask her about her family’s relationship with my father. About my birth mother. I asked Erica if she was still alive and she told me she is. I don’t know if Mimi is in touch with her. But I do expect she’d know I’m full of questions.

But she begins to talk. She says things that rock the foundation of my existence. Everything about my life is about to change and I’m immediately agreeing to be all-in. Seconds after I tell her I’m here for it, the enormity of what’s happening washes over me while she lights more spices in a different bowl and speaks words I don’t understand with our hands clasped together.

Because I’m now linked to her, poised to receive a bounty of magic from her. Her magic. Magic of many of the Young coven members who have passed on or had their magic held in a trust, a holding space that she’s connected to, that she’s just literallyplugged me into. And she tells me I’m linked with all members of the coven now as she’s naming me to be her successor, the head of the Young coven. She doesn’t want it revealed yet, but I’m about to learn the full scope of how to be who I’m meant to be.

I’m more than Greyson Blackwood, fourth born of the current council alphas of Arcana Falls. I’ll soon learn what it means to be not only part of the Young coven, but the coven head, the only male member. A wolf shifter warlock.

21

Stacy

I’m putting away the vacuum cleaner when Greyson’s scent assaults my senses. More than usual. It’s as if his fragrance, his vibrations, they hit something deeper within me – maybe to do with my wolf. I ponder this for a beat as I stand frozen, with the vacuum cord in my hand.

It’s like his scent speaks to the most primal part of me, making me hyperaware of my wolf. It’s an odd sensation – as if my wolf jumps to attention within me. Ready for something. Eager for it.

I’ve never felt anything like this. It’s as if the volume of my mate is turned way up to every single part of me. Voice, scent, presence. Connection.

I hear him speaking.

Yes, something is different. Something is very different with my wolf. Everything suddenly feels very, very strange. Vivid? I’m on edge, ready to spring up like a Jack-in-the-box. But for what?

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