Page 101 of Potions and Proposals
“Emerson, take Rosie back to the manor and get the remaining trays for the stall. Our customers are waiting,” Lucy commanded, refusing to give the group of wolves any attention.
“Lucy, I’m not leaving—”
“Now, Rosie.” She was speaking not as her friend, but as the future leader of Foxford.
Emerson took Rosie’s hand. Touching a wolf on the brink of changing was dangerous, but Rosie visibly relaxed. The crowd parted to let them through.
“They aren’t going anywhere,” the head of the group growled.
“Yes, they are,” Lucy replied coolly. “As are you. I suggest you return to the woods or enjoy the rest of the night. I highly recommend the Punch and Judy show at the theatre.”
“Are you giving us orders now? Are you protecting this traitor andhim?”The werewolf squared up to her, but she couldn’t imagine he’d do anything. There was no way Alpha Beline would allow them to cause trouble in town.
Lucy let out a long sigh. “Yes, I am. Allow me to introduce myself: Lucinda Hawthorne.” She extended her hand and the wolf sneered at her. “Does your alpha know that you’ve come here to cause such a disturbance? Mr Hughes is a guest of this sanctuary, and thus under the coven’s protection. Rosie is a resident who has long cut ties with your pack. You are welcome here, just as they are. However, I won’t allow any threat of violence during the festival that many in this town have worked so hard on.”
“A Hawthorne? Do you think a name is going to intimidate us?”
A crowd was gathering again, and she didn’t want any human casualties if tempers got out of hand. “No, I wouldn’t want to intimidate anyone. The Hawthornes have been serving the pack as healers for generations. I only hope that the respect goes both ways,” she said, refusing to raise her voice. She wanted to diffusethe situation, not make it worse, and she didn’t like the odds of four against one.
“This isn’t about the pack or your family. How can you stomach the sight of an Order member in your town – and with one of our kind? We can’t accept it,” the wolf said, standing a little too close for her liking. “What has Foxford come to? Why should we respect you or your rules when you don’t even respect yourself?”
Lucy noted his claws, extended at his sides. She took a step back, getting out from his reach. To her outrage, he tried to follow, and the other members of the group started to circle her.How fucking dare they challenge me?She remembered what they had done to Benedict and the manor a few weeks back, and wondered if Alpha Beline was losing her grip on her pack.
“Why don’t we all just cool down?” she snarled, and before she could stop herself, the water from the dunk tank opposite them leapt out of the tank and onto the confronting group.
Lucy froze, completely overtaken by her element. Her body shivered as she felt the cool stream of magic rush through her veins. Benedict had been right when he’d said it would reappear… but that wasn’t exactly how she’d wanted to manage the situation. She winced as the drenched troublemakers growled at her, but the remaining onlookers dissolved into laughter.Well, that’s one way to break the tension.
The wolf tried to take a swipe at her, but to Lucy’s surprise the woman in the grey dress got between them and blocked the blow.
“Enough. We should go. You’ve had too much to drink, and Hawthorne is right. Beline won’t be happy about this. The eldest Hawthorne just helped little Maisie – you’ve no right to draw your claws on her!”
Lucy wondered if she was the true leader of the group, as they fell in behind her, huffing and muttering to each other, egos bruised and metaphorical tails tucked.
“Excuse my brother; we were merely shocked to see Rosie after so many years, and we weren’t expecting her to keep– such company,” the woman said, tipping her head respectfully to Lucy.
“No harm done. Sorry about giving your brothers a bath. We can all get a bit carried away,” Lucy said, relieved.
“Don’t worry, they could use one.” They had a small laugh, much to the irritation of the other wolves. “We’ll leave now, but I hope you can be discreet about what has happened.”
She doesn’t want the story to get back to Beline.“We all make mistakes. A lot of people saw what just happened, so I can’t promise word won’t get back to her. However, it won’t come from me,” Lucy promised impulsively. She hoped that a bit of mercy and forgiveness would help ensure such events wouldn’t happen again. “I understand you live by your own laws in the woods, but when your kin ventures into town, I hope they abide byourlaws. For everyone’s safety.”
“You have my word.”
“That’s all I can ask for.”
“We will leave you now. Please send our regards to Grams, and let her know that Maisie is doing much better.”
“I will.” Lucy watched them leave. There was still a trace of aggression or rebellion in the first wolf’s eyes, but she was glad that his sister had been able to bring them to their senses. So close to the full moon, it was amazing that everyone had managed to get through the altercation without a scratch.
She smiled politely at the people staring at her as she turned to head back to the toffee apple stall. She was sure the coven would learn about the altercation before the night was out, but given that no one had been injured and their relationship withthe pack remained intact, there wasn’t much else she could have done.
Benedict was in the Matherson kitchen, discussing menus with the chef, when Rosie and Emerson came in. Rosie was clearly upset, and he asked what was going on, half hoping it was Emerson himself. Rosie explained what was going on with the wolves.
Afraid Lucinda needed him, he rushed to the town square just in time to see the wolves leaving. Judging from the festival-goer sitting in an empty dunk tank and the soaking wet wolves, she’d got her element back. Maybe not under control, but back.
He waited until the wolves disappeared into the crowds in the direction of the woods. Lucinda ran her hands through her hair and turned in his direction. He offered her a small wave and a smile, and her tired, flat expression lifted. Benedict chuckled to himself; it wasn’t too long ago that his appearance had had the opposite effect on her.
Lucinda crossed the road to where he stood in front of the bakery and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest.
