Page 63 of Witch Unexpected
“Good luck with that, Cora. I mean it. You’ll need to be strong. Your mates will need to procreate, and they’ll choose female wolves to bear their pups. I was lucky with Toke and Arne’s choices. We became friends, and they never laid claim to my mates. They moved on and mated with other wolves.”
“What about Sten?”
“Sten decided he didn’t need to produce an heir. Sten is Torsten’s uncle. Torsten’s father was supposed to be my mate, but he was killed a few years prior to my becoming anchor, so Sten took his older brother’s place. Sten knew Torsten was there to bind with the next anchor, so he decided to leave the bloodline growth to his nephew.”
“Isn’t that risky?”
She snorted. “Oh, believe me, it wasn’t a decision taken lightly, but Sten can be…difficult.”
Like Torsten, it seemed. Looked like they were cut from the same cloth.
“This thing we do is important,” she said. “But I want to warn you…” She frowned as if searching for the right words. “Pick who you surround yourself with carefully. Be wary and be wise. Trust your mates above all others because they will always have your back.” She lay against the pillows and closed her eyes. “I’m so tired, Cora, and as much as I dread giving up this bond, the blood moon can’t come soon enough.”
Her breathing slowed and evened out.
She was asleep.
The door opened with a soft click, and Bramble popped her head round it. “The others are here to meet you. Come on.”
“What others?”
“The ascending alphas, their mothers, and a few other pack members.” Her gaze flicked to Charlotte, and her mouth pressed in a thin line. “The blood moon can’t come soon enough.”
Honestly, after everything Charlotte had told me, I wasn’t too sure about that.
Chapter Fifteen
The lounge was filled with people. Hulking males and tall, regal looking women. I’d been around shifters before, the Loup Garou, to be specific, and they came in all shapes and sizes, but these guys…
We climbed down the stairs, unnoticed, our scent masked by the delicious food laid out at the back of the room, hot buffet style. “Why are all these shifters so huge?”
“Nordic blood,” Bramble said. “You know, Vikings and Norse gods. The dire wolves are said to be descended from Fenrir himself.”
I had no clue what she was talking about, but I’d find out. Not now, though, because heads swiveled my way and attention settled on us like a thick, potent cloud with probing fingers.
I scanned the unfamiliar faces and latched on to one I recognized. Halle waved from the back of the room. Where was Rune?
My question was answered a moment later when the huge, shaggy wolf appeared at my side. He looked up at me with hazel eyes as if to say,how you doing?
“I’m good. You?”
He chuffed.
Nice.
The crowd parted to admit Arne and Leif. And yes, my heart may have done a little pitter-patter at the sight of the crimson-haired Adonis who’d saved my ass from the varga. His gunmetal blue eyes locked on me then swept over me as if assessing for damage.
“Thank you for coming, everyone,” Arne said as he came to stand abreast of me.
Bramble slipped away, making space for Leif, and I was literally surrounded by wolves.
“We’d like you to meet the witch who’ll be taking over from Charlotte as anchor.”
Yep, all eyes were on me again. I raised a hand. “Hey.”
“Cora Dawn is vital to the existence of the seal. Her life is essential for the protection of our world, so you will do whatever it takes to keep her safe, just as you have done all these years for Charlotte.”
A murmur of agreement skittered over the gathered.
