Page 8 of Do You Even Hex, Bro?
"Shut up. All of you." I run a hand through my hair, exhaustion settling into my bones. "We need to figure this out. The deadline's real this time."
"I've been thinking," Sean starts, and I immediately brace myself.
"Dangerous," Rowan mutters, voicing my exact thought.
"No, listen." Sean sits up, suddenly serious. "What if we go to a witch on campus and have a spell done to find our Bonded? Like, a locator spell or something?"
"You want to use witch magic to find a witch?" Micah snorts. "Isn't that a conflict of interest?"
He just learned that term in Intro to Ethics and he won't shut up about it. But for once, it actually kind of fits.
"Not necessarily," I say slowly, the idea taking root. "Most campus witches are independents. Unaffiliated with the major covens."
And definitely not affiliated with whichever shady coven Villeneuve is connected to. I'm sure of that connection, even if I can't prove it yet. The timing of his arrival at Stormvale University two years ago and the start of our pack's troubles can't be a coincidence.
First, there were the random magical attacks on campus. Then Micah's unexplained shift during the new moon last semester—the incident that led to the destroyed statues. No wolf loses control like that outside a full moon unless magic is involved. Dark magic. And now, with only three months left in the semester, we're facing expulsion if we don't find a Bonded.
All signs point to Villeneuve.
"It's worth a shot," I admit, surprising even myself. "We're running out of options."
"Holy shit," Sean yelps. "Did Kill just agree with me? Someone mark the calendar."
"Don't get used to it." I glare at him, but there's no heat behind it. "Anyone know a witch who might help us without trying to enslave us or drain our life force?"
Silence falls over the room. We all know what happened to the Rho Gamma pack three years ago. They were bound to a witch who used them as magical batteries until they were little more than shells. They still wander campus like zombies, following her every command. A cautionary tale for all shifters.
"There's that coven that hangs out at the Cauldron," Micah suggests. "They're mostly harmless. Into crystals and tarot readings."
"Too weak," Rowan counters. "We need someone with real power for a location spell specific enough to find our Bonded. Not just any witch will do."
He's right. The bond between a wolf pack and their magical counterpart is sacred, ancient. It's not just about university regulations. It’s about balance, too. A strong pack needs an equally strong magical practitioner to channel the excess energy we generate. Without that outlet, we risk losing control, especially during full moons.
Like what happened with Micah.
"You know," Micah says in that cautious tone that suggests he knows I'm not going to like wha the's about to say, "there's always?—"
"No," I growl.
"But—"
"No."
"But she could?—"
"Not Sadie!" I snarl, slamming my fist down on the pool table hard enough to make them all jump.
"It was just a suggestion," he mumbles.
"Yeah, bro, chill out," Rowan says, always jumping in to play peacemaker. I guess someone has to. Usually, it's a quality I appreciate, but not when it's turned on me.
"You know what happened the last time we asked Sadie for anything," I remind them. "I was missing fur for months. It still grows back white in those spots."
"Yeah, but she's a senior now," Micah reasons. "She's gotten way better! She hasn't almost killed anyone in months."
"That's… actually less than comforting," Rowan says, eyeing him warily.
"It's not like we have any better options," says Sean. "Witches hate us."
