Page 162 of Untamed

"Rooster," my Bliss says under her breath.

I'm smirking at her joke when I approach him. He looks at me with a steady expression, then glances at the wolves behind me.

"It's almost over, then," Diego says with relief. His eyes drift closed, a small smile curling his lips.

"Almost?" I sneer a little at him.

His eyes spring back open, wary and fearful.

"The Lake, my Mactiir," my mate's soft demand pulls my eyes back to her.

"She knows," Diego sounds defeated but relieved.

"Knows what?" I snarl at him, stepping forward threateningly.

Diego holds up his hands in surrender. "I... you just have to come see. You'll never believe it, otherwise."

---

Willa

The burning of the forest is the goddess' herald. An announcement of the war between her children. I close my eyes, leaching warmth from Mactiir, who always seems to be an eternal source of heat. If I had my male with me in the cabin years ago, I would have never been left shivering in the meat shed at night.

The image Mama would draw in the dirt comes to mind. The soft slope of arms and cheeks, the voluminous clothes wrapped around female curves.

"This is Nature, sweetpea. The Mother."

"Like you, Mama?"

"Just like me. And she has daughters, too. Like you."

Not all children listen to their Mamas. My eyes drift open to hear Mactiir murmuring worriedly. Rooster is eyeing me, too. But, everyone else is staring at the vast expanse of blue in front of us. The Lake.

My false-father is dragged from the back of one of the vehicles by Blue Star and the Dark Male. When his broken body hits the dirt, a puff of sand and silt rises and settles.

Rooster nods his head. "She said you would know to keep him alive," he says quietly.

"Who is this she?" Mactiir asks.

"My mate," Rooster replies softly.

A hush settles over all of us. Anticipation zings through my veins. All of the wolves are looking around, confused. Now, I am the one keeping my eyes on the Lake.

"I saved your life, you know," the coldly amused voice matches her icy eyes of pale grey eyes and even paler, nearly white hair. Her eyes bore into mine. My she-wolf shifts, peering right back at this odd creature. She feels a kinship with this pale female. And, without any doubt, she knows that this delicate-looking female is deadly.

"Holy fuckballs," Gnome whispers. "A witch. A real, honest-to-be-all-believed witch."

The cold persona of the pale witch cracks. A faintly sardonic smile crosses her face. "I am the Adsun Coven leader. Amarynth . And you are Tarkik Adlartok . And you," she turns pale eyes back to me, "you are the Wild Luna, Willa."

"The Adsun Coven?" Old Alpha interjects.

The pale witch smiles. "Relax. We live on the island across the lake. Nowhere near your territory."

"I heard of the coven before," Old Alpha admits reluctantly. "But nothings been heard from you in years. I thought you all disappeared."

The stern look returns to the witch's face. "Twenty years ago, the former coven leader wanted to wage war. That worm," she points to my false-father, "was making deals with her. For years and years. Messing with the alphas of the territory, in particular."

"How so?" Old Alpha has turned grey. I make a soft, worried sound. Mama clutches him tighter. I hope his heart isn't giving out. We don't have our medicines and herbs here at the Lake.

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