I roll my eyes at them, but I can’t argue either. “I learned that when I went to people more bad things usually happened and it wasn’t punishment for the person who was doing the bullying, the person who told or the victim typically got hurt. I wasn’t going to put anyone else in harm’s way or have them disappear.
I don’t trust easily…well I didn’t trust easily. I’m learning, but the people I trust the most have had my back in situations where they could have chosen to step away and save themselves, but they didn’t. For some reason I keep coming back to you guys though, so there’s trust there too, it’s just different.”
“Can we at least put it out there that we don’t want Kaley, we never have. She’s a pain in the ass but so are a lot of other people and one of the things dad taught us and we learned at training is we have to learn to deal with them too. That is easier said than done.” Kota asks.”
“Sure as long as you learn that not saying anything is actually more harmful. It makes her think that you agree with her, like other pain in the asses. You have to make decisions and be okay when people don’t like what you say. That was probably your dad’s biggest flaw. I loved him, he was more my dad than my own was, but he just smiled and said nothing. That is not helpful.”
Both twins nod. I guess that’s all I’m going to get out of them. We all asked each other to speak more. I don’t know if there is anything more wwe can say right now.
“What did your mom want?” Oliver looks back and forth at the twins.
“Umm…She actually wanted to show us the Alpha floor. She moved out. That’s what she’s been up to with your dad for the last few days.”
“What? Where did she go? It’s not somewhere in the packhouse is it? We would have noticed. Nathaniel would have said something to me.”
“She actually told him to keep it quiet. She didn’t want any of us to worry about her. She knows we have stuff to do to take care of the pack. She just wanted the time to go through everything and just let dad go.”
“She actually moved into the Gamma house.” Kota looks over at Oliver who is definitely surprised.
“My dad didn’t say anything about that.”
“Well he knows we’re busy too and she is his priority now. So if she wanted it quiet, that’s what he would do.” I shrug. “Are you going to move up to the top floor then?”
They both shake their heads. “We’re not ready for that.” They say together.
I go to ask another question, but a throat clearing has us all looking to the path we came down.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I wanted a moment with Skylar.” Elena stands at the edge of the clearing, not unsure, but waiting for permission to approach me. She’s giving me the choice to accept this thing or not.
I look up to the sky and take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Then I look back at her. “We might as well get this over with too.”
“May I?” She asks, but she isn’t looking at me. My three protectors have shifted so they aren’t blocking her from me, but they are making a definite statement of being between her and I.
Oliver looks back at me and I nod. He steps forward patting a hand on each of the twins shoulders.
“We aren’t leaving Tiny.” Cam is determined.
“That’s alright Alpha, I wouldn’t expect any of you to leave her with a new development like this.” She steps past them, closer to me. “I just wanted to say that this doesn’t change a thing for you and I. I understand the dynamic is not ideal and I cannot begin to imagine what you have gone through. I will not be a go-between, if your father wants to speak with you he will have to approach you and you will have to choose to allow conversation or not. Gentry and I have discussed the unique situation that has been presented to us. It is unusual for a witch to be mated to a wolf, but to have the coven leader and her second both be mated to wolves seems like a sign from your Goddess and ours. We can’t ignore it, so we have both chosen to accept it.”
“So you will still train me?” I can’t help sounding like a little girl looking for reassurance, but that’s exactly how I feel. “I don’t know what I am doing and it scares me. There is so much and I feel like some things just happen and I don’t want to feel out of control.”
“We will work on your ability to trust your instincts. Sometimes you do and it is wonderful. Other times you question your self worth and doubt your abilities. Those insecurities are what is holding you back.” She wraps me in a hug, a full on real hug.
She is not super affectionate so I embrace her and the moment as something huge. She pulls back and holds me at arms length. “We will also work through the reasons for your insecurities,” She looks up behind me and the look she is giving the three men standing behind me is nothing short of accusatory. “We will get to that, but first we do have some magic to undo and that does not take precedence over what you are going through right now, but it is a priority for your pack. You four are needed for this, we will start at the tip of your pack and work our way forward towards the entrance the enemies will most likely come from.
That also starts us at the wolfsbane, which we know you have a resistance to. You three will need to stay with her, she will need the help when we are done. I do not want you to be alarmed, but this spell will weaken her significantly. We will only be able to do one every two or three days.
You cannot interrupt the incantation, no matter what your wolf wants. This migh be hard for you, but it is not an option to keep you away.”
