Mated in Mist (Talon Pack #3)(51)

She’d forgiven him for it all because she loved him, but she wouldn’t forget what had happened anytime soon. If she were to do so, she might forget how hard she’d worked to get where she was, and forget what it had taken to make that happen.

The bond between them flared, and she held back a gasp. She looked to her left at her mate, her mate, and gave him a slight nod. When he reached out and gripped her fingers, she squeezed his hand back. Before, showing any form of attachment would have only painted a target on his back. Now that wasn’t the case. The dangers weren’t gone completely, not even close, but the main one she had worried about all her life was. Now the idea of a mate, someone who would have her back and cherish her wasn’t a burden, but something to be celebrated. She wouldn’t have to protect him from her past, but rather, they would protect each other in their future.

Together they were stronger than they ever had been before.

Ryder gave her a slight smile, and the bond pulsated once again. She knew they were in the middle of the mating heat, and if they hadn’t needed to meet with the Coven to deal with the Humans First problem, they’d be in bed—or on the floor—right now.

She couldn’t wait to get Ryder home and strip him down so she could lick up every inch of him. And boy how many inches that man had in certain places.

Brandon let out a small cough, and Leah blushed. She’d forgotten the Omega stood to her right. The Omega who could not only scent her arousal but feel her emotions.

As Ryder’s mate, she was Pack. She was officially a Talon. She’d been so enraptured with the mating bond and Ryder’s body inside hers, she’d completely missed the snap of the Pack bond going into place. When she’d woken from her sex-hazed fog, she’d felt the first stirrings of the Pack bond, as well as those of being the Heir’s mate. It would take a while to get used to, but she would. Eventually.

However, that meant she needed to focus on the here and now and focus on whatever the hell was going on between the Pack and the Coven instead of giving Brandon a show with her emotions.

That morning, after a wonderful post-mating shower that had including another bout of mating because, dear goddess, she couldn’t keep her hands off of him, Brandon had called to let them know the Coven had requested their presence.

Or rather, what was left of the Coven. As it hadn’t been a summons like the previous time the witches had wanted to speak with them, Leah was a little more hopeful on the outcome of this meeting.

The Talons had brought Ryder, Brandon, and herself. The Redwoods had Finn, Drake, Charlotte, and Bram. Charlotte had requested to be there for Leah’s sake, and Leah was grateful. Bram, Leah figured, was there for Charlotte. Not that the two looked ready to talk about what the hell was going on with them yet.

And that was how they found themselves, once again, in an older building on neutral ground. They weren’t meeting in the previous one, as it had been compromised thanks to Luis. The Coven’s numbers had grown since the last time they’d been there, as well, and that was something Leah needed to know more about.

Not all witches were evil, power-hungry, elitist snobs, far from it, but Luis and Darynda hadn’t shown that to the Packs.

“Thank you for coming,” the pregnant witch finally said. “I’m Amelia, an air witch and the new leader of the Coven.” She gave them a self-deprecating smile. “We’re in limbo at this point with our leadership.”

Ryder tilted his head, looking so much like a wolf she had to hold back a smile of her own. “We’re here because the problem hasn’t gone away. Humans First, the government, and countless others don’t understand our people, and the lack of knowledge leads to dangerous times.”

Amelia nodded and looked around at her fellow witches before landing her gaze on Leah. “The Coven has made mistakes. Not all of them were made with the knowledge of the Coven, but we allowed Luis and Darynda to rule us for far too long.”

“They threatened our families,” another witch said from Amelia’s side. He was younger than Luis had been, as were many of the current members in front of Leah.

Amelia’s jaw tightened. “We will not allow that to happen again. We are a peaceful people. Do no harm. That is the first rule of being a witch, and yet, some of the former members of the Coven didn’t seem to understand that. We might be in the middle of a transition within our own borders, but we know there is more at stake than who rules a coven and what happens within our people.”

Ryder nodded. Leah knew the Talons understood this better than anyone. Their change might have happened over a decade ago, but they were still feeling the aftermath of that hierarchy shift. That was what happened when one lived hundreds of years.

“We need to define the narrative,” Amelia continued.

“We can try,” Leah put in. “But people are so scared right now, they don’t know what to listen to. It doesn’t help that Washington has been oddly quiet except for that one speech.”

Ryder let out a small growl. “To me, that means they’re planning something. Or more than one something.”

“Agreed,” Amelia said, her voice solemn.

For the next few hours, they discussed their plans to protect not only their people but also their future. It wouldn’t be easy, and it wouldn’t happen overnight. The Talons and Redwoods didn’t speak for the entire world of wolves, nor did the Coven for all witches. But they were the main voices in this fight because of where things were percolating. Leah knew there was one wolf, a Redwood named Parker, who was out in the world, meeting with other Packs, and keeping things up-to-date. Technology only went so far. Things were starting to move faster toward a confrontation, and at least a new knowing. Leah would be by Ryder’s side for all of it. She refused to stand back and allow the world to change without her. She’d hidden for far too long as it was.