Loribelle Hunt - Third Time Lucky

“You better come help, Gabby. I’ve never heard of a paladin killing his, or her, alpha before, but I’d have to say he asked for it.”

She hurried to shift, tugging her beta’s shirt over her head when she was done. It fell to midthigh, and she walked across the pine-needle-strewn ground to join Liza on the rock. By the time she got there, she had the undivided attention of all three of them. Then, because things weren’t bad enough, Jonas showed up. He looked her up and down, his gaze coming to rest on her neck. With a chuckle, he shook his head.

“So the mighty has finally fallen, huh?”

She couldn’t hold in the growl. “Not fond of having your head attached, huh?” she snapped back.

That just made him laugh more. He was grinning when he stopped and, cocking his head to the side, took a deep breath. “Ethan. And Harris?”

“Well, isn’t that interesting,” Liza said and made a shooing motion with her hand. “Go away, gentlemen. It’s girl-talk time.”

“But I want to hear what she has to say,” Zach—always the teaser—said, but Liza just stared him down.

“Girl talk.”

He assumed a pathetic, pleading face. Laughing, Liza waved her hand at them again, her intent clear. There weren’t any more objections, and all three men went back into the woods in the direction of the pack circle.

“Spill it, girlfriend,” Liza ordered when they were far enough away they couldn’t overhear.

Gabby had no idea where to start. “It just sorta happened.” Liza gave her a frank, assessing look that Gabby was rarely on the wrong end of. It made her fidget uncomfortably.

“Right,” she finally said and lowered her voice. “You said you needed two days off. I know you go to Harris when the heat takes over, but you’ve never let Ethan anywhere near you during that time. You’ve never let him close enough to mark you. Never let the sex get that out of control. So what happened?”

Gabby sighed, but the story started to spill out. Liza halted her with a frown. “He used a potion on you? That’s not cool.”

She snorted. “That’s what I said. He said he’d reverse it if I gave him a week, but then, things got even more intense, and well, it’s too late now. Even if he reverses it, the bond is still there.”

“Yeah. I’ve heard some wizards can do that bonding thing, but it’s uncommon.” Liza looked surprised at that. “They don’t like to leave themselves vulnerable.”

“What do you know about it? How does it make them vulnerable?” She’d take any ammo she could get. Liza was half wolf, born and raised in the pack, but her mother was a witch, and Liza knew a lot about that world.

“Hey,” a voice greeted behind them, and they turned to welcome Harper. “Jonas said y’all were hiding out here.”

Gabby was glad to see her. What Liza and her mom didn’t know, Harper would, being the daughter of the wizards’ leader. Harper came closer and leaned one hip against the rock, brows drawn together in a scowl.

“I was just telling Gabby about wizard bonds.”

Harper’s scowl deepened. “Too late for warnings, I’d say.” Gabby’s chest went tight. Did she need to be warned? But Liza said it made Harris vulnerable too. “Tell me.”

The witches exchanged a look, and Harper shrugged one shoulder. “It’s a psychic bond.

Our worlds are very different. Wizards use that bond to keep track of their wives. They can spy on their emotions, their movements. Sometimes their thoughts, if they have enough telepathic ability.”

Gabby knew Harper had grown up in a cold world, but the way her voice changed, the way her eyes dimmed, Gabby knew it was worse than cold. Monstrous.

“You can…feel this bond?”

Harper bit her bottom lip and nodded. “I can see it, like a shimmer around you.” Liza cocked her head to one side. “Do you see wolf bonds?”

“No. Different kind of bond.”

“Harris said that. One is blood, the other psychic.”

Harper nodded again. “Yes, exactly.”

“And there’s no way to break it?”

“No, sorry. Only if one of you dies.”

“That might be arranged,” Gabby growled.

“Well, let’s not go that far yet,” Liza said and turned to Harper. “Mom said, whether the wizards like it or not, their bonds are not one-sided. That it works for the mate as well.” Harper thought it over. “That would make sense. It’s not something they talk about with women, so I can’t say for sure.” She looked at Gabby. “You could test it, though.”

“How?”

“Focus on him and let everything else go. Don’t let anything else intrude on your thoughts.

You’ve been close to him. You’ve felt his power at least once before. See if you can feel it now.” Gabby was curious yet reluctant. Would she draw his attention to her if she was successful? In the end, she was too inquisitive to not give it a try. She closed her eyes, called his image into her mind, the feel of his power around her, and kind of wished to know where he was.

And suddenly, just like that, she felt that power surround her again. He was in her house, prowling like a pissed-off, worried cat. It startled her so much, she lost the connection and opened her eyes.

“It works.” She grinned, wondering how she could use this to turn the tables on him.

“Okay. So Harris used a potion and both of them marked you. You managed to avoid everyone all day, so I’m still sadly lacking in details here.”

“What potion?” Harper interrupted. She looked more and more disturbed as Gabby explained.

“How much do we know about this guy?” she asked nervously.

“He’s been here at least ten years. Showed up when he was seventeen or eighteen.” Liza paused with a shrewd look at Harper. “Jonas trusts him. They’re friends. And Ethan’s been with him for at least a couple of years. But you’re right. It makes me suspicious too. Think you can get a read on him?”

“Probably,” Harper answered.

Liza turned to Gabby. “He’ll be here tonight, right? The gatehouse told me earlier he came in with Ethan.”

She didn’t like it. What he’d done with the potion was sneaky and underhanded, sure. And not asking her before he bonded with her pissed her off, but it wasn’t any different from what most werewolf males did. She wasn’t happy about any of it, but she didn’t think it made him untrustworthy. It hurt to think he might be

“Gabby?” Liza prodded.

She nodded. “He’s at my cabin.” She jumped off the rock. “And I better get back there so I can get some clothes on.”

“Not so fast,” Liza stopped her with that paladin tone in her voice. She pointed at the boulder. “Sit.”

Well, shit. She could walk away from her friend, but not her paladin. She leaned back against the large rock, once again the focus of Liza’s perceptive gaze. “You didn’t avoid me all day, then come find me now because of the potion. I’m guessing it was because you found out about his bond.”

Sighing, she nodded. “Bad enough being mated to one. To a werewolf. But two men? One a wizard? No offense to y’all, but I don’t know what he can do. Or why he’s here. Or anything.” One side of Liza’s mouth kicked up. “Maybe you should ask him.” Gabby glared back.

“Right,” Liza drawled. “That would require that you get to know a male. Let one get to know you. And you’ve worked damned hard to not get involved.” Her voice softened, and she winked. “Honey, it’s not all bad, you know.”

She blew out a breath, reluctant to voice her questions, her concerns, but knowing she could trust Liza and Harper. Knowing they wouldn’t scoff or think less of her. “Do you think it’s possible to be strong and dominant publicly, with the pack. And be something else privately?