Stefan’s POV
You would think that after getting jumped by a werewolf high on vampire blood, the first thing on my mind would be addressing this new threat. I mean, sure, it’s right there at the forefront of my mind, but so are two other things as well.
One, I’ve never needed to dress a wound, and I’ve received some nasty ones in all the years I’ve spent getting into fights with werewolves. Even the worst ones usually heal within hours, sometimes with a little help from a healer, but I’ve never gone to bed with one and woken up without it at least having formed a scab.
The one I have on my chest right now is setting a new record, it seems. It’s still raw and doesn’t show any signs of hurrying up with the recovery.
I ended up dressing it up as Gwen advised–I had no choice, really. I could get a balm from the healer, but I don’t want to raise eyebrows around here. As far as everyone knows, I should have recovered from last night’s injuries.
And that’s what I’m going to keep them thinking until I know why my body suddenly has trouble healing itself. After that attack last night, there couldn’t be a worse time to let them know that their Alpha’s condition is compromised.
Two, I just made love to Gwen and I didn’t mark her.
It’s not a matter of life and death like the others, and maybe I shouldn’t be thinking about it at this moment, but I can’t get it out of my head.
After what happened in the dungeon with Mari, every little single change in my body is giving me a sense of impending doom. I wonder if this has to do with the talisman I’m using.
“I know Blackrise seems like the most probable culprit,” Hanna is saying, addressing the room’s occupants. There’s five of us, including Max. “But when I brought Mari to identify the guy, she said he wasn’t one of Theodore’s guys.”
“But it definitely was not a random attack,” Andreas says. He turns his attention to me. “You said he had been following you for a while. It’s possible he was watching the house.”
Maybe if I hadn’t been too distracted by the incident with Mari, I would have picked up on him trailing me way earlier. But I’m not sure my distraction was the only thing that made it hard to detect him earlier.
Him injuring me badly during the fight is something everybody is attributing to the vampire blood. But there’s something else that, like the pestering wound, I’m keeping from public knowledge.
My senses weren’t in their best condition. Neither was my strength, or my speed. I give a look at the bracelet on my arm and tug on the wooden beads.
Was he right? That without him, I don’t have a wolf?
“I’m still sticking with Blackrise,” Max says, pacing behind the Hanna’s seat. “I cannot think of another pack around that has a warrior who can take on Stefan. And, I couldn’t recognise the guy, so he is new around here. There’s also the fact that it would be hard for some weak local pack to get hold of a vampire, whether forcefully or in alliance.”
“Max has a point,” Levi says. “Maybe Theodore brought the guy in after Mari escaped. That would explain why she didn’t recognise him. She also said he didn’t have any vampires working for him when she left. Maybe he acquired both after you paid him a visit.”
“Makes sense,” I say, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. One thing is clear. If this is indeed Theodore’s work–and I have no doubt that it is–we need to move fast. If we dally and he builds an army of vampire-fed werewolves, it’ll be hard to get rid of him.
But first, before we start working on a plan, I need to take care of something. Turning to Levi, I ask, “Are you ready to leave?”
He nods. “She should be ready by now.”
Hanna turns to look at him. “Who?”
“Mari is leaving,” Levi tells her.
She frowns. “Why? To where?”
“Somewhere safe,” he says.
Her brow dips. “Uh, isn’t this the safest place for her at the moment? I’m sure Theodore is waiting to snatch her up the moment she’s out of Stefan’s sight.”
“Stefan wouldn’t send her somewhere that’s not safe,” Levi tells her.
“Why is she even going in the first place?” she questions. “She just got reunited with her sister.”
Silence meets her question.
So she asks another one. “Does Gwen know she is leaving?”
“Why are you so concerned?” Andreas asks. “Is she your new best friend or something?”
Hanna scowls at her brother. “She was held against her will for years and came here because she feels safe here. How do you think she feels to suddenly be sent off somewhere? I would be scared shitless.”
“I thought nothing scares you,” Andreas quips.
She rolls her eyes and shifts her gaze to me. “Or, was it her idea?”
“We are about to go to war with Blackrise,” I tell her. “I want her as far away from this as possible. Theodore will not find her.”
She nods, apparently buying my explanation. Then she asks, “So, where are you sending her?”
“I have a friend,” I reply.
Her brow rises. “You do?” She looks at Levi and Andreas. “I thought we were your only friends.”
“What’s with all the questions?” Levi asks her. “Are you writing a book or something?”
“Are you driving her to the new place?” she asks him in return.
“Yes, and I’m taking Max, not you.”
She pouts. “Come on.”
He shrugs. “Alpha’s orders.”
She looks at me as if she wants me to change those orders, but Andreas speaks before she can. “Good idea, two of us should stay around all the time. Who knows what will come sniffing around next.” He arches an eyebrow. “He can’t get his hands on witches, can he? When was the last time you heard of a true witch, Levi?”
There are many types of witches, but a true witch is the only one supernaturals like us are wary of. While other witches can interfere with the human and spiritual worlds, only a true witch can interfere with supernaturals and the underworld. It’s part of why we call them true witches–since they are the only ones who matter to us.
The good thing about true witches–can be a bad thing too–is that they are very rare. Rarely do they interfere with the supernatural world and thankfully, none has had the urge to bring forth demons from the underworld lately.
Not that I’ve heard of.
Levi shakes his head. “Long time.”
“I’m not scared of witches,” Hanna says.
“You should be,” Andreas says, narrowing his eyes at her. “They can keep you from shifting, you know.”
Hanna starts, “Not m–” but Andreas kicks her chair, and she goes silent. She lifts her palms in surrender. “What I’m saying is, the relationship between werewolves and witches is better than the one between them and vampires, right? No self-respecting witch would join a team with a vampire on it.”
“Even an enslaved vampire?” Max asks.
She twists her lips. “When you put it that way…” she trails off, and then her eyes widen as she brings them back to me. “Wait. Is your friend a witch?”
I shake my head. I would love to have a true witch on my side at a time like this.
She looks a little disappointed that she hasn’t figured out who my friend is, but doesn’t press any further.
“You two should leave now,” I tell Levi and Max. “It’s going to be a long drive.”
“Is it?” Hanna muses. “They won’t need to stay the night, will they?”
“Why is that any of your concern?” Andreas asks.
“We’ll stay the night to ensure everything is tight and secure,” Levi tells her.
“Oh,” she says, rolling one of the hoops in her left ear between two fingers. “Makes sense.”
There’s a knock on the door, and then it opens and Gwen appears. Her eyes dart around the room, hesitant.
Hanna shoots from her chair and heads to her. There’s something about her that has been off lately. Like she has too much energy. She takes Gwen’s hand and brings her to the table. She settles her on the seat to my left. “I think you missed most of the meeting,” she tells her, “but no worries, I’ll fill you in.”
“Thank you,” Gwen tells her before turning to me. “Hey,” she whispers.
I lean in and give her a kiss on the lips. I take in the floral scent of her shampoo and body wash. But none of my scent. It’s not right.
A throat is cleared somewhere in the room, and then Levi speaks. “We’ll leave now. Do you want to see her before we go?”
I shake my head and grab Gwen’s hand in mine, caressing my thumb on the back of her wrist. “No. Just go.”
“Who is going where?” Gwen asks.
I turn to the others. “That’s all for now. Let’s deal with this when you guys get back.”
The group files out of the room, leaving me and Gwen alone. I have no idea how she is going to take the news that her sister is leaving, but I can’t let her find out when she has already left.
Maybe I should have told her earlier so she can say goodbye and shit, but to be honest, I don’t want Mari to talk to her. I know the two have been getting along well, but after Mari made a bold move yesterday, I cannot trust her around Gwen.
“I’m sending Mari elsewhere,” I tell her.
She frowns. “What? Why?”
“She’ll be safer there,” I give her the same reason I told Hanna.
“I thought you wanted to keep her close until you dealt with Blackrise. Are you sure she’ll be safe?”
“I’m sure,” I assure her. “You don’t need to worry about her.”
She nods, and I sigh inwardly. That was easy. But then she gives me a puzzled look. “Is she leaving right now?”
“Yeah. After the attack last night, I wanted her to leave as soon as possible.”
Gwen shoots to her feet. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I need to say goodbye to her!”
“I’m sure they haven’t left yet,” I tell her.
She starts towards the door, but stops when she realises I’m not following. “Aren’t you coming to see her off?”
“I already did.”
“When? Before the meeting?”
I nod. It’s a lie, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“Oh, okay. I’ll go ahead, then.”
I don’t allow myself a sigh of relief until the door closes behind her. Finally, with Mari gone, I can focus on the things that need my attention around here.