13. Asher

ASHER

M y pack and I had been serving at this stupid, extravagant party all night, and I was not eager to get back to it, but I couldn't stay in this supply closet forever.

Actually, I was glad Phaedra had gone out first. Being so close to her, inundated with her sweet scent and presence—especially with so much of her on display in that dress—had turned me on so much that I couldn't hide it. So, I waited until my erection eased and let calm steal over me , all while trying not to focus on her lingering scent.

I was still completely and terribly in love with her. The way my wolf howled and growled for her was proof enough on its own, as was the way my heartbeat elevated when I saw her, and the way my blood rushed in my veins whenever I had the good fortune of being near her. I couldn't help but want her.

But I couldn't—shouldn't—want her. Not anymore. She'd made it clear she didn't want me, and if I wanted her to move on when all this was over, I needed to respect that and give her space.

Remembering that effectively killed my arousal, which meant I could leave the closet.

I stepped out with a tray, so it would look like I was there for a reason. I spotted Taig and my uncle standing by the table loaded with the dishes we had spent hours preparing. The mood of the room shifted, and everyone fell silent.

It took only a moment for me to realize what had caused the sudden tension in the room.

Kestrel. The dark witch stood in the halls of the Salcedo manor. I could hardly take a breath. Who the fuck let her in?

Connor's arrogant laughter boomed through the stunned silence. He pushed through the crowd and went to stand next to Kestrel, who had not dressed for the occasion. She wore her usual oversized dress with the tattered hem, and her gray hair was braided down her back. Her gnarled, wooden cane helped her balance. Connor towered over the old crone. His suit was beige, but his pocket square and tie were the same shade of pink as Phaedra's dress. It would have annoyed me if I weren't so shocked at the scene unfolding in front of me.

Connor laughed again. "I expected this sort of reaction. ‘What is Kestrel doing here of all places?' you must be asking yourselves. Kestrel, why don't you tell them?"

"You invited me," she said simply. Unlike Connor, she didn't project her voice, but somehow we all heard her clearly. Was it magic? Or were we all so curious for some sort of explanation that we hung onto every word?

"That's right," he said. "She is the special guest I mentioned. Effective immediately, Kestrel will be appointed to my advisory board."

My jaw dropped. The silence was so complete, any little noise would have sounded like an explosion. But before long, the supposed civil, elevated persons of high-wolf society erupted in a furor. The men in attendance abandoned their mates and crowded around Connor and Kestrel, speaking over each other.

I couldn't blame them. Connor's announcement had shocked me to my very core. I tried to find Phaedra in the crowd, but Taig and Garrett rushed over to me before I could find her.

Taig rubbed a hand over his face. "Well, this was the last thing I expected would happen tonight."

"No kidding," I said.

The cacophony continued for a few more moments, until a man raised his hands. "Now, now," he said as the crowd quieted to listen to him. "This must all be a practical joke our alpha played on us. There is no way this old crone, who is not even a wolf, could serve on our council."

Connor's smile slowly dissipated. "Michael."

"As a member of that advisory board, I find this is particularly funny," Michael said. "After all, it would be difficult to include a woman with her… qualifications on such an important board."

Connor stared at him, not saying anything, just standing very still.

Michael laughed again, but this time it sounded forced. That was when I understood that he was acting, desperately trying to give Connor an out to this without embarrassing him.

"Surely, I mean, Kestrel could not make decisions for the health and safety of high—that is, the Wilcox pack. What would the public make of such an announcement?"

"Who cares?" Connor asked. "They have no power over the things I do."

That pushback had Michael clearing his throat. "Of course, I didn't mean to imply they would. I just mean, Alpha, that it would be impossible to have an advisor whose lifestyle is so vastly different from ours?—"

Connor smiled wryly. "I think that makes Kestrel uniquely capable in this role."

"But all of the spots on your board are filled?—"

"I've created a new spot just for her. Kestrel will be my spiritual advisor. And again, there's no one better for this. She understands Holo and the other gods better than anyone, for she will take us back to Emerys."

More chaos erupted, the men shouting and the women fanning themselves. Some of the women went to stand against the wall, likely to help keep them upright.

My uncle chuckled. "This is a much better outcome than I could have expected." His eyes shone with something like bloodlust. "That idiot must not know it, but he's just sealed the fate of his pack. This uproar will cause such a rift in high-wolf society, it'll be felt all throughout the Wilcox pack. This is the beginning of the end. I didn't think I'd live to see it."

I nodded. Like him, I felt the excitement that meant an end to the curse and our suffering under Connor was near, but I couldn't fully enjoy it. This was all too strange. Was Connor insane? Why would he believe Kestrel could take them back to the holy land? Had she really convinced him she had this power? Or was he doing this because she had something on him?

"Look how satisfied she is," Taig murmured. "She's enjoying this."

Kestrel looked like an old cat who had just become the center of attention. She hadn't said anything, but her little smile proved that she was enjoying the mayhem her presence had caused. Her dark gaze scanned the crowd, and I wished I could understand her motives. Why would she travel so far from her home? Just to cause chaos?

No, there had to be more to it.

I didn't know the woman very well, but she didn't survive on discord—she had plans and goals I couldn't decipher.

Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, her smile slowly melting. A chill ran down my spine. That was the look of a predator that had just marked its prey. I followed her gaze. She was looking at Phaedra. I couldn't see her expression because she was turned away from me, but given her posture, she was looking back at Kestrel.

My wolf growled, his hackles raised, alarm bells going off in my mind. Why was she looking at Phaedra like she was prey? What did she want with her?