10. Jace

"You look like dog shit," Waylan said as I trudged across the concrete floor of his auto shop.

"Thanks," I grunted. "You look like a million bucks, too."

After Kirsten's visit, I'd had a hard time concentrating on anything. Telling her the truth about everything had been horribly draining. She'd rushed out before we could finish talking, and I'd stressed over it all night, wondering if I could have explained it better.

Waylan rolled out from under the car he was working on. He grabbed a rag from the floor and sat up to wipe his hands. "You've got something on your mind, I take it? You look like you're trying to figure something out."

I sat down on a toolbox and rubbed my eyes. "Kirsten came by yesterday afternoon."

"Oh, yeah?" Waylan asked. "Is that why you look like you haven't slept in a week?"

"Basically." I filled him in, and he pondered what I'd said for a few minutes.

"So what do you think? How did she take it all?" he asked.

"Pretty well, in all fairness," I replied. "As well as anyone could take it, that is. I, of course, said some dumb shit."

"As you typically do," Waylan agreed.

Ignoring him, I went on. "I fucked up by saying we could be mates."

"I thought you didn't want that."

"I don't. I was informing her of the options. She heard that and flipped out. I think she assumed all I wanted was to have sex with her or something. Then I told her I didn't want to do that and only wanted her to help me fix the curse. That pissed her off more. It was a bit of a disaster. That's when things got weird. This energy filled the room, like nothing I'd ever experienced. Kirsten must have sensed it, too, because she was out the door like a scared rabbit before I could stop her." I groaned. "This shit keeps getting worse and worse."

"So, it sounds like she has the same thoughts as you do about any type of romantic relationship."

"That's the vibe I get," I said. "Which is good, I guess." My wolf snarled at those words, but I ignored him.

"No one says you have to bump uglies, bro. You could just be friends. Friends help each other. How about that?"

"A witch and a wolf being friends? That hasn't really happened in five or six hundred years."

"Holy shit," Waylan grumbled, heaving himself up to his feet. "You've got to get over this ancient history stuff. We're living in modern times. Cars weren't even commonplace when Dorothy cursed you, for fuck's sake," he said, gesturing to the car jacked up in front of us. "Lots of things have changed with time. Kirsten isn't Dorothy. If you can look past that, then yeah, maybe you can be friends. Show her you're the good guy I know you are. If you are an actual friend to her, she might be more inclined to help you." He shrugged. "Maybe if the friendship works, more can come from it."

"God, you sound like Shayna."

"Dude, Kirsten is beautiful, and from what little time I've spent around her, she seems cool. Is it really so awful to think about mating with her?"

A growl of agreement rumbled from my chest before I could stop it. I grimaced.

"See?" Waylan grinned. "This isn't a one-sided decision. Looks like your wolf has his own opinions on the matter."

Desperate to change the subject, I said, "Eren visited Kirsten yesterday."

The smile on Waylan's face vanished. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah. And I don't like it. Regardless of who Kirsten is, she's still our responsibility. Her cabin is only a hundred yards past our borders. In my book, that means we need to protect it. He's never come that close to our land before."

"So, this is all just about Eren getting too close to our pack? Not about him maybe trying to move in on Kirsten?" Waylan asked, smirking at me.

"Can we not go down that rabbit hole again? For all I know, Kirsten is working with that fucker. This whole thing could be one big trick. Maybe I need to go talk to him. Figure out what his game is."

"Nah, I don't buy that. If Eren is sniffing around, it's not because he's in league with Kirsten." He looked at me intently. "Hypothetically speaking, if the curse was lifted, who would you want for your mate?"

"Are you proposing right now?"

"Stop being a dick and answer the question. Honestly."

"I guess, if I had to choose someone, I'd see if Stephanie was interested. She's pretty and smart. She's a member of the pack. Most importantly, she's a wolf. And it's obvious she has a thing for me."

Another more forceful growl erupted from my mouth, and my head thrashed back and forth, seemingly on its own. My wolf was ready to jump out of his skin at even the mention of being with Stephanie.

Waylan laughed. "I don't see that match working out," Waylan quipped once he'd recovered. "Stephanie is great, but I know you. She'd bore you to tears. Don't get me wrong, she's a great choice for an alpha's mate, but are you really attracted to her?"

He was right. When I thought of Stephanie, all I could think of was the logistics. She was a round peg that fit into a round hole, nothing more. There was no stirring of lust, need, or desire when I was around her. Not like when I was around Kirsten, and fuck if that didn't make me bitter.

I heaved out a sigh. "There's no connection there. It's nothing like when I saw Kirsten for the first time. The desire was immediate. It basically brought me to my knees. I felt it even before my wolf did. As much as I hate to admit it, there's no denying it."

"You came here for my opinion, right?" Waylan asked.

"Yes."

"Then drop the negativity. You've spent a hundred years moping about what Dorothy did to you, and it turned you into this ball of hatred directed at all witches. But you need to get out of your head and realize Kirsten isn't Dorothy. She's her own person. She didn't grow up as a witch. You should get to know the woman she is and forget about who her ancestors were."

There was a kernel of truth there. Had I let my anger at Dorothy blind me to other things? Even if I had, I had to address whatever Eren wanted with Kirsten before I could go any further with her.

"I'm heading to Scottsdale," I announced, standing up.

"Wait, what?" Waylan's eyes went wide.

"Like I said, Eren's getting too close to our land, and he's got something planned for Kirsten. I need to figure that out. I'm headed there now."

"You want me to go with?"

I shook my head. "I'll be fine. This will be a diplomatic visit rather than a threatening one. Even Eren isn't dumb enough to try something on another pack alpha who comes for a peaceful parley."

Waylan agreed, though reluctantly. Before he could push things, I got in my truck and headed toward Scottsdale.

I purposefully used the road that went past Kirsten's cabin. The summer foliage was too thick for me to see more than the first thirty feet of her driveway, but I still felt that tug toward her. Remembering that Eren had been there the day before with God only knew what intentions sent a hot surge of anger through me, and I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal.

By the time I arrived in Scottsdale, my ire had cooled somewhat, but the tension in my muscles had become worse. I'd played the big bad alpha with Waylan, but when alphas ventured into other pack territories, things could go sour. There was always a possibility that things could get violent. That was less prevalent in modern societies than it had been in the past, but instinct still held sway over a lot of wolves, and Eren was much more dangerous than most alphas. My confidence in my fighting skills and the fact that it was the middle of the day were all that was giving me the confidence to do this.

Eren had a similar security set-up at his house to mine. A big, hulking guy I knew in passing stepped out of the small gatehouse. If I remembered correctly, he went by Poli. I had no idea if that was a real name or a nickname. He eyed my car with open suspicion.

When I rolled my window down, his look of surprise almost made me laugh. The shock quickly transitioned to hostility.

"Jace Stone," Poli said, resting a hand on my door. "May I ask what the actual fuck you think you're doing here?"

I gestured up the driveway. "I need to have a few words with Eren. Alpha to alpha."

Poli sucked at his teeth, thinking, then shook his head slowly, maintaining eye contact with me. "Not gonna happen."

"Why? Is Eren scared of me or something?"

Poli's left eye twitched, and I stifled a grin. I must have struck a nerve.

"My alpha isn't afraid of anything or anyone. Got it?"

"If that's the case, then a short conversation should be no big deal. Call him," I said, pointing to the radio on his hip. "I'm sure he'll be intrigued to know I'm here. Do you really want to tell him that the alpha of Crestwood was here and you turned him away before he could find out why?"

The big man's face remained stony, but I could see the wheels turning in his head. Eren was not a kind alpha. He ruled his pack with an iron fist and used fear as the main motivator for compliance. It was a shitty way to run a pack, and his reputation preceded him. Poli had to be wondering how much shit he'd be in if he pissed off his boss.

Poli grunted and shoved away from my car, pulling the radio from his belt clip as he did. While he murmured into the radio, I leaned my head back on the headrest and waited. Knowing Eren, he'd be too curious to turn me away.

A few minutes later, Poli strolled back over to my car. "He'll allow you to come up to the house. He's bestowing a free pass within Scottsdale upon you until your business is over."

I snorted. "Allowing and bestowing? How gracious of him."

"Go on," he said with a dismissive wave.

Two more goons stood at the top of the hill. They didn't bother to speak to me as they led me—one in front and one behind—into Eren's opulent living room. The Scottsdale alpha sat in a large leather armchair, doing his best to look aloof and uncaring. He even had his leg slung over the armrest.

"Jace," Eren said, nodding to me as the two guards stepped away.

"Eren."

"What brings you to my lovely town?"

I didn't have the time or desire to beat around the bush. "Why were you at Kirsten's cabin yesterday? What business did you have so close to my territory?"

Eren frowned and rubbed his goatee with his thumb and forefinger. "That cabin isn't technically on your territory, is it?"

I just took a seat opposite him, showing that I was as calm and unworried as he was acting.

"Besides," Eren went on. "Kirsten is a big girl. If she didn't want me around, I think she'd tell me. She's her own woman, after all." Eren grinned and raised an eyebrow. "A very witchy woman, if I might add."

Of course he knew she was a witch. Her scent was unmistakable.

I rolled my eyes. If he thought he'd one-upped me, he was wrong. "You know it's frowned upon for alphas to approach another alpha's territory without permission. Even alphas who are friends, and you and I," I added with emphasis, "are not friends."

Eren grunted. "Fair enough, but if it was such a big deal, why isn't Kirsten here to tell me to stay away if she doesn't want me around? You being here makes me think someone is a little jealous?" He pointed at me with his index finger and dropped his thumb like he was firing a gun. "Is that what's going on here? Big bad Jace Stone is trying to get his dick wet and the sexy witch has her eyes on someone else?"

"Enough," I said, my anger starting to simmer. "Stay away. That's all I need to say."

"She's not claimed. Means she's free game."

My wolf snapped, snarling and growling, and I leapt to my feet, every protective instinct in my body surging forward. I had to keep Kirsten safe from this man. Behind me, the two guards hurried back into the room, but Eren waved them off.

"My, so testy," Eren said with a smile.

"Leave her alone. I'm not telling you twice."

Eren pulled his leg off the armrest and sat forward, a shit-eating grin on his face. "Why?"

With a long, slow breath, I pushed the anger back down, regaining my composure. "Kirsten is my fated mate. You know what it means if another shifter, even an alpha, tries to do anything to her, don't you?"

The cocky look on Eren's face faltered for an instant, but he quickly got his bearings again. Leaning back, he nodded. "Fated mate? And a witch, no less? Interesting. Okay, fine. I'll leave her be."

That seemed far too easy.

"I have your word?" I asked.

"An alpha's word is his bond," Eren said, smiling again, but there was an iciness in his eyes.

"It better be," I said, standing and turning to leave. "If it's not, you can guarantee you'll be hearing from me again."

"Come back whenever you like," Eren called as I left. "If you call ahead, I'll make sure to have tea and cookies ready for our next visit."

Lip curling in disgust, I shoved my way out the front door and stormed to my car. This had been pointless. I had no idea what I'd hoped to accomplish here, but at least now Eren knew that his little visit to Kirsten's property hadn't gone unnoticed.

As I drove, my mind wandered with memories of the last century—the death of my parents, how unprepared I'd been to take on the mantle of alpha, but, above all, how much I wished I could see my parents again. It was with only a small amount of surprise that I found myself in the parking lot of the cemetery where Mom and Dad were buried. I may have driven there unconsciously, but I was glad I was there.

Their grave was beneath an oak tree. The tree had been little more than a sapling when we'd laid them to rest a hundred years ago, and now it had grown to a towering behemoth with a broad set of branches that shaded my parents' grave. The headstones were weathered with age and lichen. I came out here once every two or three years to clean them off, and it looked like it was that time again.

I sank to my knees in front of the headstone. "Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad. I really wish you were here and that I could talk to you in person."

The night I'd been sworn in as alpha had been one of the worst in my life. My parents had just died. I was barely old enough to be an alpha. I had a younger sister to take care of, and no one to guide me or help me. It was no wonder I'd done something stupid when I came across Dorothy in the woods that night.

"I'm scared," I whispered.

That opened a floodgate of emotion. Every day, I did my best to be a good alpha, to protect my home and people and do what was best for them. I could never express to anyone how scared I was that I was fucking up. Was I doing the right thing? Was I being kind enough? Did my pack believe in me? Now, with all that I'd found out about Kirsten, I was terrified of what was coming. Would I be alone forever, or could I somehow look past my hate and see what was in front of me?

"I'm scared that time is running out," I continued, fighting back tears. "I'm going to start aging soon. I've spent so much time hoping for a mate, and now that time's getting short, I'm terrified I'll grow old and die alone. I don't want to leave the pack without an heir. I could choose someone as successor, but that feels like failure."

More tears stung my eyes, but I was man enough to let them fall. Anyone who said men shouldn't cry was full of shit. Wiping my face, I tried to think of what else to say.

I chuckled. "Maybe you all can put a word in with whatever gods are up there. See if they can lift this curse?"

I spent the rest of the afternoon leaning against their tombstones, basking in the peaceful quiet of the cemetery. When it was time to leave, I kissed the tops of their headstones.

"See you guys later. I'll be back soon to clean off your stones," I promised. "I love you."

Since I knew my fridge was empty, I went to Crestwood Market to grab a few things. The store was more or less deserted, which boded well for me. The last thing I wanted was to run into a pack member who wanted to discuss some trivial issue. It would have taken every bit of self-control not to snap at them.

I decided on making something simple for dinner, grabbing a box of spaghetti, a jar of pasta sauce, and a loaf of French bread. While debating in the produce section on whether or not to buy a bag of salad, my phone rang.

It was Kirsten. I nearly dropped the small handbasket in my attempt to answer.

"This is Jace."

"Hey," she said, sounding tired. "I need some stuff from the store, and Waylan isn't answering his phone."

"Oh, sure. What do you need?"

"Can you grab a gallon of milk, a bag of granola, three cans of tuna, a small pack of toilet paper, some—"

"Holy hell, am I gonna need to write all this down?"

"You're the one who won't let me leave my cabin," Kirsten bit back. "This is the deal you set up."

"I know." I sighed. "But, sheesh, this is a lot of stuff."

"What? Does Mr. Alpha not have enough cash to pay?"

"It's not that," I said, rolling my eyes. "Why are you always busting my balls?"'

"If this doesn't work for you, I can always just drive myself up to Scottsdale to get groceries."

I snarled before I could stop myself. The mere thought of Kirsten being near Eren had rage and fear coiling in my stomach.

"Are you growling at me?" Kirsten asked, and I winced in embarrassment.

"I could grant you access to Crestwood to shop," I admitted. "The reason I haven't is that shifters can smell a witch. They'll treat you differently, and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable or out of place. The last thing I want is for you to think you're unsafe." I didn't add that my pack would collectively freak out if they knew a real witch was living on our borders.

"You're worried about me?" Kirsten asked, her voice softer and less heated than it had been a moment before.

"I'm not a monster, Kirsten. I'm not forcing you to stay there out of spite. I told you about the history." I glanced around and kept my voice low in case anyone was around. "Not all shifters have a good view of witches." Including me, I didn't add. "I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to someone under my protection. My pack wouldn't hurt you, but it would raise questions, and word would get out to other packs."

"I get that, and I appreciate your concern. I really do. It would still be nice if I could get a few things for myself. I'm sure you wouldn't mind picking them up, but maybe it would be okay if I bought tampons and ice cream when it's that time of the month?"

"Oh, God," I groaned. "Are sanitary towels on the list?"

Kirsten laughed at that, a real, honest-to-God belly laugh. The sound of it sent a warm shiver down my spine, and my wolf chuffed with satisfaction.

"No," she said after recovering. "But I've been reading some of these books on spells and stuff, and a ton of these things require fresh herbs and stuff. Is there a nursery or something in town that sells seeds? I want to plant a bunch of stuff around the cabin and see if I can practice some things. See if I have any talent at potions or whatever."

"We have a garden center. It's a little mom-and-pop place, but they have herbs and seeds. Text me the full list of all the things you need, and I'll bring them by."

An hour later, I pulled into her driveway, meeting her at the mailbox like last time. Kirsten got out of her own car and met me at the back hatch of my truck.

"I do appreciate this," she said, taking a bag of groceries from me.

I'd thought a lot about what she'd said while shopping for her, and I had a compromise that would work.

"I could allow you to shop in town," I began.

"Really?" Kirsten looked dubious.

"Yeah, but if—and only if—you figure out how to mask the scent of your magic. The same way your grandmother must have done. Either that, or give me several weeks to slowly let my pack know a witch is living nearby and make sure they understand you're here as my guest."

"I've got a lot more reading to do, but I'm sure there's something in the books that could help," Kirsten mused. "I'll take a look. I found a chapter on protective wards. Once I get through that, I think I'll be able to figure out a way to drop the barrier around the cabin."

I turned, surprised by that. "Seriously? Already? I figured it would take some time for you to get the hang of this."

"So did I, and I'm not very deep into this yet, but I'm starting to sense things," she said. She lifted a hand and brushed her fingers against a crystal that hung at her neck. "I can feel the… magic inside me now. It's getting stronger, especially now that I know." She placed the groceries in her trunk and glanced at me, a blush blooming on her cheeks. "To tell you the truth, it gets even stronger when you're around."

I thought about my conversation with Eren. As much as I wanted to come and go from the cabin, I didn't want that protection dropped until I knew exactly what his plans were. I could put my feelings and desires aside if it meant Kirsten was safe.

"Maybe wait to drop the ward until you've figured out how to put up one to replace it." I shrugged. "One that will allow me in, but still keep the assholes away. You know," I added quickly. "Just so I know you're safe."

She caught my eye, and we stood like that for several seconds, silence enveloping us. The moment grew heavy and intense. My wolf was damn near clawing at my skull, desperate for me to step closer. To wrap my arms around her and pull her body close to mine. Thankfully, I was still in charge and managed to maintain my composure. Though, it was a struggle.

"Okay. Sure," she said, a faint smile playing on her lips.

With an effort, I took a step back. "Uh, I grabbed you a couple other things I thought might help."

Kirsten blinked and shook herself, obviously throwing off the same strange feeling I was struggling with. "Really?"

"Yeah." I hurried back to my truck and opened the passenger door. When I turned back to her, I held a cardboard box filled with herb seedlings. "I thought this would help speed things along. I got seeds, too. I got wolfsbane, catnip, basil, citronella, and dill. It was all they had from that list that were already potted."

"Wow." Kirsten took the box from me and looked down at the seedlings. "Thank you."

"Let me know if you need anything else," I said as I climbed into the driver's seat.

"I will." She lifted the box again. "Seriously, thank you for this."

Giving me a bright smile, she got into her car. My wolf whined as she departed. No matter how badly I fought against it, I couldn't deny how I felt when I was near her. Gritting my teeth, I turned out of her driveway, unsure what to do next.