Chapter Three

How could she be someone else's mate?

Everett was positive she was his moon-fated mate, so it made absolutely no sense. What did she mean by trying to break the bond? Was such a thing even possible? He needed some answers, so he did a U-turn and headed back toward town, driving straight to Jericho's office. The alpha owned a successful construction company and had projects all over the county. He had disappeared for years after being poisoned by the devious man who schemed to take over the pack. He not only poisoned Jericho, but also killed his father.

Everett parked on the side street and walked into the office, the little bell over the door jingling when it opened. Jericho's admin assistant, Zenia, smiled at him. Her glasses took over her face, obscuring her delicate features. He'd gone to school with her and her soft-spoken nature made kids tease her unmercifully. For the past few years, however, she'd been looking ill, with a sallow complexion and haunted eyes. Wolves were supposed to be fierce warriors, but she looked fragile. He might even say haunted.

"Hey, Everett," she greeted.

"Hello there. Is the big man in?"

"Yep," she replied. "You can go on back."

"Thanks, Zenia."

He headed to Jericho's office and knocked on the open door. The alpha looked up and smiled.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," Everett said.

"Nah. Just tedious paperwork, so I'm glad for the distraction. Come on in."

Everett entered and sat down on the chair in front of the desk.

"How can I help you?" Jericho asked.

"I found a woman in the woods."

Jericho blinked. "Alive or dead?"

"Alive. Sprained her ankle running from that damn rabid cat."

"It's been killed?"

"Yes. Jake is dealing with the carcass." Everett hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "When I picked Brinnah up—uh, that's her name, Brinnah—anyway, this amazing smell came to me. Delicious and warm. Spicy, like cinnamon, and it made me think of home. I thought she had to be my mate."

"But?"

"She said she already has a mate. Said she's here trying to find a way to break the bond. Apparently, this mate is a mean bastard."

Jericho leaned back in his chair. "Break a bond? I've never heard of such a thing."

"Have you ever heard of someone finding their mate, who was mated to another man?"

"Never," the alpha said thoughtfully. "Where is she now?"

"Dropped her off at the diner," Everett said. "She wanted to talk to Esmeralda."

"Well, she is older than dirt, so I guess if there was any way to break a bond, Esmeralda probably would know it." He picked up his phone and made a call. "Hey, babe. Is Esmeralda there? Yeah. Uh-huh. Okay, Everett and I are on our way."

When he hung up, Everett raised an eyebrow. "Why are we on our way?"

"Esmeralda wants to talk to me."

"And why am I going?"

"She's your mate, right?"

"Esmeralda is not my mate."

Jericho rolled his eyes. "Okay, smart-ass. Payton thinks I should hear her story, so you're coming along for the ride."

"Yay."

****

Brinnah watched Everett's truck until the taillights were lost among the other vehicles, then she took a deep breath and hobbled into the diner. The scents of bacon, pancakes, and coffee hit her all at once and her stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn't had anything decent to eat in days. Her wolf had hunted rabbits and squirrels, but having normal human food would be heaven.

"You can sit anywhere, hun!"

Brinnah looked up and saw an older woman smiling at her. Short with silver threaded through her hair, she hustled around with a carafe of coffee. Brinnah took the first empty booth she saw and slid onto the vinyl seats. Another woman walked up, smiling, and Brinnah immediately sensed her power. There was no doubt this was the luna of the pack. Immediately, she scrambled out of the booth to kneel, but the woman grabbed her arms, halting her.

"Uh, no," the luna said in a low tone. "There're humans present."

Brinnah's eyes widened and darted around. "Oh. I'm sorry, Luna." She bowed her head in deference.

"Stop," she whispered and Brinnah raised her head. "It's okay. You can call me Payton. Sit back down, please. Now, what would you like?"

"Um," Brinnah said. "I'm looking for Esmeralda."

Payton's eyebrows went up. "Sure. Let me go get her."

She turned and walked over to the older woman. Esmeralda glanced in her direction. Then they both headed back over to her.

"Hello," Esmeralda greeted her with an easy smile.

"Hi," Brinnah said. "My name is Brinnah Ashford."

"Nice to meet you, Brinnah. What can I do for you?"

"Uh, I was sent here to ask for your help."

"Oh? By who?"

"Elder Agnes."

Esmeralda blinked and tilted her head, and then she slowly reached up and hovered over Brinnah's ear. "May I?"

Brinnah nodded, and the older woman moved the hair back, revealing the pointed ears. Payton gasped and quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching.

"You're from up north," Esmeralda breathed.

Brinnah nodded. "Moondust Pack."

"My, oh my. There's a name from the past." Esmeralda studied her for a long moment. "If you left the pack, you must have gotten permission."

"Permission?" Payton asked, frowning.

"The packs up north practice a more secular way of life. They try to live as their wolf ancestors did, shunning the outside world, believing they are communing with the High Luna. They go back to the dens to have their pups. Women are subservient. You get the picture."

"Weren't you from Canada?" Payton asked.

"Yes," Esmeralda replied softly. "From the Moondust Pack."

Brinnah gasped.

"I was like you," she went on. "Had the ears. Worked in the kitchens. Thought I had to wait until the alpha gave me permission to do anything."

"What happened?" Brinnah asked.

"I fell in love with someone, and our love was considered … abnormal." Esmeralda shook her head. "The alpha kicked me out of the pack and I had to leave the person I loved behind. I thought I was going to die. It took me a long time to get from that moment to this one, but I survived and so will you, Brinnah. Tell me how I can help you."

"Elder Agnes said you would know where I could find an enchantress."

Confusion filled Payton's gaze. "Enchantress?"

"There are other magical blessed races," Esmeralda explained. "Not just us shifters, but enchantresses, warlocks. Fae. You get the idea."

One of Payton's eyebrows rose. "Huh. Well. How do you know all this?"

Esmeralda sighed. "Because I had to make everyone forget that Agnes and I had been together."

Brinnah's eyes widened. "Oh, I'm so sorry."

"I didn't want her to suffer like I was suffering without a pack. Folklore stories were about Others so I went searching for one, and found her. The enchantress granted my request. No one in the Moondust Pack remembers I was ever there. Except for Agnes, obviously."

"Why didn't she go with you?" Payton asked.

"We just weren't meant to be, I guess." Esmeralda smiled sadly. "Others like to keep their distance, maintaining a non-mingling of the species. So, Brinnah, why do you need to find an enchantress?"

Brinnah took a deep, fortifying breath, suddenly nervous and ashamed. "My moon-fated mate has rejected me."

Both women gasped and Payton's jaw dropped. "What the fuck? Why would he blatantly give the finger to the High Luna?"

Brinnah balled her hand in a fist and hit the spot on her chest over her heart. "Vadin made it very clear my omega status is beneath him, and it aches something fierce. I want—no, I need—for it to go away. To dissolve it. Somehow. Elder Agnes said the enchantress could help me."

Payton looked at Esmeralda. "As soon as we break Brinnah's mating bond, we can get the enchantress to voodoo his ass."

"Wrong religion," Esmeralda said. "I do know an enchantress, but she doesn't do anything for free. Are you prepared to pay a price?"

"Oh." A sinking feeling filled her. "I-I don't have anything of value. How much will it cost?"

"It won't necessarily be money. It'll be something more meaningful."

She looked at Payton, and the luna gave a nod. "Okay. Yes. I'll pay the price to be free."

Esmeralda smiled. "I'll contact her. Might take a while, though, so be patient. Do you have somewhere to stay?"

Brinnah shook her head.

"Don't worry," Payton said. "I got this."

She pulled out her cell phone and placed a call as she walked away.

Esmeralda patted Brinnah's hand. "You can't go back to that pack, you know that, right?"

"Yes."

"How did you get here from your lands?"

"Elder Agnes said I could shift, so I ran as my wolf. Kept to the forests. I carried my backpack in my teeth."

"You said the alpha let you go?"

She bit her lip and shrugged. "When Vadin rejected me, the alpha said to leave."

Esmeralda grinned. "And you took that as permission."

Brinnah nodded.

"You're a very brave woman."

"I don't feel brave," she whispered. "I'm afraid of almost everything."

"You know what makes people feel brave? Food." Esmeralda patted her hand. "What can I get you?"

Brinnah scrambled in her backpack and pulled out some money that Kadie had given her. "What can I get for this?"

Esmeralda glanced at it and then back to her face. Softness filled her gaze. "It's Canadian, dear. But it's all right. How about I surprise you?"

Brinnah bit her lip, then nodded. "Okay."

She stayed sitting as Esmeralda headed back into the kitchen, giving Brinnah a chance to people-watch. She was going to have to learn a completely different mindset, one where she had freedom. Payton moved around the diner, refilling drinks, ringing people up, putting leftovers in containers. She smiled at everyone and shook hands. The atmosphere was completely opposite from the pack house back home. For a moment, a sense of homesickness rolled over her, and she missed Kadie and Maggie so much it brought tears to her eyes.

The diner door opened and before she could look who it was, an awareness came over her. Goose bumps went up and down her arm. Her heart raced and she looked over her shoulder to see Everett Brice step into the diner. Their eyes locked, and a warmth filled her chest. It confused her, because as far as she knew, as far as anyone knew, you got one fated mate in life. So, what was the High Luna's plan?