Collide Book 2

Lorena

We leave the office together, the only sound being the echo of our shoes against the wooden floor. The walls are lined with paintings, some of wolves, others of humans. I catch Alan’s eye flicking to one of them, and I know he’s sending a mental message to Jackson.

I wish I could do that. When I get home, I’ll look for a spell or maybe create one with the coven. It would be so handy, especially since I keep misplacing my phone charger. Before, it wasn’t a big deal because Victoria always had her phone on.

She was practically glued to it for the longest time. Me, I’m content with a cup of tea and my beautiful flower garden.

My heart is still racing, and I know it’s not because of me. Even though I can’t see her in my mind anymore, I can feel Margaret in my body. I wonder if she’s a witch.

I’ve never heard of anyone but witches and maybe wolves being able to make a connection like this. But if she is a witch, why didn’t she defend herself? It doesn’t make sense.

Before we even turn the corner, I hear my sister’s voice raised in anger. I sigh, knowing this is going to be a long day. Victoria has always been my protector since we were kids.

That’s why she wants me to live in the pack house, even though she knows I could never leave the coven. Besides Victoria, they’re all I have.

But that doesn’t stop her from worrying every chance she gets. I know it’s because she loves me, but I’m not a child anymore. I can take care of myself.

“She’s not going with him!” I hear some shushing sounds from Jackson.

Victoria stops yelling, but I can feel her anger radiating through the door. Alan and I exchange a look before turning back to the closed door. Neither of us makes a move to open it.

The decision is made for us when the door swings open. I jump a little in surprise. My sister is standing in the doorway, her eyes blazing.

“You’re not going! Not now, not ever. I’m calling Diana to come get you right now!” I grab my sister’s shoulders.

The images of what I’ve seen and the piercing scream flood from my mind into hers. Our bond is so strong that we can share memories through touch.

It’s rare for witches and only happens when two witches are almost one. Despite our differences, we are also very much the same.

We’re both stubborn, but we’re also very protective. Especially of women.

I see the pain on her face, and I know she’s going to let me go. She turns to Jackson, tears threatening to fall.

“We have to help that woman.”

His mouth drops open, a comical sight on a six-foot-four bearded guy. He usually looks like a Viking, but right now, he looks more like a stunned little boy.

“We can’t just send your little sister in, honey. Let’s be reasonable here.”

Alan steps forward and bows his head. A sign of submission I’ve learned from visiting here too often.

Jackson might be a bit bigger, but as I look at the two of them, Alan stands out. It annoys me that men turn into submissive puppies just to please their Alpha.

I can’t imagine ever being submissive to anyone. Well, maybe Victoria when she’s on her monthly warpath.

“Alpha, I believe she’s ready. She’s the only one who can find Joseph. We’ll bring a team, and she’ll be protected at all times.”

Jackson’s eyes soften, and I see how much he loves Alan. Despite my dislike for the wolves, I can see they’re a close-knit pack.

The wolves are always smiling, and even though the coven makes me happy, the laughter of the children playing on the perfect grass around their houses makes me long for something we don’t have.

We’re all women at the coven. We often marry human men. Our genes are dominant, so even if we have a child with a human, they always turn out to be witches. That is, if they’re female.

There hasn’t been a male witch in a long time. And even though we’ve tried, nature hasn’t gifted us with one yet.

“If she gets hurt, not only will my wife have my head but the wrath of the witches will rain down upon us.” His softened eyes harden again, replaced by the eyes of a leader.

The eyes of someone who has to make decisions for the good of all. I see Alan’s back muscles tighten.

There’s no doubt he wants to go against his Alpha’s orders, but he can’t.

“Then we should invite the coven here and have a meeting.” The room falls silent at Victoria’s words.

Even though we have a peace agreement now, we’re not exactly best friends. The witches and wolves have been at war for a long time.

Both sides suffered many losses, including our parents. For a wolf to invite the witches, it’s like asking for an Ivy Kiss. Both are deadly.

But I feel the panic inside me, and I know I have to save Margaret.

“I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly. The witches and wolves have been at peace.

“And if something happens”—I look at Victoria—“which it won’t, because I’m damn powerful, then the wolves won’t be blamed.

“You might only care about the pack, but we witches care about everything that nature has given us. That includes innocent humans.”

That last jab ticks Jackson off, but he lets it slide. He’s considering it, which is good. Because I could use the help of the wolves, but if not, then I’ll go alone.

“Alan will accompany you back to your coven. All of them are welcome on our territory, and you have the Alpha’s word that we want nothing but a peaceful negotiation.”

Victoria grins at him, and the air between them crackles with chemistry. Alan just stands there in the middle of the room, shooting a frown at Jackson.

So, I take the initiative, grabbing his arm and practically hauling him out of the room. I know bringing him to the coven might stir up some trouble, but I’m banking on Agnes understanding.

Agnes is the oldest among us in the coven, a mother figure to us all. We make decisions collectively, but as the eldest, Agnes’s voice carries the most weight.

If Agnes is on board, which I’m confident she will be, the rest will hopefully follow suit.

We’re sitting in my Mini Cooper. I’ve had a soft spot for these cars since I was a kid, so as soon as I was old enough, I bought myself a baby-blue one. It’s my pride and joy.

But judging by the look on Alan’s face, he doesn’t share my affection for my car. His long legs are cramped in the small space, and he looks decidedly uncomfortable.

Or maybe he’s just miffed because he lost the argument about who would drive. Silly man. It’s a short drive. The coven is just fifteen minutes away from the pack, on the other side of the forest.

Cities aren’t conducive to witches’ powers since we need nature to keep our magic pure. We can use magic outside of natural settings, but we prefer not to.

I can see our main house coming into view. It’s a big white house where all the witches gather.

Most of us only sleep in our own homes because we spend most of our time working on new spells or maintaining the natural world around us.

We’re almost always together, never straying too far from one another. But ever since Victoria left to live with a wolf, things have shifted.

There’s a tension among the coven witches that wasn’t there before. As we get closer, the swirling letters on our main house become more visible. The Narava, it reads.

It’s the name of our Coven, named after the moon. The fact that wolves howl at the moon is purely coincidental, okay?

I park my car in front of the Narava and get out. My house is a bit further back, but I’m not about to bring Alan there.

Before I can even get my keys out, Alan has already hopped out of the car. He’s stretching his legs next to it, shooting me an annoyed look through the window. I can’t help but laugh.

My car has a knack for humbling tall men. That’s another reason why I love it. I’m about to wink at Alan when he’s suddenly flung backward out of my view. I quickly unbuckle my seatbelt and jump out of the car.

Standing in front of my car is Nisa. Her red hair looks stunning as it cascades in straight locks over her green dress. Her hand is raised in the air.

Alan is on the ground, his hands clutching his throat, as if he’s choking. I raise my own hand, calling upon my magic to break the spell Nisa has cast on him.

Alan’s breathing is ragged and quick. Nisa shoots me an annoyed look.

“I almost had him.” I roll my eyes at her and close my car door. Nisa has a deep-seated hatred for wolves. They not only killed her parents but also turned her sister into one of them.

Her sister did turn into a wolf, but in doing so, she lost her magic. Unable to live without her magic, she took her own life.

I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to lose your family like that. But we need Alan alive.

“We need him. There’s a woman who needs our help. She’s all alone.” Nisa lets out an annoyed growl and throws her hands up in the air before storming inside.

I go over to Alan, who’s already back on his feet. He gives me a half-smile.

“If I get this warm of a welcome from everyone…”

I laugh, more out of nerves than anything else. Yeah, let’s hope that doesn’t happen. The front door opens again, and an older woman steps out.

She has beautiful long gray hair. She stands tall, her gaze shifting from Alan to me.

“We don’t bring wolves here, Lorena.” Even though she’s addressing me, her eyes never leave Alan. Before I can respond, Alan steps forward and bows his head.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need your help, ma’am.” He slowly lifts his head and meets Agnes’s gaze.

For what feels like an eternity, they just stare at each other. Then he begins to tell the story of why we’re here.

I shift from one foot to the other, nerves coursing through me. Deep down, I can still feel Maggie’s panic. Yes, I’ve given her a nickname, so there’s no turning back now. Agnes nods slowly.

“Nisa, darling. Could you grab my purse?” Almost instantly, all the women from the coven rush outside.

“You’re not going there!”

“Why would you help them?!”

“What if they attack you?!”

“No! Absolutely not.”

They’re huddled around Agnes, blocking my view of her. Nisa is keeping a close eye on Alan, but so am I. Off to the side stands Naomy.

She has beautiful dark skin and short curly hair. Her chocolate-brown eyes are studying Alan, as if he’s a science experiment. Naomy is the quiet one.

She never raises her voice, and she never complains. The white scars that run from her forehead to her chin glisten in the sun. The wolves had captured her.

They whipped her for trespassing on their territory. But the truth is, she didn’t know where she was. She was just looking for a place to stay.

She incinerated half the men in that room and escaped. Sometimes I see a flicker of guilt in her eyes. But over the years, she’s become very good at hiding her feelings.

“I will come with you.” Naomy’s voice is soft but powerful. Next to me, she’s the strongest. The girls stop talking and turn to Naomy.

After a few seconds of silence, Agnes steps forward with her purse in her hands and walks toward her car.

“You coming, love?” Naomy quickly follows her. Alan walks back to my Mini Cooper, rolling his eyes before getting in. I do the same. Once in the car, I wait until Agnes has started hers.

“That was fun.” Alan flashes me a dazzling, all-teeth smile. “At least it ended well.” I shake my head as I follow Agnes out onto the road.

“It’s not over yet,” I say.

Alan chuckles, though he looks a bit uneasy.

“Three witches and a whole pack of wolves. I’m betting they’ll behave. They’re outnumbered, after all.” I hit the brakes.

Alan lurches forward but manages to steady himself without getting hurt. Thankfully, there’s no car behind us. I ease back onto the gas.

“Wolves are so cocky. That woman sitting next to Agnes? She could burn your entire pack to ashes in a heartbeat. And me? You don’t want to know what I’m capable of.

“There may only be three of us, but if push comes to shove, we’re worth more than your entire pack.

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking we’re just delicate women who can’t defend ourselves. You don’t want to be on our bad side.”

The rest of the drive is silent. When we arrive, the stern, white-haired wolf lets us in again.

I park the car and kill the engine. As I reach for the door, Alan grabs my arm.

“I don’t see you as delicate or incapable. I see you as strong. But these are wolves we’re dealing with. They can be fiercely protective. We’re more than just sharp teeth and furry bodies.

“I don’t want to be on the wrong side; I want to be on your side. But it would be nice if there were no sides to choose from.”

With that, he exits the car before I do. I watch him through the windshield. His ass sways slightly as he walks, and I wish I hadn’t noticed.

Maybe he does want peace. Maybe all he wants is to find his brother. My head is spinning, but I manage to get out of the car with a smile. I tell myself it’s not because of him. It’s not!

On the front porch of the main pack house, Victoria is deep in conversation with Agnes.

Naomy stands behind her, her face expressionless as I approach. But I know what she’s thinking: What’s going on between you and the wolves?

Ever since Victoria left, they’re worried I’ll fall for a wolf boy too. I would never abandon my coven to live with a pack of wet dogs.

But no matter how many times I reassure them, I’m always the one the wolves ask for when they need help. And that raises suspicion.

Whatever Victoria and Agnes were whispering about must be over because Victoria leads the way inside.

Entering the pack house with our eldest and deadliest witch doesn’t do my blood pressure any favors. This time, there are people milling about.

But as soon as they see their Luna, they bow their heads and continue on their way. Alan walks beside me, casting wary glances at the wolves who hold my gaze a little too long.

We pass a painting of a wolf howling at the moon, and Naomy stumbles. She recovers quickly, but I see her back muscles tense.

I glance back at the painting. Did she recognize the wolf? I don’t have time to ponder it. Victoria has already flung open the door to Jackson’s large office.

A table that wasn’t there before now stands in the room, surrounded by chairs. Two are already occupied.

Jackson is in one of them, but he quickly stands as we enter. The other man, a blond who looks like he could be a surfer, remains seated.

Alan grabs my hand when he sees the man. Both the blond and I look at Alan’s hand as if it’s an alien life form.

“Welcome back, Agnes. You look lovely as always,” Jackson says, his voice smooth and quiet, momentarily distracting me from Alan’s hand. Sort of.

Agnes dismisses his compliment and takes a seat. Naomy remains standing behind her. Jackson gives her a shy smile, but she remains stoic.

I sit next to Agnes. Alan stands awkwardly next to me, still holding my hand. After a few heart-pounding moments, he releases my hand and sits next to the surfer.

Upon closer inspection, I realize the surfer is actually a man in his mid-thirties. Victoria sits next to Jackson, her smile a little too wide.

“Enough with the flattery. I hear you want to take one of my witches into the field,” Agnes says, waving a hand at the treats on the table.

Small cookies, macaroons, and other snacks are arranged on beautiful golden plates. An old teapot, which I recognize from Victoria’s personal collection, sits in the center.

In front of us are the matching teacups. I know she inherited these from our parents. I know it’s her way of saying: Don’t break them. They’re mine.

Her wide smile tells me she’s nervous too. Strangely, this makes me feel a bit better.

“Agnes, they asked me to find someone. A rogue who’s been abducting women. I found one of the women. She’s in his hands now. She’s in danger. I can feel her.”

Agnes’s eyebrows shoot up. It’s rare for a witch to feel a human.

“Is she a witch?” Agnes asks, looking at me curiously. I shake my head.

“She didn’t use magic, and I can’t sense any magic on her. But then again, it’s hard to feel anything beyond her overwhelming panic.”

Agnes falls silent. The wolves wait patiently. Except for the surfer.

“Your little witch can sit on the sidelines. All we need from her is to lead us to his location. We’ve been searching for him for a long time.”

I steal a quick glance at Alan. He’s staring at the table, looking small and defeated.

“Will you be able to kill him?” Agnes asks, her gaze on Alan. “If he hurts her, will you be able to kill your own brother?”

We all wait for his answer. Jackson looks worried. Naomy is as stoic as ever, but her face has softened. Even the surfer looks a bit pale.

Alan raises his head, first looking at me, then his gaze shifts to Agnes.

“Yeah. I could kill him if he so much as breathes her way. I’d be the one tearing his heart out. That guy…that traitor… He’s not my brother anymore.

“He’s not the guy I grew up with. He’s just a stranger with a familiar face. He needs to be stopped.”

I release a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. My heart aches for him. I glance at Victoria and she returns my look. I can’t fathom not recognizing my own sister.

I can’t picture her turning into a monster. Agnes seems satisfied with his answer. She nods and rises from her chair.

“I’ll link my life to hers. If she gets hurt, I get hurt. And if she dies… May your Goddess have mercy on you.” With that, she exits the room.

Naomy trails after her. I sit in silence, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. I’m determined to rescue Maggie, no matter what.

But if Agnes returns and links herself to me, I need to tread carefully. I rack my brain for a way to break a link, but none of the options are quick. I have to save Maggie.

This may be about Alan’s brother, but for me, it’s not. I know what it’s like to fear death. I know what it’s like to stare a monster in the face, your heart pounding in your chest.

All you want to do is run. Even when you can’t. Alan stands beside me again. He takes my hand and gives it a tug.

“Come on. We need to find a closer location. Let Matt assemble a team.” His words barely register, but I follow him out of the room.