“That might be arranged,” Gabby growled.
“Well, let’s not go that far yet,” Liza said and turned to Harper. “Mom said, whether the wizards like it or not, their bonds are not one-sided. That it works for the mate as well.” Harper thought it over. “That would make sense. It’s not something they talk about with women, so I can’t say for sure.” She looked at Gabby. “You could test it, though.”
“How?”
“Focus on him and let everything else go. Don’t let anything else intrude on your thoughts.
You’ve been close to him. You’ve felt his power at least once before. See if you can feel it now.” Gabby was curious yet reluctant. Would she draw his attention to her if she was successful? In the end, she was too inquisitive to not give it a try. She closed her eyes, called his image into her mind, the feel of his power around her, and kind of wished to know where he was.
And suddenly, just like that, she felt that power surround her again. He was in her house, prowling like a pissed-off, worried cat. It startled her so much, she lost the connection and opened her eyes.
“It works.” She grinned, wondering how she could use this to turn the tables on him.
“Okay. So Harris used a potion and both of them marked you. You managed to avoid everyone all day, so I’m still sadly lacking in details here.”
“What potion?” Harper interrupted. She looked more and more disturbed as Gabby explained.
“How much do we know about this guy?” she asked nervously.
“He’s been here at least ten years. Showed up when he was seventeen or eighteen.” Liza paused with a shrewd look at Harper. “Jonas trusts him. They’re friends. And Ethan’s been with him for at least a couple of years. But you’re right. It makes me suspicious too. Think you can get a read on him?”
“Probably,” Harper answered.
Liza turned to Gabby. “He’ll be here tonight, right? The gatehouse told me earlier he came in with Ethan.”
She didn’t like it. What he’d done with the potion was sneaky and underhanded, sure. And not asking her before he bonded with her pissed her off, but it wasn’t any different from what most werewolf males did. She wasn’t happy about any of it, but she didn’t think it made him untrustworthy. It hurt to think he might be
“Gabby?” Liza prodded.
She nodded. “He’s at my cabin.” She jumped off the rock. “And I better get back there so I can get some clothes on.”
“Not so fast,” Liza stopped her with that paladin tone in her voice. She pointed at the boulder. “Sit.”
Well, shit. She could walk away from her friend, but not her paladin. She leaned back against the large rock, once again the focus of Liza’s perceptive gaze. “You didn’t avoid me all day, then come find me now because of the potion. I’m guessing it was because you found out about his bond.”
Sighing, she nodded. “Bad enough being mated to one. To a werewolf. But two men? One a wizard? No offense to y’all, but I don’t know what he can do. Or why he’s here. Or anything.” One side of Liza’s mouth kicked up. “Maybe you should ask him.” Gabby glared back.
“Right,” Liza drawled. “That would require that you get to know a male. Let one get to know you. And you’ve worked damned hard to not get involved.” Her voice softened, and she winked. “Honey, it’s not all bad, you know.”
She blew out a breath, reluctant to voice her questions, her concerns, but knowing she could trust Liza and Harper. Knowing they wouldn’t scoff or think less of her. “Do you think it’s possible to be strong and dominant publicly, with the pack. And be something else privately?
Personally?”
“Absolutely,” they answered in unison.
Gabby was a little surprised to hear Harper say that, but maybe she shouldn’t be. She looked over to meet Harper’s gaze. When the witch had joined them, she was beaten down, defeated by that cold world she’d come from. Meek and submissive in the worst unhealthy way.
The longer she stayed in the pack, though, the more outgoing and assertive she became. Harper smiled.
“I’m not a telepath, but I know what you’re thinking, Gabby. I was so afraid. So afraid they would completely take me over. I thought I’d have no will of my own. That I was leaving one nightmare for another. But…” She laughed. She was almost giddy as she spoke of her mates.
“They actually make me stronger.”
Gabby could see that was true. “But Harper, honey,” she said gently. “You had to be stronger to be with them. It’s not the same.”
“You think you have to be weaker?” Liza asked, always the shrewd one.
“Don’t I? Neither I nor my wolf will be happy if we’re weaker, and I can’t stand the idea of spending the rest of my life fighting with my mates to keep my place in the pack. I just can’t accept less. If I could be one thing in private and this me, the old me, with everyone else, maybe I could do that. But they’re both alpha males. Ethan especially will try to take over my entire life.
You know he will. He can’t help himself.”
“Ya think?”
“Yeah, I think,” she snapped back sarcastically.
“Gabby.” Shit. The paladin voice again. “Ethan could have challenged for your position years ago, and he would have won it.”
“So he waited till he could win me over?” She didn’t even care that all the bitterness shone through.
“No,” Liza said, shaking her head. “He didn’t do it because it made you feel more secure.
