“Thank you, Ingrid.” I slipped it onto my wrist. “I appreciate it.”
“What are you getting yourself into, child?” She sighed. “You have spunk. Your grandma would be so proud. I hope to hear from you soon.”
“I’ll have an answer for you as soon as we finish this,” I promised.
“Or if you’re in trouble. We will lend our magic to you, Harlow. We really are a family, and we would like you to be part of it.” She grinned before addressing the rest of the witches, “Let us take our leave.”
Deb nudged my shoulder. “Okay, magic is super cool. Watch what I learned!” She ran over and joined the witches in a circle.
“She’s always so hyper,” Xav grumbled.
I leaned into him. “You have no idea.”
They all joined hands as the wind picked up, and they disappeared with the wind.
“Okay, that was pretty cool,” he said. “Did they use the wind to teleport?”
“Looks like it.” I was actually impressed. I hadn’t seen anyone teleport that way before.
“Why is it different from what you do?”
“Because I use an ancient form of teleportation. I call upon the different dimensions.”
His mouth dropped open. “That’s badass.”
My mouth quirked into a smile. “Well thanks, my mom taught me.”
“So, what’re you going to do? Are you going to join their coven?”
Joining their coven didn’t sound restrictive like I’d thought. Instead, it sounded kind of nice. I’d loved being alone, I was introverted. But it made me happy to have the option to belong to a coven, a family, again. Especially one with such warm magic.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure yet.”
He shifted his weight on his feet. “What will that mean for us if you do?”
“What do you mean? Nothing has to change. I don’t have to live with them to be part of their coven.”
“You don’t?”
“No. We would just meet every full moon or whenever they requested.” At least, that was my assumption. I wouldn’t join if otherwise, but I still needed to think about it. Ingrid knowing my mom and grandma was a factor.
“Good.” He let out a sigh of relief. “In that case, I will back your decision.”
“Wouldn’t have backed it otherwise?” I chuckled.
“I would’ve. But I would’ve been less enthused.” He smirked, pulling me into him and nuzzling my neck.
I shivered at the sensation that spread through me.
His mouth rested on the base of my neck and it was heaven. “I will place my mark here,” he mumbled against my skin.
My back arched into him. The process of marking didn’t scare me as much as before. In fact, the thought of his teeth piercing my skin sent a pleasurable wave through me.
I gasped. “Xav.”
He kissed the spot before pulling back. “But not until you beg me.”
My mouth dropped. “Xavier!”
He was playing me. He knew exactly what he did to me. “Sorry, little witch. You’re just so easy to fuck with.”
“Ugh!” I slapped my forehead. I had to pull myself, and my hormones, together.
He threw his head back and howled with laughter.
I rolled my eyes at him as we started walking back toward the cottage. We had a lot of supplies to stock up on for our trip. He said it was about a three-day walk in human form but two days if I let him carry me in wolf form, which was what we decided to do. I could’ve teleported us, but it was such a long distance I didn’t want to zap out my magical energy before going into a place I wasn’t familiar with. Besides, we had the chance to spend time getting to know each other. Thinking of riding a huge wolf in the forest was comical, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited. It sounded fun, and I trusted Xavier not to smack into a tree.
Our journey to the Maxwell pack began in the morning, and I was nervous to meet Xavier’s former pack. I was also excited to see where he came from, and what made him so strong.
SIXTEEN
Xavier
It took us two days to reach the border of the Maxwell pack. We didn’t stop to rest except for snack and bathroom breaks so I was fucking exhausted. Harlow was pretty much dead on her feet. I doubted she’d ever stayed awake for so long.
And yet, all that exhaustion was wiped away as nerves bubbled up in my stomach once we stood on the edge of that damn border I’d walked across just over a year ago.
“Are you alright?” Harlow placed her hand in mine and squeezed.
“Yes. I’m fine.” I shrugged it off like it was no big deal, but really I was nervous as hell. I loved this pack, but getting away from it had been freeing. Everyone walked on eggshells around me after Liv was killed, and it sucked.
“I’m here with you. I can always manipulate your emotions to calm your nerves.” She smiled up at me and it melted my heart.
Fuck, I was wrapped around her perfect little finger. Bewitched by her completely.
“Sure, if it’ll help.”
Her eyes lit up. “Really? Okay, I’m so glad you agreed. I can feel your anxiety coming off you in waves.” She let go of my hand and grabbed my face, bringing my lips against hers.
My lips began tingling and a warm flush of liquid swept through my body from it. My nerves were gone with one kiss from her.
“How many people have you done that for?” I rested my head on hers.
“Oh, too many to count.” My eye twitched. “Negative emotions are impactful. I can’t stand them, so if I can make them disappear, I do.”
“You said I was your first kiss though.”
Her eyes widened as she jumped back, shaking her head. “Oh my gosh, no! I just have to touch someone, even a brush of the shoulder can have the same effect. You’re the first person I’ve kissed to do that!”
I chuckled, scratching the back of my head. “Thank the Fates for that.”
“You should know better.” She bent over with her hands on her
