Karma's Spell (Magical Midlife in Mystic Hollow Book 1), Lacey Andersen [best book club books .txt] 📗

have him.” He spread his hands. “As far as I know, he went home. If anyone’s got him, it’s the blood suckers.”

That wasn’t good. “Okay, thank you.”

“So, you working for the department again?”

I stiffened. “Not exactly. Just still helping with the occasional supernatural case.”

“I heard you were mostly just sticking to your cabin.”

I almost asked if he’d had his boys watching me, but I didn’t. He was still figuring this whole thing out, so if he wanted his boys to watch me, I had no issues with it. If I smelled them in my territory though, we’d have another issue altogether, just like every shifter knew. My family had been in this town as far back as anyone could remember. We still owned massive sections of the woods, even though after adulthood we were given our own territory and could only cross into each other’s areas with permission.

It was a bear thing. A bear thing that every shifter, vamp, and witch alike knew.

I shrugged. “Yeah, well, a man can only do so much hunting, fishing, and reading before he gets a little bored.”

There was something in his eyes I couldn’t read. Did he wish wolves were like bears and that he didn’t have the weight of his entire pack on his shoulders?

“Just be careful,” he says. “Mystic Hollow isn’t the same town as when you were in charge.”

Didn’t I already know that? “I appreciate it.”

“And the sirens have gotten a little pushy about wanting to buy some of our land bordering the water.”

My muscles tensed. “No matter the price--”

“I know. Those rich jerks can offer any price, but this is wolf land.”

I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. The sirens were the most powerful, wealthy bunch in our town, but I was still shocked they even tried to buy the lands from him. Every shifter with an ounce of common sense would never sell their lands. They must have hoped he was dumb as well as inexperienced.

“Well, let me know if you have any problems with them and I’ll pay them a visit.”

He smirked. “I’m the alpha. I don’t need anyone to intervene for me.”

“Of course,” I said, trying to hide my doubt.

Sighing, I rubbed my hand across my face and looked around. The wolf pack, now that they knew I wasn’t a threat, went back to whatever they’d been doing when I drove up.

I furrowed my brow. Which was, apparently, cleaning. Black trash bags were stacked by the meeting house, and some of the younger wolves were scrubbing paint off the side of a house. “What’s going on? The houses are looking rough up here.”

Nathan chuckled, but the sound was sad, not amused. “I know my dad was a better alpha. There have been a lot of issues with the shifters, but I’m trying.” He met my gaze. “I really am.”

“Can I help?” I knew he’d turn me down, but I had to try, not just because he was Thomas's kid, but because he was good at his core. I knew that he would be a fair, strong alpha; it was within him. He deserved having all the help he wanted or needed.

As expected, he shook his head.

I sighed and smiled at him. “You’re very much like your father, Nathan. If he’d lived longer…”

Nathan’s eyes moistened, and he cleared his throat. “Well, he didn’t. Now, I have to do the best I can with what I have.”

If his father had lived, the boy could’ve been molded into an incredible alpha. He had a lot of growing to do, but I had to be careful. Too much advice or given the wrong way and he would shut me out completely.

Standing, I held out my hand. “Please, Nathan. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate. I loved your father very much. I’m here for you.”

Nathan shook my hand and looked me in the eye like a man. He would grow into his position and learn from mistakes. I just hoped those mistakes didn’t hurt too much.

I turned and returned to my car. Sitting there for a moment, I looked out at the wolf’s camp. I spent many days and nights there with Thomas before he became a father. We were eerily similar to the wolves I saw in front of me now, or at least I suspected so. Drinking around the bonfire, seducing shifter females with no idea if one of them might turn out to be our mate and end our bachelor shenanigans. I would be willing to bet that they went cliff diving just like we used to. For just a moment I could almost see a young Thomas moving among them.

It was easy to feel invincible when you were that age. Adults, but just barely, most with no real responsibilities yet, just out to have a good time. Once you lost someone, though? You realized how fragile we all were even if we were shifters.

As I looked around, I realized that this was no longer a safe place for me, however, and these wolves were no longer my friends. They may never be, at least not to the degree that Thomas was, and that was okay. Things evolved, changed. They had to.

Off in the distance, there was a boom and a slight shaking of the ground. I sighed and leaned back in my chair. I’d have to remind the dwarves to be cautious with their mining. There was a lot we could explain away to the humans, but we supernaturals still couldn’t be reckless.

I turned on my car and drove off the pack lands, heading toward my cabin at the edge of town. Already, my warm fire and slowly cooking chili were waiting. That was one thing the boy hadn’t been wrong about; I did spend a lot of my time home. Bears were naturally homebodies, but with a case to focus on, and the mysterious Emma back in town, I finally had a reason to spend more time around society.

Which might not be a