Alpha Queen (Claimed by Wolves 4)

Dare gets the meeting going with an update on the boundary patrol team’s findings. He’s really come into his role as alpha, particularly once the other men decided he was the perfect man to be in charge of the pack’s defenses.

“Our investigative team has found no remnants of the original coven left,” he says, reading from a small notebook that I can see is filled with his chicken scratch. “On our last visit to the coven’s old headquarters, we found most of the dead had been removed and belongings had been taken from living quarters inside. A team sent to Anatoly was also able to get intel that many of those witches who worked for Cleo have left the area.”

“And what of the boundaries?” Elder Patrice asks. She’s on the other side of Elder Jihoon—the two of them can often be found in each other’s company nowadays. Two very different people who clearly care for one another.

I’m glad she asked the question, because if the boundaries have been breached, it’s my job to fix the spells. I hold my breath, hoping for good news.

Dare smiles and nods at the elder. “Our boundaries are still intact. We also found evidence that bears aren’t even approaching our lands due to the magic. We have our own resident witch to thank for that.”

A murmur of pleasure goes through the room, and my cheeks flush hotly. It wasn’t all my doing. I had Gwen’s help, after all.

Dare relinquishes the head seat to Archer, who’s also carrying a notebook of his talking points. “We heard from Gwen this week with an update from the Mountain Coven. She’s taken in five new members in the past two weeks, to bring her new coven up to eleven witches. Every one of them were defectors from Cleo’s toxic coven. Gwen says their bond is already strong, and as a group, they recently voted to begin trading and allying with our pack. They’re planning a visit three weeks from now.”

“Oh good,” Patrice says, smiling at Jihoon. “I liked Gwen. I’ve been wondering if she’d ever return.”

I had to agree with the elder. I’ve been waiting for Gwen’s next visit since she left us months ago. It’s good news to hear she’s coming, and that she’s bringing friends. I can’t wait to be in the presence of other witches—ones who haven’t been warped by someone else’s vindictiveness and cruelty.

Ridge gives an update on village construction, and Trystan briefs us on outreach efforts in building ties with shifters outside of our lands. Then they open the floor for questions from other pack members.

As the meeting wraps up and people begin filtering from the building, I bump and nudge my way to Amora’s side. She’s standing near the door, her gaze noting every shifter who passes. I can’t tell what she’s thinking, but she looks… sad.

Luckily, a pregnant woman walking through a crowd is a lot like Moses parting the Red Sea, so I reach her side before long and elbow her gently in the ribs.

“Hey. You coming for dinner Friday?” I ask. “I’m thinking steaks on the grill.”

Since she’s one of Ridge’s oldest friends, and since she and I have become close, she eats with us at least once a week. But recently, she’s seemed kind of

distant.

“That baby likes its rare meat,” Amora teases.

“You know it. Baby wolf in the making.” I rub my hand over my belly. “So… you’re coming, right?”

“I don’t think I can this time,” Amora says carefully, glancing over with an expression on her face that makes my brows pull together.

I blink, shaking my head as a prickle of worry passes through me. “Why not? What’s going on?”

She straightens and draws her shoulders back, some of the shadows in her expression clearing as certainty takes their place. “I’m leaving the pack lands.”

My jaw drops open. I’m so shocked that I can’t even think what to say. I cycle through a dozen responses, none of them good enough.

But we need you here.

You help run this pack.

You’re my best friend.

We love you.

Before I can settle on what to tell her, Amora goes on. “There’s something I have to do, and it means leaving you guys—at least for now. Trust me, I don’t want to, Sable. I want to be here for…” She trails off and places her palms on either side of my stomach, her forehead wrinkling as if she’s fighting off her emotions. Then she withdraws her hands and looks me in the eye. “I have to leave for a little while.”

Something niggles at my subconscious, a memory resurfacing. Mention of Gwen at the meeting is just fresh enough in my mind for me to put two and two together.

“Does this have something to do with what Gwen told you before she left us?” I ask.

Amora doesn’t reply, but she doesn’t need to. I can see the answer in her eyes.

That’s exactly what this is about.