Chapter 2

Lisa

Most everyone loved Lacey now. They only held a respectable amount of fear, which was a good thing for an alpha… it made her job easier, helped to keep the pack under control, and make them feel safe, because if her own pack held that sliver of fear from the power she held, then what would anyone who dared think of attacking feel?

…but fear of the power within was not the best thing for a doctor.

I think eventually, when they realize I’m still the same me I always was, it will be better. It’s been a few years already, though.

Hopefully, I won’t have to wait much longer. The people who chose me as their obstetrician were few and far between, girls I went to school with and Lacey, of course. The rest had been stuck with me due to our other doctors having no availability, though I knew sometimes my mother just said she didn’t have availability when she knew I had no clients. She loved like that, and a good-sized group of girls who got stuck with me returned to me for their second child.

Sydney cleared her throat, breaking me free from my mind as she passed me a bottle filled with tea. It kept the darkness from flaring and helped me stay… my kind, soft, positive self.

She chugged hers down, reapplying her red lipstick after it smeared slightly. It stood out against her pale skin and tight, black-as-midnight dress.

And if I didn’t know one hundred percent I was straight, I would propose right now.

She turned toward me, laughing and giving a playful wink.

“Okay, pick your jaw up off the floor. The coven is coming tonight, might see some old friends, if you know what I mean.”

She giggled, wiggling her hips saucily, in a much better mood than I was used to seeing her in. I couldn’t help but smile a little as her good mood seemed to be contagious. “Who knows, we might even find you a little fun for the night. Let you live a little. Just for one night you can go back to being a responsible doctor tomorrow!” she said, laughter filling her voice as she walked over, looping her arm through mine.

We made our way down toward the palace garden, where I was sure Lacey would host every event until the end of time.

Music filled the air. Tables stretched across the garden, filled with the usual feast. Ila had definitely put some extra planning into this one. A giant ice sculpture of a wolf howling into the air sat in the middle of the dessert table. I grabbed a small slice of brownie that was neatly cut and set on serving plates as Ila’s eyes connected with mine and she hurried over to shoo me away.

Sydney laughed as I picked up pace, pulling us past the tables where we were in view of the crowd.

Warriors hooted and howled. Whistles broke through the air, making me roll my eyes.

Tate ran up, offering Sydney his arm.

She playfully slapped it away.

He laughed, but I saw the sting in his eyes. Everyone knew he was absolutely smitten.

Well… everyone except Sydney.

We made our way toward Lacey, happily downing a glass of champagne since the kids were with Kate.

“Oh, are we going a little wild for this one?” I teased, stealing the glass as she refilled it and chugging it down myself.

A girl had to prepare before standing on a stage in front of multiple packs and the coven.

Especially when half of them stared at you like you were going to grow horns, request their oldest child as a sacrifice, and steal their souls. My good mood quickly started to fade as the hair on my arms stood from all of the eyes landing on me, or maybe they were on Lacey and I was still in my own head.

“It’s not that bad, Lis. Everyone gets more used to the idea every day. The looks and whispers will stop eventually,” Lacey said, seeming to read my mind, as usual. Just a look and she knew what was going on in my head.

I rolled my eyes.

“It’s been years, Lacey. They only stopped for you because you’re the all-powerful savior they waited centuries to meet, the one who fixed everything in their world and ended the war.”

My voice lowered slightly.

“They don’t see me that way.”

Lacey went quiet. I knew she didn’t know what to say or how to fix it. She had tried many times to convince everyone we were all the same people they always knew, that the darkness didn’t change us… but was that the truth? I couldn’t say for certain that it was.

I stood behind her as the pack filtered in, until she nudged me, motioning to the table where the elders had already sat down. I released a small sigh of relief as I made my way over, dropping into a chair beside Sydney as Lacey stayed standing, greeting everyone with her usual calming smile. I was happy to escape the front lines, at least.

The crowd cheered, everyone pushing closer to the stage just to get a glimpse of the silver wolf, as Lacey continued greeting everyone, warm and welcoming, as she tried to talk to everyone who shouted her name from the crowd.

Sydney’s arm landed on mine. “It could be a good thing, you know. When you really think about it, we don’t get stuck dealing with that everywhere we go. You and I get to do our jobs in peace without a fan club breathing down our necks, reporting our every move. Everything she does is judged by someone.”

I smiled lightly at Sydney.

“You’re right. I guess it’s a good thing Lacey’s so fucking good, because she is always judged and is still the most beloved alpha.”

My gaze drifted past the crowd, toward the entrance.

The air shifted before I even saw them.

The coven had arrived.