I walked back to my bedroom with everything just whirling in my brain. The she-wolves were staging a coup. My father was looking the other way to lure back my mother. Now there was a she-wolf that was doing something fishy. Knowing witchcraft is real, maybe there is something is going on with that.

I walked back into my room to see Cas in tears. “What happened?” I rushed over to the bed.

“Nothing. I just don’t want you to leave.” I wiped her face and laughed.

“Why are you already worried about the end of summer when I just got here?” I collapsed next to her on the bed and I listened to her sniffles.

“I know, it’s stupid.” But I could scent the slight tinge of fear in the room, and I knew something was said.

“Who came here while I was gone?” I watched her tense, but she relaxed.

“No one.” She looked away and the fear disappeared. Like she got control of her emotions.

“Talk to me. I can’t help unless I know.” I whispered to her as I wrapped my fingers through hers.

“You can’t help, anyway. You will be gone soon and we will just be here again, alone.” Her hand tightened on mine.

“Not alone. I will be speaking to the beta and gamma females and together we will get this pack in check before I leave.” This wasn’t going to continue if I could help it.

“Really?” I could hear the tiny flair of hope in her voice.

“Really. I already talked to my dad. This is all going to stop.” As an alpha, this power shift went against everything we stood for. The only ones with enough power to wield should be in the power structure. Everyone else was equal. That’s how the Moon Goddess intended it. That’s how it should be. “Now tell me what is going on with you.”

“I can’t.” She whispered back to me and finally it all clicked.

“Who said what to you?”

“No one.” Fear leaked from her again, and she sat up. “Don’t push this Amy. Please.” I watched my best friend, my soul sister, beg me not to push.

“Fine.” I relented. What else could I do? “Let’s get ready.” I pulled her up and over to the chair in front of my vanity. “No peaking.” Cas just shook her head and closed her eyes while I got to work.