Wolf Endangered (Willow's Forbidden Pack #2) - Avery Song Page 0,25

reputation on her own to make these individuals dismiss her entirely?"

Why would they dismiss her?

"A decoy."

I actually took a moment to think about it.

You think because of how controlling Roberto is on the regular, that he wouldn't let a "female" version of the very princess he's trying to hide do something risky like cage fighting and all the other shit Willow did?

"Or endure the torture we somehow survived," my wolf acknowledged. "Can royalty endure half the shit we did?"

Not even close.

"Exactly," he concluded. "They believe she's a decoy for the true princess that's hiding. Since they continue to believe Willow's name is on the birth certificate, that only proves that they're desperate to take her position for their grand scheme."

Guess we'll see who is going to be the actor playing Willow De Luca.

"And slap them with a few fraud lawsuits."

The aroma of something sweet began to tickle my nose, and I decided it was time to focus on reality instead of our rather detailed hypothesis.

Walking rather loudly on purpose, I noticed Aurelia was already at work. The island that was once littered with food was now filled with various bowls, products, vials, and dried-up creatures only a witch would carry around.

A massive bowl was on the stove and she was whisking a pink mixture that easily resembled whipped butter or some sort of lotion.

I could tell she noticed me by the slight lift of her gaze, those vibrant eyes of hers glowing an intense gold that told me she was deep into her magic usage.

I also noticed by how fast she dismissed me that she was still in a cranky mood.

"Alright," I began, now standing next to her as I leaned against the island counter. She paused in her whisking to give me a deadly look, but it wasn't going to push me away at all.

If I could stick around Willow long enough for her to love me through her intense hate, I could survive Aurelia's wrath long enough to prove our friendship wasn't made of sticks.

"I can safely assume there's something deeper troubling you."

She said nothing as she lowered the bowl to the island and gave me her full attention. I was expecting her to say something, but I could see the conflict in her eyes - an internal struggle I hadn't witnessed in a good fucking while.

She lowered her head as if noticing how easy it was for me to read her, but I wasn't going to let her be some submissive bitch. I lifted her chin back up, the action surprising her as those spheres of gold began to seep back to a calmer shade of amber.

"Rejected once because I wasn't in your life. Rejected twice because I wasn't strong enough to shield you from pain. I won't allow a third time." I ensured my words were laced with my wolf's authoritative warning, and I knew from the look in Aurelia's eyes that she knew to whom I was referring to.

"He's not the reason for my displeasure," Aurelia finally responded after a moment of staring. "Not the root of it."

"Then?"

"I was forced to take a seat upon the Coven Council," she revealed. That made me arch an eyebrow at her because no one was forced into anything unless the position was open due to the death of a member.

"You're not saying-"

"Someone wants me to be a part of the Council now," she emphasized. "Someone that doesn't want me helping Willow anymore."

"Ah. Things are starting to piece themselves together," my wolf commented, but he was just as displeased as I felt.

"Helping as in anything to do with her physical, emotional, and mental health?”

"As in they don't want me near her...or any of you," she confirmed.

"Ah." I bobbed my head. "Regular old people shit, right?"

"Onyx, I can't-"

"Disobey?" I took a step forward so I towered over her. I could already see the defiance from my move, but it made my grin spread maliciously as I decided to remind her of what a badass she was.

"When you were ten, they told you not to play with us, and what did you do? Played with us. When you were twelve, they said we were nothing but bad influences, but did it stop you from meeting up with us? Not even close. When things went south with your mate, they told you not to dare come to us because we'd mock you like any other pair of wolf shifters. Instead, you came, and we comforted you, and were ready to kill the