“Oh, fine. I’ll hold off on wedding preparations for right now,”
my mother said with a fake pout. “Will you be staying here for a little while? I’d like to make a big dinner tonight to celebrate.”
I looked at Enzo who gave me a small head nod and I looked back at my mother.
“We packed an overnight bag. I was thinking we could stay for the night,”
I said, peering between the two of them.
“Of course; you are always welcome here,”
my mother answered, clapping her hands together. “So, it’s settled. I’ll make some phone calls and get others here as well. I’ll start preparing a meal. We will have a big announcement.”
“Sounds great,”
I said with a wide smile. “Make sure Brianna and her mom are also here.”
“Of course,”
she chuckled.
Just then, the living room door opened, and Corrine came in.
“What’s the commotion?”
She asked. “You guys are so loud I can hear you from upstairs.”
I laughed and shook my head at her.
“We are celebrating tonight,”
my father answered. “Your mother is making a feast. Can you text your brother and tell him to be home by 5?”
“Oh, yes, I’ll have Justin’s family over as well. They are the neighboring pack after all and his parents are very nice despite their troublemaker son.”
Corrine groaned miserably but she nodded.
“Hey, he’s your brother’s best friend. Try to get along for the night,”
my mother said, folding her arms across her chest.
“Fine…”
Corrine murmured. “What’s the occasion?”
She went on to ask.
“Your sister found her mate,”
my mother answered happily.
Corrine gaped and snapped a look at me.
“What?!”
She gasped. “Who is it??”
I smiled at her and wrapped my arm through Enzo’s, resting my head on his shoulder.
Her eyes widened, which made me chuckle.
“Wait… seriously?!”
She cooed. “Oh, my goddess. I knew it!!!”
“You too?”
I asked, lifting my head off Enzo. “Was it that obvious?”
Did everyone know?
“Only to those who know you,”
she chuckled. “I’m so happy for you both. Flynn is going to lose his mind when I tell him. I need to grab my phone.”
She ran out of the living room quickly.
My mother smiled after her and shook her head.
“I’m going to prepare for tonight,”
my mother said as she went toward the kitchen, leaving Enzo and me alone with my father.
My father settled back down on the loveseat, and he looked between the two of us with a very serious expression.
“So, what’s this I’m hearing about a witch? May I ask what you need one for?”
Lila’s POV
I looked at Enzo with a worried look, but he didn’t appear as worried.
“How much do you know about the new professor at Lila’s school? The one who took over for me?”
Enzo asked in return.
My father’s frown deepened.
“The school board did the hiring of this one,”
he answered. “I don’t know much. Professor Xander, right?”
Enzo nodded.
“I don’t trust him,”
Enzo confessed to my father. “He’s harder on Lila than the other students and I believe it’s because she’s a Volana. He gave Lila a protein shake that makes her feel unwell.”
My father’s eyes widened as he looked at me.
“Unwell how?”
I took a deep breath to steady my rapid heartbeat before answering. I knew the look on my father’s face well and whatever I said next wasn’t going to sit well with him.
“When I drink it, it hurts my throat and mouth,”
I told him. “It also makes me feel a bit weak. My wolf doesn’t like it either.”
My father narrowed his eyes and then looked back at Enzo.
“Wolfsbane?”
“We are thinking so,”
Enzo confirmed. “I have my researcher testing it as we speak. The problem is it’s laced with magic and only a witch can undo it.”
My father leaned back in his seat as he listened to Enzo’s words.
“Who is this witch that you are using? Do you trust them?”
My father asked, eyeing Enzo carefully.
Enzo nodded.
“Yes. She’s been keeping my mother’s village safe for many years. The other issue is that she’s hunted by others because she’s friendly with Volana wolves. They think she might know information about them and they find her useful. So, she’s been in hiding for years. I have some warriors escorting her to my pack.”
“I see…”
my father said, thoughtfully. “Is it wise to have her travel to your pack? Why not have the researcher go to her?”
“She has the barrier enchanted to only allow Volana’s entrance. For anyone else, she would have to remove the barrier and that’s not a risk either of us want to take.”
My father nodded, understanding.
“Is she there now?”
“She should be arriving around now, yes,”
Enzo answered. “They will call me as soon as the results are in.”