Chase stopped at a red light and ground his teeth. They’d searched every damn inch of a five-mile radius around the spot where Isaac had latched on to him the first time, and they’d found nothing. Not a trace of the tulpa or the bastard who created it. Chase would still have been out there searching if Luke hadn’t called them back in.

They’d split up, each of them taking a third of the area, so he’d managed to keep the fact that he couldn’t shift to himself so far. Sooner or later, though, he’d have to fess up and admit his problem. Sure, he might lose his rank in the pack, but he didn’t give a damn about rank. Unlike witches, a werewolf would never turn his back on one of his own. He could go it alone or he could have the support of the pack at his back. His choice.

He’d keep it to himself for the time being though, to protect Rain.

How long was this damn light going to stay red? He needed to get back to his woman. With thoughts of running it skittering through his brain, he lifted his foot from the ground as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked the screen and found a message from Luke: Get to the bar. Now.

Cursing, he hung a right on St. Philip and headed to O’Malley’s.

At six in the morning, the place sat empty, save for a few men on Luke’s crew having breakfast. He nodded to the morning bartender and shuffled through the side door toward Luke’s office.

As he entered the room, he found the alpha sitting in a chair behind the massive oak desk, his mate perched on the edge of the surface, holding his hand in both of hers. Alexis occupied a green vinyl chair facing the desk, and they all looked at him with grim expressions as he closed the door behind him.

A feeling of unease expanded in his chest like rising dough. If they were here… “Where’s Rain? Is she okay? If that bastard got to her—”

“She’s not hurt. She’s…” Alexis looked at Luke.

“The coven has her. Two more witches were drained, and they’re blaming Rain and her sister.”

“What? That’s insane.” His nostrils flared, and he clenched his hands into fists as he focused on Alexis and then Macey. “How could you let them take her?”

“Watch your tone.” Luke growled in warning.

Chase lowered his gaze, swallowing down his frustration. “Sorry.”

“We weren’t going to let them.” Macey’s voice held sympathy. “She chose to go with them to avoid a confrontation.”

That sounded like Rain. The pack would go to war to protect one of their own, and since he’d let them know she was his fate-bound, she was included. Rain would never let a war happen over her.

But she didn’t have a choice.

He turned and grabbed the doorknob.

“Where are you going?” Luke’s voice held an edge of warning, reminding Chase he hadn’t been dismissed.

His muscles tensed, and he squeezed the door knob tighter. “To get Rain.”

“You can’t bust into the coven house and take her by force. She’s one of them. They have jurisdiction in this.”

“She’s not one of them.” Frustration raised his voice, so he took a deep breath to calm himself. Luke might have been his best friend, but he could tear Chase’s ass apart if he didn’t show the alpha respect. “She’s not allowed in the coven because she’s cursed. If a witch shows her any kindness, they’ll suffer for it. They’re terrified of her, so there’s no telling how they’re treating her.”

Luke glanced at his mate. “I’m aware of her problem, and the fact that I had to hear the information second-hand is another issue.” He stood and walked around the desk to lean on the edge. “They found a body behind her building. It does look suspicious.”

“I was with her all night, man. Don’t tell me you believe them.” He balled his hands into fists. If his own alpha wasn’t on his side…

“I don’t, but you need to go in there with a clear head and defend her logically.”

Chase straightened his spine. “Yeah. Of course. I will.” His head was as clear as spring water. His fate-bound needed his help, and he’d do anything to save her.

Luke cupped Macey’s cheek in his hand and gave her a quick kiss. “Get some sleep today. I love you.”

“I love you too.” She cast a worried glance toward Chase. “Be safe.”

“Always.” Luke nodded to the door. “Let’s go.”

Chase eyed the coven house as he marched up the sidewalk. No one would guess one of the best-kept houses in the Quarter housed a prison for witches in the back. Of course, no one would guess the quiet Irish pub on St. Philip held a prison strong enough to contain a werewolf either. New Orleans was full of dirty little secrets.

He stayed two steps behind Luke, silently thankful for his best friend’s grounding presence. If Chase had come on his own, he’d have done exactly what Luke told him not to—busted in and taken his woman by force.

Alan, the witch he’d threatened in the alley, greeted them, crossing his arms and widening his stance in an attempt to look intimidating as he blocked their entrance. “Come to beg for your woman’s release? Not so tough now, are you?”

Luke straightened to his full height, and Chase crossed his arms, mimicking Alan’s posture. He’d show this asshole tough. A hint of fear flashed in the witch’s eyes before he huffed and stepped aside, allowing them entrance.

Calista clicked into the foyer, wearing a pressed suit, her hair twisted into a neat knot on the back of her head. She appeared polished, but the dark circles beneath her eyes betrayed her. She’d lost sleep, whether from dealing with Rain or the loss of some of her own, Chase couldn’t be sure.

Frankly, he didn’t care. She had his love, and he wanted her back.

“Where’s Rain?” His voice came out more hostile than he’d planned, but he couldn’t hold back his anger. “If she’s hurt…”

Luke put a heavy hand on his shoulder. “We’d like to negotiate her release.”

Calista inclined her head. “I’m not releasing her. As soon as the hour is decent, I’ll be placing a call to the national council and recommending immediate execution. We’ve put up with the murderous bitch and her curse long enough.”

A deep growl rumbled in Chase’s chest, and Luke tightened his grip on his shoulder. “She didn’t kill those witches.”

“Can you prove it?”

He attempted a step toward her, but Luke held him back. “I was with her all evening.”

“You don’t need to get your council involved in this.” Luke dropped his arm to his side. “We know who’s behind the murders, and we can stop him.”

Chase moved closer to the witch. “We’re not leaving without Rain and Snow. Let them go and no one has to get hurt.”

Calista stiffened. “Call off your dog, alpha.”

“Chase.” Luke’s voice was low with warning.

He needed to step lightly. Pissing off the high priestess wouldn’t help his cause. He moved back, lowering his voice and speaking through clenched teeth. “Please let me see her.”

The priestess regarded him, an amused smirk lighting on her lips. “She’s special to you, isn’t she?” She chuckled. “All this time I thought you had a grudge against witches, when it seems it’s only me you can’t stand.”

Alan suppressed a chuckle. Calista cast him a sideways glance, and he stared at the floor.

Chase held her gaze, silently challenging her to continue mocking his emotions. He didn’t have to explain himself to her, and he was done being civil. If she didn’t take him to his woman within the next thirty seconds, he’d force his way in.

Luke must have felt Chase’s intent because he stepped beside him, close enough to stop him from attempting anything stupid. “Listen to their story.”

She shook her head. “How will I know they’re telling the truth? Perhaps your second is in on it. Maybe he’s an accomplice to her crimes.”

“I’ll vouch for him.” Luke crossed his arms and gave her a challenging stare.

Her gaze danced between them before focusing on the alpha. “Luke, as much as I respect you, I can’t…” She tapped a finger to her lips. “Although…I do know a way I could discover the truth on my own.” She steepled her fingers beneath her chin and looked at Chase. “I offer you a trade.”

“Name it.” He’d do anything. Whatever she wanted was hers if she’d give him Rain.

“A pint of your blood. I can use it in a tracking spell to find the killer—whomever she may be—and I’ll have enough left over for…future uses.”

Her offer hit him like a meat cleaver to his heart. Of all the things for a witch to ask from him… No telling what she could do with that much blood. That much power. He swallowed the thickness from his throat and opened his mouth to respond.

Luke cut him off. “Not a chance. Werewolf blood is sacred for a reason. No witch is getting a single drop from my pack.”

Chase pressed his lips together to suppress a sigh of relief. If he’d have answered the way he’d intended, he’d be facing twenty years in the pit…if Luke went light on his punishment.

Calista shrugged and cast Chase a knowing look. “That’s a shame. Worth a try though.” Alan whispered something in her ear. She paused, looking thoughtful for a moment before squaring her gaze on Chase. “I like the idea, Alan. Unfortunately, spells that hinder free will are forbidden, even for the high priestess.”

Damn, this witch seemed to know all his weaknesses. He couldn’t give her his blood, but if he could get Rain back another way… “What kind of spell?”

“Alan suggested a truth spell. I have one; it’s very easy to make, but the serum lasts twenty-four hours. You’d be forced to speak the truth for a full day.”

“Give it to me. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

She grinned and glanced at Luke. “What if I were tempted to make him spill your pack secrets?”

Chase answered, “If the pack has any secrets, I don’t know them. I’m not first-family.”

“Interesting…”

If she didn’t wipe that shit-eating grin off her face, he’d be tempted to do it for her. He shoved his hands in his pockets to hold them still. His fate-bound was somewhere inside this house, and being this close without being able to see her grated on his nerves, making him want to snap.

She shook her head. “It’s not worth the risk. Not when I’m about to get the council involved.”

“Are there any side effects?” He couldn’t let her dismiss it that easily. If he could get Rain back, he’d endure whatever the priestess threw at him. “Besides having to speak the truth for twenty-four hours, will anything else happen to me if I take the serum?”

She scoffed. “I’m a high priestess; no low-level witch could achieve a position like this. My spells do exactly as intended. Nothing more.”

That was all he needed to hear. “You’re not hindering my free will if I’m agreeing to it. I’ll tell the truth for a day; no problem. Give it to me. I’ll sign a release. Whatever you need.”

“I’ll sign it too,” Luke added. “It appears to be the only peaceful way to solve this dilemma.”

Calista narrowed her eyes. “I don’t take kindly to threats.”

Luke leaned toward her. “And I don’t take kindly to you kidnapping someone who’s under the pack’s protection.”

“She’s not a werewolf.”

“She’s not a member of your coven.”

She exhaled slowly and nodded to Alan. “Draw up the contract. I’ll mix the potion.”

Chase unclenched his fists as the tension drained from his muscles. Good thing this hadn’t turned into a fight. A werewolf who couldn’t shift wouldn’t stand much of a chance against their magic.

“Lydia,” Calista called to a woman down the hall. “Remove the dark-haired witch from the cell and take her and the werewolves to my office.”

The mere thought of Rain being locked in a cell made his skin crawl. He followed the woman into the hall and down a short flight of steps. She opened a door and peered inside. “You come. You…stay put.”

Rain shuffled into the hallway, and Chase swept her into his arms. “Thank God, you’re okay.” He held her tight to his chest, relief flooding his veins as he breathed in her familiar scent. She was warm and safe, and there was no way in hell he’d leave this place without her.

“Chase?” Her words vibrated against his chest. “What’s happening? Am I free? What about Snow?”

“Not yet.” He loosened his grip so he could look at her, but he refused to let her go. “We have to negotiate your release with Calista.”

“This way.” Lydia motioned them toward the office.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” Luke patted Rain on the shoulder before following Lydia.

Chase wrapped an arm around his fate-bound’s shoulders and held her tight to his side as they entered the high priestess’s office. The same black cat from his last visit sat in the center of the desk, and it hissed at Luke, making a wide berth around the alpha before brushing against Chase’s leg on its way out the door.

Luke flashed him a questioning look, and he held his breath. He needed to come clean about his powers, but now wasn’t the time nor place. He was about to let a witch cast a spell on him for the fourth time in his life, and the thought soured in his stomach like two-week-old buttermilk.

“Calista will be right with you.” Lydia closed the door, the unmistakable sound of the lock sliding into place penetrating the silence.

“Did you explain what happened? Has she called the council?” Rain clutched his shirt. “She wouldn’t listen to me.”

He rubbed her back, trying to calm her. “She hasn’t called them yet. We’re going to explain everything as soon as she gets here.”

“I doubt she’ll believe us. She’s had it out for me since she found out about my—” She looked at Luke.

Chase hugged her. “He knows about your curse.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “But not about mine yet.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”

Luke leaned against the wall. “We take care of our own. It’s no trouble.”

“I know, but I’m not—”

“You’re with Chase; you’re one of us. Simple as that.”

Chase’s heart swelled with gratitude. One—that he didn’t mention the fate-bound bit. He was waiting for the right moment to tell Rain. And two—that the alpha, and therefore the pack, had accepted her without confrontation.

Luke sauntered to the window and stared at the garden behind the house. “They’re awfully trusting leaving us alone in this room. We could easily bust out and be done with this nonsense.”

“I wouldn’t leave Snow,” Rain said. “And I doubt you could break out.”

Luke looked at her over his shoulder, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.

Chase laughed. “She’s right. They probably have a spell on the whole building. Nothing gets in or out unless they want it to. Rain had one on her shop.”

“Snow made a new one, and she hid the totems this time,” Rain said. “It’s secure.”

Luke gazed out the window. “What happened to the old one?”

“Damn tulpa tricked her.” He took a deep breath and let it out in a huff. Since Calista was taking her sweet time, he might as well come clean. “It tricked me too.”

Luke turned around to face them. “How so?”

He opened his mouth to spill the truth, but the lock disengaged and Calista sashayed into the room. The liquid inside the shot glass she carried glowed bright blue, and Rain tightened her grip on his waist.

The priestess offered him the glass, and though his throat thickened to the point he could barely breathe, he took it.

“What is that?” Wariness edged Rain’s voice as she cut her gaze between Calista and the glass.

“A truth spell.” Calista smiled triumphantly. “Your wolf-boy has agreed to take it in hopes of saving you from execution.”

Rain’s eyes widened, and she fisted his shirt in her hand. “Chase, no. You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do.” He lifted the glass, but Calista rested her hand on top of it.

“Not until you both sign the waver.” She set a sheet of paper on her desk and plucked a pen from a wooden container.

Luke stepped toward the desk and took the pen. “You’re sure you want to do this?”

Chase couldn’t force the yes through his throat, so he nodded. Luke signed the paper and handed him the pen. He scanned the words on the page. He’d be promising not to hold Calista or the coven accountable for anything that happened because of the spell. Anything. “This doesn’t say what the spell does.”

The priestess narrowed her gaze. “It says it’s a truth potion. Self-explanatory.”

He shook his head. “I want it in writing. This contract absolves you of any harm done for any reason. I’m agreeing to a truth serum that you swore would only force me to tell the truth for twenty-four hours. If you’re so sure of your magic, guarantee that’s all that will happen to me in writing.”

She glared at him before snatching the pen from his hand. “Fine.” She scribbled the guarantee onto the page and initialed the change.

Chase took the pen, fisting it in his hand to stop his trembling. Taking a potion from Rain had been one thing. He trusted the woman with every fiber of his being. He couldn’t muster a single iota of trust for the priestess, but he pressed the pen to the page and scribbled his name anyway. As he formed the final P in his last name, he hesitated, crushing the ball-point into the paper until black ink puddled around it. Calista pried the contract and the pen from his grip and shoved them into a drawer.

He looked at the potion in his hand. His stomach roiled, his breathing growing shallow as he lifted it to his nose to sniff. It smelled sweet, like cotton candy, and tiny bits of silver sparkled in the liquid.

His mind flashed back to his childhood. The witches, his so-called friends. The ritual. The pain he’d endured from whatever potion they’d convinced him to take. They’d almost killed him. His body swayed, the sensation that he stood in the center of a merry-go-round spinning out of control, making it hard to breathe.

Rain put her hand on his back, steadying him. “If there is anything other than a truth spell in that glass, Calista, I swear on my life—”

“If he doesn’t drink the potion, you won’t have a life much longer. I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”

Was he being naïve again? Maybe. But Luke and Rain would have his back if this went south.

He closed his eyes and tossed back the potion. The sticky, sweet liquid burned down his throat as if it took a layer of flesh with it to his stomach. He braced himself for the sensation to spread through his core, but the burning ceased.

Rain put a hand on his chest. “How do you feel?”

“I expected worse.” Aside from a slight tingling in his head, he didn’t feel any effects from the spell. “Are you sure you did it right, Calista?”

She sank into the chair behind her desk. “We’ll find out, won’t we? Have a seat.”

He crossed his arms. “I’d rather stand.” Sitting would make him vulnerable, and he couldn’t give the priestess any more of an edge.

Luke looked him in the eyes, silently asking if he was all right. Chase nodded.

“Suit yourself.” Calista leaned back in her chair. “I’ll ask you a few test questions first to make sure it’s taken effect.”

Chase exhaled slowly. The smirk on the witch’s face told him he wouldn’t like what she planned to ask.

“You said you aren’t first family. Luke has a cousin who is; why isn’t he second in command?”

He ground his teeth and looked at Luke. Pack business wasn’t her business, but what Stephen did was no secret. “He tried to kill Luke’s mate.”

She nodded. “Where is he now? Dead?”

He chewed the inside of his cheek, fighting the compulsion to spit out the answer. “Why do you want to know?”

“Answer the question, please.”

The tingling in his head increased, willing him to tell her the truth. “He’s in the pit. Our pack prison. Luke spared his life.”

“Interesting.” She folded her arms on the desk and leaned forward. “You said you and Rain were together all evening. Tell me what you were doing.”

He clenched his jaw, hoping the sharp pain shooting through his temple would overpower the truth tingling in his brain. Answering with a question of his own seemed to be the only way to quell the confessions. “What do you think we were doing?”

Rain put a hand on his bicep. “That’s none of your business, Calista, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the murders.”

She arched an eyebrow. “He’ll answer the question or this meeting will adjourn and you’ll be handed over to the council.”

“We were having sex.” He put his hand over Rain’s and cringed at the indecent way the words sounded on his lips. It had been so much more than that.

Calista grinned. “Who was on top?”

“What the hell, Calista?” What kind of sick individual got their kicks from forcing people to talk about their sex lives? The tingling in his head intensified. Sharing his private, intimate experiences with anyone but the woman he loved appalled him, but the spell forced him to answer. “She was.”

The priestess looked at Rain. “You got a werewolf onto his back. Impressive. With his attitude, I expected him to be more…dominant.” She raked a heated gaze down his body. “I guess you’re all bark and no bite.”

Chase growled a warning, but what was the use? He’d have to endure her questioning if he planned to save his woman. “I respect her. What we do in the bedroom is a shared experience.”

“I see.” She flashed a wicked grin. “Tell me, Chase. If your alpha hadn’t been here to stop you, would you have given me your blood to save her?”

Anger seared through his chest like a blade taken straight from the forge. “Goddammit, witch.” She was setting him up.

Rain gasped. “She asked for your blood?”

“She did.” He looked at Rain, and her eyes grew wide in disbelief. Then he cut his gaze to Luke, who kept his expression neutral, though he probably knew Chase’s answer already. Speaking the truth out loud would be admitting he’d disobey the alpha and pack law. He might as well walk his ass back to the bar and lock himself in the pit right now.

“Answer the question.” Calista’s voice grew impatient. “Would you have disobeyed your pack law and given me your blood to save this woman?”

The air in the room pressed down on his shoulders, threatening to crumble him. He’d have to deal with whatever punishment Luke deemed appropriate. He gnashed his teeth and growled out his answer, “Yes.”

As he uttered the word, Luke faked a giant sneeze, the sound so loud it echoed in the small room. “I didn’t hear what you said, and I’m giving you a direct order never to repeat it.”

Calista inclined her head. “Well played, alpha.”

“No more games, Calista. Get the information you need and nothing more.” He pinned Chase with a heavy stare. “I’m going to wait in the hall.”

As Luke stepped through the door and closed it behind him, Chase tipped his head back and closed his eyes for a long blink. Even as he’d admitted his disobedience, his solid friendship with the alpha had saved him.

Calista crossed her arms, narrowing her gaze as she studied him. “Interesting. What would the punishment have been if you’d given your blood to me?”

“Whatever the alpha deemed fit.” Was she playing some kind of power game? Trying to exert her dominance over the werewolves?

“I see. Yet, you were willing to endure whatever he could dish out to save a magicless witch. Why?”

He looked at Rain, and he couldn’t have stopped the words from spilling from his mouth if he tried. “I’d do anything for her. She’s my fate-bound.”

Rain’s breath hitched, and tears collected on her lower lids. “I am?”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “This wasn’t how I planned to tell you, but yes.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “How long…? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was afraid I’d scare you away. I wanted to give you time to fall in love with me.” The longer he spoke, the faster the truth tumbled from his lips. “I hope that you’ll be my mate, but since you’re not a werewolf, I was afraid this bond would overwhelm you.”

She threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest. “It’s not scary, Chase. I feel it too.”

She couldn’t possibly, but he’d let her believe it if she wanted to.

Calista let out a dry laugh. “If I’d known this juicy detail, I would’ve gotten her to ask for your blood.”

He stiffened. “She would never ask for such a thing.” He kissed her forehead as she slid from his arms. “She knows me too well.”

“Can we get on with this?” Rain’s brow furrowed as she sank into a chair. “Let us tell you what happened so we can stop anyone else from dying.”

The priestess narrowed her eyes. “Fine. Tell me who’s killing witches.”

Chase explained the story of Rain’s ex showing up in her shop and everything that led up to the event. Calista’s pen flew furiously across a sheet of paper as she took notes. She asked for precise locations where they’d seen the tulpa each time, and he showed her on a map where Isaac had gotten hold of him in the swamp.

“I don’t recommend sending any of your witches out hunting for him. He’s proven he can kill. Let the werewolves handle it.”

Calista stared at the map and tapped her pen on the spot in the swamp. “You have twenty-four hours to handle it before I send my own team after him.”

He grumbled. If the witches went hunting, they’d expose the whole damn magical community. They didn’t care about secrecy. Didn’t require it like the other supernatural beings living in New Orleans. “We’ll take care of it.”

Calista held his gaze, hesitating to let them go. “You’d better. For her sake. She is the reason this lunatic is here after all.” She rose to her feet and motioned toward the door.

Chase didn’t give her time to change her mind. He grabbed Rain’s hand and tugged her to the exit.

Luke met them in the hallway. “And?”

“We’re free to go. Let’s get Snow and get the hell out of this place.”