“She requested an extension three days back,” Dr. Blakely told us.
***
Jase and me, the council, the three Young witches, Cat, and Dr. Blakely are all at Roxy’s, on the patio.
Grey says, “It’s clear that whatever sanctions were put on her, she found a way around them.”
I add, “Or… this isn’t her that’s doing this, which does not track.”
“Sure would be nice if we knew the endgame ahead of time,” Grey mutters, looking at the cousins.
“We’re on it,” Erica replies. “Aphra is coming over. She might be able to help. When she gets here, we’ll ask for help and explain our plan to everyone.”
“You’re absolutely sure she’s not in on this?” Jase asks yet again.
“We’re sure,” I state. There’s no way. Aphra is terrified of her coven leader and has been hiding since she got pregnant with Halla, who is four years old.
Jase looks dubious.
They decided not to pull the seedlings yet again. Instead, they’ve cast a wellness spell over the pack, hoping to thwart whatever’s going on and I’m now only occasionally sneezing instead of doing it almost constantly, but I’ve also got a restlessness inside me that I suspect comes from my wolf who it feels like is on edge.
I’m kind of in awe that I can feel her restlessness simmering in me. More and more connections between me and my beast are forming, though Jase tells me she hasn’t done any growing yet.
I sneeze extra-hard and as if on cue by my thoughts, suddenly, my wolf bubbles in.
All eyes on the patio are on me with surprise. Most of these folks haven’t seen my wolf yet.
Mason busts up laughing. Joel is also chuckling.
“Oh wow. You’re so cute!” Ronnie says, leaning over and holding her hand out as if I want to sniff it, which is kind of comical.
“Fuck,” Jase says. “Everyone give us your backs a second.”
“Why?” Dr. Blakely asks.
“I need to command her for her to shift back, and she needs to get dressed.
There’s a hush as everyone looks confused by this.
My brother immediately turns his chair around, giving us his back, so the others follow suit.
“Shift!” Jase commands and I’m back, scrambling into my bra, underwear, and maxi dress as quick as I can.
Jase’s face is red and he looks furious. I shoot him a look and mouth, “Chill out.”
“Okay,” he grumbles to them, not me, and everyone turns back around.
“Oh my gosh, your wolf is adorable, Bailey,” Ronnie repeats as if I didn’t just hear her in that form.
“Thanks,” I say. “Next time I shift I should do it in front of a mirror because I haven’t seen her, err… myself.”
Some are amused by this, but not Jase. He’s far from entertained because I was naked here for a minute around the council and the doctor. I’m sure he doesn’t care about Cat and the Young sisters.
“Will they know the status?” Grey asks, attempting to get things back on track. “Would whoever cast the spell know you pulled all those plants last night, Erica?”
Erica clears her throat and replies. “No way to know for sure, but I don’t think so. If they could tell what was happening, they wouldn’t have needed the drone.”
“Good point,” Joel agrees.