Page 64 of Alpha Charmed

“You’re writing a book about this?” Vera sounds somewhere between horrified and impressed.

“I’m documenting events of significance. The bookshop has been very insistent.”

Caius finds me in the corner where I’ve retreated to catch my breath. He’s back in human form, a few scratches on his arms but otherwise unharmed. One of the scratches is dripping slightly—I make a mental note to tend to it later, when we’re not surrounded by witnesses.

His hands cup my face before I can speak, gray eyes scanning for injury.

“I’m fine.”

“You were magnificent.” He kisses my forehead, my cheek, the corner of my mouth. “Terrifying, but magnificent.”

“You shifted in the middle of a council chamber. That’s going to require paperwork.”

“Worth it.” His arms wrap around me. I let myself lean into him, just for a moment. Just long enough to feel his heartbeat against my chest, to remember that we survived, that we won.

“Your wolf has excellent timing.”

“My wolf has been wanting to defend you for a very long time. He’s pleased with himself.” Caius’s smile is warm against my temple. “So am I.”

“Ridiculous wolf.”

“Your wolf.”

Across the chamber, Cordelia is being bound with magical restraints, her power suppressed by whatever ancient magic Grandmother Peach wielded. She’s still talking—ranting, really—about the dangers of claimed pairs and the necessity of the Severing.

“You’ll see.” Her voice is ragged but still certain. “When the magic fails. When the pairings destroy everything you’ve built. You’ll understand why we did what we did.”

“She really believes it.” Vera appears beside us, her expression grim. “She thinks she’s the hero of this story.”

“Most villains do.” I straighten, pulling myself back into coven leader mode. “What’s the council’s position?”

“Formally? Horrified shock that one of our own was a murderer and traitor.” Vera’s lips twitch. “Informally? Jasper fainted. Twice. The second time might have been performative. I think he’s hoping it excuses him from making any decisions.”

“Has he chosen a side?”

“The winning one. Same concept, in his mind.” She pauses. “Your allies are solid, Anouk. Even the fence-sitters are leaning your direction now. Attempted murder during a council session tends to clarify positions.”

“How convenient of Cordelia to provide such clarity.”

“She’s always been helpful that way.”

I watch as Cordelia is led away, still protesting, still certain she’s right. Decades of careful planning, of patient manipulation, of absolute conviction—undone in a single morning.

It doesn’t feel like victory. It feels like the beginning of a larger battle, one that won’t end with one Preserver agent in custody.

“There are more of them.” Grandmother Peach materializes at my elbow, because apparently that’s just how she moves now. “Cells throughout the magical world. Cordelia was just one node in a very old network.”

“How many?”

“Difficult to say. They’re careful. Patient. They’ve had centuries to embed themselves in positions of power.” She studies me with those ancient eyes. “But they’re desperate now. More so than I’ve seen in centuries.”

“How do we find them?”

“Carefully. Patiently. With the help of claimed pairs who are willing to risk everything for the truth.” Her gaze softens slightly. “You’ve done well, dear. You and your wolf. Better than I hoped.”

“You hoped we’d expose a Preserver agent and nearly die in the process?”

“I hoped you’d trust each other enough to face what needed facing. The near-death part was unfortunately necessary.” She pats my arm with grandmotherly affection that now seems slightly ominous. “The ritual site beneath the Registry has been dormant for centuries. But the magic is stirring now. The Severing won’t hold much longer—not with pairs like you and your wolf, like Leire and her tiger, like Sakura and her bear.”