The Secrets of the Panther

BLAKE

I stared back at my mate, holding my hand as she slept.

I couldn’t help but smile at her.

I could also feel eyes looking at me. I don’t look at anyone. I move Izzy to the side to sit beside her on the bed with my hand still on hers. I look up at six curious faces.

“What the hell happened?” Asks Alice.

Allie runs over to my side and looks up at me with a sad face. “Mummy,” she whispers.

I look at her and smile. “She’s okay, angel,” I say as I hold my arms out as she climbs up and rests next to Izzy and me while placing her head into my chest.

I look at Lena, sitting on the chair beside me. “Are you ok?” I ask her with concern.

Lena gives me a small smile. “It’s not the first time she has done this, not even with me,” she says, looking at Kacey. “You should ask Charley what Izzy did for her; you might be stunned by what she can do, too.”

“Did she kill the witch?” Asks Kat with a growl, “Alice and Kacey told me what happened.”

I nod. “The witch is dead,” I said, confirming their words.

“Izzy and I sent her to Hecate,” says Lena with a smile. “With the stories, my coven told me about the goddess of magic is like, she will have some wicked fun with her after what she has been doing. Especially with dabbling with dark magic.”

Lena looks at me. “Two down, but three to go,” she says. “We need to make a plan or have something in place for the next ones.”

I look over at my mother. “Get Dad in here too,” I say. “Everyone needs to be here, even Graham. We need to protect my daughter and mate,” I said.

I could feel Allie tense in my arms; I looked down at her and noticed her staring at me. “Daddy, why is mummy sleeping again?” She asks.

I was about to say something, but Lena moved slightly to look at Allie to talk to her. “Allie, hunny, Mummy had to care for something bad, and she needs to rest.”

Allie looks at her and then back at me. “Can we have ice cream?” She asks, which makes me chuckle.

“I will get some for all of us,” says Alice, who has been quiet since I came back in.

“Alice, wait,” I say suddenly, but turn to Kacey. “Can you get the ice cream, Kacey?”

She looks at me and nods.

Alice looks at me but stays quiet once Kacey is out of the door. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.

Alice looks at her mother, then back at me, but sighs, “I have to ask, did Izzy take any dark magic from that witch?”

I look back at her, stunned. “What do you mean?” I ask her. But Kat walks over to Izzy and places her hand on hers. She closes her eyes, but after a few seconds, she moves it quickly and looks towards everyone. “Izzy,” she says in a shaky voice, “What have you done?”

I look at her, confused. Lena gets up from the chair and walks around the bed to where Kat is.

She does the same thing that Kat did but stares at Izzy. “She drained her dark magic from her. There is some in her system, but the magic sent Puna and her into a deep rest to make sure they don’t use it, but most of the magic was sent to Hecate,” she says.

She looks at some confused faces, moves away from Izzy, and walks to Dale. She wraps her arms around him. “Izzy’s power differs from the magic I know as a witch. Her powers are built on her emotions, but she has some characteristics of a witch who knows what she is. Our combined magic is more powerful than anything, but when Izzy is alone, she can take out everyone who needs to be killed.”

I noticed that when Dale and I hid behind the witch’s bed as the fire exploded through them. Their power together is natural, but Izzy goes through her emotions. She suffered so much over the years, but everyone has power when needed.

“I think we should leave you all to rest for now,” says my mother, who has been quiet but looks at me. “I want to talk to you first, but I think we all should meet tomorrow in the conference room to figure it all out. We must be prepared for another attack, and now the witch is dead; they might be more savage and reckless, too.”

I nod.

Everyone bids their farewells, but Kacey returns with Ice cream for us. Allie sits in the chair beside the bed while I move over to the window where my mother looks out. I hear the door open and close; I know Kacey has left.

“You ok?” I ask my mother as she carries on looking through the window.

She sighs. “I am, but I am also worried about everyone,” she says and turns to look at me. “I’m worried about the pack; we know nothing about Izzy’s power, only the word from her and her family; no books on this power Lena mentioned.”

My daughter still eats ice cream, but my sleeping mate looks beautiful and peaceful. “I think the elder knew something about the power. The pack doctor told me there were no books on cat shifters. He took them out,” I said and looked back at her. “I think if you can contact Tilly and tell her that, maybe she can come here tomorrow for the meeting. She can go back for reinforcements and be our eyes and ears in the council.”

“You have an amazing mate,” she says. “She will make one powerful and amazing Luna.” She nods as she looks at the two gorgeous women in my life.

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

“I know she will,” I say. “She told Helga that what she was doing was for her family and the pack.”

My mother turns to look at me with wide eyes. “The pack,” she says. “Well, you should ask her on a date and get to know her more. Make her realize you are not like the other men.”

“Daddy,” says Allie before I can carry on talking to my mother. I smile at her. “Yes, angel,” I say. Her face was covered in ice cream, making my heart beat faster.

My mother walks over to her with a tissue from her sleeve. “Allie, you have ice cream everywhere.”

My mother wipes her face, and Allie looks at her. “Daddy, you taking my mummy out?” She asks as she exits the chair and walks over to me.

I bend down and pick her up with a smile on my face. “Yes, I am, but I don’t know what to do,” I say to her and look at my mother, who smiles at me.

But Allie turns to my mother. “Grandma, you can look after me with Grandpa,” she says innocently.

My mother’s smile goes wide. “Of course, darling.”

Allie smiles at her. “Yay. Can auntie Kacey and Alice come too?”

My mother laughs. “Yeah, we will ask them,” she says as she walks over to us and places her hand on the small of Allie’s back. Allie leans over and places a kiss on her cheek. “We can also ask Auntie Kat, Anita, Todd, Dale, Lena, and everyone else.”

Allie smiles brightly. “Yeah, we can have a little tea party,” she says. “I want loads of ice cream, chocolate chip pancakes, muffins, and cakes.” I couldn’t help but chuckle, but my mother smiled at her. “That can all be arranged.”

My mother smiles back at me but sends a mind link to. “This little beauty is the most precious gold I have ever had,” she says.

I love how accepting my mother is of Allie; it makes me feel warm inside.

My mother says her goodbyes to us and leaves.

I look towards the chair, but I notice the ample space by Izzy on the bed. I take the bed beside her with Allie in my arms.

My leg leans against Izzy, and sparks flow through us. I smile.

Allie leans in and falls asleep instantly. I leaned my head on the rail, which is not comfy, but I will do the same as long as my girls get enough rest.

“Mate was amazing,” blurt Axel in my head. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I smile. “Yeah, she was,” I said.

“Pup is so cute,” he says, looking through my eyes as I stare down at our mate. “Do you think Izzy and Puna will mate with us soon?”

I stare back at him but sigh. “I hope so, but I know Izzy went through something so dramatic, but it will be up to her when we do but Axel,” I say to him.

Axel looks at me. “We need to make sure we protect both of them, and we will need to do whatever it takes,” I say to him.

Axel looks at me and nods. “I was thinking the same as you,” he says but looks back at our mate. “Her power amazed me. She knows what she is doing, and your mum is right. She will be the most powerful Luna of our pack, and I am honored to be mated to such an amazing woman.”

The pride that comes from Axel for our mate is honorable; he is right. We will put our life on the line for her, but she won’t have it. I will fight alongside her till the end.

My neck hurt after about an hour, so I moved Allie and me to the chair. I fell asleep after a few moments, but I hope Izzy will wake up soon.

I want to spend time with her, but we also need to get everything sorted and even devise a plan to ensure everyone is safe.