In the Alpha's Bed (Stealing the Alpha Book 3) by Kate Rudolph Page A

town. They're to be the second line if our fighters fail. They get the humans out if the town falls. We gather in one hour."
    Brynne and Jonas jumped up, their duties assigned. The half a dozen other lions scattered about the restaurant went with them, leaving Luke, Maya, Mel, Bob, Krista, and Cassie alone.
    Krista and Bob both sat down besides Cassie. Bob looked up at Mel, Luke, and Maya expectantly. The three shapeshifters sat down.
    "How the hell is Cassie out of bed?" Mel asked. “And how is Krista healed?”
    "Have you healed her?" Luke asked at the same time.
    Cassie's gaze dropped to the table and her shoulder sunk. Both Krista and Bob shook their heads.
    "We've a temporary solution at the moment," said Bob. "I've bound my life-force to Cassie."
    "And that means what?" asked Maya.
    "That we're desperate."
    Krista nodded, “Bob’s actions allowed me to dedicate some of my magic to a healing spell for myself.”
    "I asked them to do it," Cassie said, suddenly. "I agreed."
    "Why?" Even without knowing the details, Mel could tell this was a bad idea. If it had any hope of curing her, they would have tried it days ago. This wasn't a solution, it was a Band-Aid on a broken bone.
    "Because the witch who cursed her is going to be with Ava." Krista said it like it mattered.
    "So I can kill him and we'll be done with it?" Luke's questions was more of a statement.
    Krista and Bob shared a glance and Mel felt a cold shiver snake down her spine. She tried to ignore it, she trusted them to do right by Cassie. "Not exactly," said Bob.
    Krista continued for him. "We think the Cassie can break the hex if she kills the witch who hexed her. That witch will be wearing a charm made of something of Cassie's, probably her hair. If she does as we've instructed her, commits the deed exactly right, she should be freed."
    Cassie was pale, and Krista spoke with a tone of voice Mel had heard many times when they spoke to Krista's mother as children. She was hiding something big. But Mel kept her mouth shut. If they were keeping something secret they had a damn good reason.
    "Absol--" Luke held up a fist, but Mel reached over and put her hand on top of it, cutting him off.
    "We can't fight Ava and kill this witch." She looked over to Krista and stared her in the eye long enough to let her friend know that she suspected she was being kept in the dark. After the moment passed, Mel spoke. "Is there any other way?"
    "No," said Krista. "This is it."
    Luke relented. "What do you need me to do?"
    "Once we find the witch, don't let anyone but Cassie near him." Said Bob. "We think it's a woman, and we doubt that she'll be one of Ava's thirteen. The charm binding Cassie to her is most likely a lock of hair braided around her wrist. If we can isolate her and let Cassie do her thing, this just might work."
    Luke turned to Maya. "Help them," he said. "Anything they need is theirs." And that was it.
    They sat in silence for a moment, but when Luke stood up, Mel followed, leaving the other four behind. She and Luke didn't go far, just to a small patio behind the restaurant. Luke pulled her close, letting her lay her head on his shoulder and breathe in the reassuring scent of him.
    Mel wanted to stay there forever, breathing him in, being held by him. If she ever needed to describe the feeling of home, it would be here, in his arms. She hadn't known that he was what she wanted, she hadn't known that this feeling was what she was looking for. But now that she had it, she'd fight heaven and hell to keep it close.
    Was it love? She didn't know. But it was strong, and real, and the damned most important thing that she'd ever felt.
    After a wordless minute they broke apart. It was time to go to war.
     

     
    Despite the gravity of the situation, Luke was calm. Everything was riding on the next few hours – his sister's life, his future with Mel, and the fate of his pack – but he only felt the stilling sense of calm.
    Nearly everyone who could fight was gathered