Corey, Blake and Tom

POV: JACKSON

Chris and I walked side by side towards Cora's coven. I chose to bring only Chris along today, as my mind was still tangled in the implications of Saint's words. Could it really be someone I trusted who was behind all this? I was unsure how to process that thought. My hope was that Saint had misinterpreted what Marcus had said; the last thing I wanted was to start doubting my own family and friends.

I glanced at Chris. I would trust him with my life, and the idea of suspecting him waa unimaginable. He was like a brother to me, and our bond was so deep that I'd choose blind trust over doubt any day. That made Chris an exception in my mind.

"So, how are things with Saint?" Chris asked, breaking the silence.

"Pretty good, I suppose," I replied. It had become clear to me that Saint was quite affectionate. I wasn't sure if this was due to the mate bond or simply his nature. That's why I had told him not to hold back if he can't control it, even if I was losing control myself.

"I think the mate bond is getting harder for him to manage. He seems to crave physical contact more than ever," I noted.

"And what about you?"

"I… I do too, but I think it's because JJ has accepted him," I answered.

That's bullshit, JJ chimed in my head, but I brushed him aside.

Chris laughed lightly, "If you say so."

I turned to him, "I'm being serious here."

"I never said you weren't."

With that, I scoffed and let a comfortable silence settle between us.

He let out a laugh once more, reminiscing, "I remember that day when you were feeling possessive because Marcus touched him too much during training."

"I was just acting on instinct because of the mate bond," I replied. That day is etched in my memory; I remember wanting to rip Marcus head from his body.

"I've mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating: you can love saint and still keep Anto in your heart. You don't have to feel guilty about it. I'm sure she would want you to be happy," Chris remarked.

I kept my thoughts to myself. Though I wouldn't voice it, Saint was gradually making a place for himself in my heart, much like Anto had once done—perhaps even more. And I knew it wasn't just the mate bond influencing my feelings.

We reached the coven, which was small, featuring only a handful of houses. There were no guards at the entrance, and the gate opened magically as we approached. Chris and I walked through, passing the witches who emerged from their homes to watch us curiously. We headed straight for the most enchanting house, clearly Cora's.

She stepped outside with a welcoming smile. "I was expecting you."

"That's good. Where's Ava?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

"I don't know," she replied evenly.

"I'm not in the mood for games, Cora. I warned you about the consequences if I discover someone from your clan is involved in this."

"And that would be Ava, not my entire clan. I told you," she responded, "I can't always keep tabs on what my people are doing, you know."

"So you had no idea she was behind this? Nothing at all?"

"I was aware that she frequently visited your pack; I merely assumed it was to see her brother. Ava became a part of my coven seven years ago, long after her mother had passed away. I had no idea she was playing your pack members for fools."

I fixed her with a sharp look. "I hope you're being honest."

She chuckled softly. "You should be directing your doubts elsewhere, Jackson. I have a feeling that some of your pack members may have betrayed you. After all, how did she always manage to know exactly where your mate was during each of his attacks?"

Despite my opinions about Cora, her words rang true. Someone within my pack had to be leaking information to her about his whereabouts and the timing of those incidents. This only reinforced what Saint had suggested. But who could it be? If it was someone I trusted, who would that be?

"I would question the guards if I were in your position. Ava's arrival here years ago indicated she had embraced her witch heritage more than her wolf lineage. There's no way she could have infiltrated the pack without them realizing she was a witch."

"But when she arrived with your group that day, I could smell her. She had a wolf's scent," Chris interjected.

"That's the point," Cora replied, casting a glance at Chris before turning back to me. "Someone must have lent her their scent. That's how she can take on a wolf's scent despite her loyalty to her witch side."

"What? How is that even possible?"

"So does the other person lose their scent entirely?" I asked, intrigued.

"No, they still have their own scent. Ava creates an illusion with that borrowed scent, making you believe she smells like that person."

"Why are you sharing this with us? After all, she's part of your coven," I questioned.

She beamed, "You've got quite a journey in front of you. This little information is nothing compared to what you'll need to uncover."

«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»

"Our conversation with her went better than I expected. I honestly didn't think she'd share so much," Chris remarked as we made our way back to the pack.

"Even so, we can't fully trust her. Did Ava's scent remind you of anyone from our pack?"

Chris pondered for a moment before answering, "Not really. It was just a faint smell; I can't quite put my finger on it."

"I'm still puzzled about one thing: how did she manage to persuade the rogues to attack at that specific time?"

"You don't think she could actually be friends with them, do you?" He mused, more to himself, as we approached the pack's borders.

"Unlikely. Someone would need to link her to them—someone who knows the rogues."

As we passed through the gate, the guards welcomed us. There were about forty-five stationed at the borders, with eight more at the gates. They worked in shifts, and all the border guards were warriors. None acted independently; they followed Eli's orders.

"Is that Blake I see?" Chris pointed ahead. I followed his gaze and spotted Blake sitting under a tree, accompanied by another boy who was actively playing while Blake remained still, observing.

We walked over to them. "Blake, what are you doing here?" I inquired.

He sprang to his feet, "Good evening, Sir," he replied softly.

The other boy approached Blake and greeted us, "Good evening, Sir," while wrapping his arms around Blake's shoulders. A faint frown appeared on Blake's face at the gesture.

Chris looked around and asked, "What are you two doing here? Where are your parents?"

"Probably at home, I guess," the boy replied with a shrug.

Chris crouched down to meet his gaze. "What's your name?"

"Corey. I'm Blake's only friend," he stated proudly.

"That's not true," Blake mumbled under his breath.

"Tom and Lily aren't your friends. They didn't invite you to play today," Corey countered, crossing his arms defiantly.

Blake fell silent, staring down at his shoes, his expression suggesting he might cry.

Was this the boy Tom had complained about? It made sense now why Tom had expressed his dislike.

But I decided to stay out of their drama.

I crouched to Blake's height. "So, Tom didn't ask you to play today?"

"I'm not sure, which is why I wanted to go with you to see Tom. Can I?" He asked softly, his cuteness making it hard for me to refuse.

"Can Corey come along too? He wouldn't leave me alone." he added.

I nodded. "But just for a little while, okay? Tomorrow is a school day." They both eagerly agreed.

Blake, Corey, Chris, and I headed to my house. Upon arrival, we found Saint and Tom in the living room, engrossed in a TV show. Tom rushed over, then halted in surprise at the sight of who came along.

"What are you doing here?" he questioned, arms crossed defensively.

"Blake said I could come," Corey replied.

"I bet you made him," Tom shot back.

"I didn't," Corey insisted, crossing his arms as well.

"Yes, you did." Tom approached Blake, taking his hands in his. "Did you want Corey to join us?"

Blake glanced at both boys before turning his attention to Tom. "I just wanted to see you. Are we still friends?"

"Of course, we're friends."

"But you didn't invite me to play with you and Lily."

"Lily and I didn't play together today." He glanced past Blake at Corey, a frown forming on his face. "Did you tell him that?"

"No, I didn't." It was obvious he had, as Chris, Saint, and I observed the exchange unfold.

"You're lying. You're not truly his friend, if you keep lying to him," Tom yelled, causing Blake to flinch.

"Alright, boys. Let's put an end to this fighting," Saint interjected, breaking the tension.

"Corey and Blake, come with me; I'll take you home," Chris announced. Corey grabbed Blake's hand and stuck his tongue out at Tom before they walked away together.

Tom seemed ready to protest, but I interrupted, "That's enough."

He glanced at me before dashing to his room. "I'll go check on him," Saint said, following after him.

"I'll ensure they get home safely," Chris assured, trailing after Corey and Blake.