My Best Friends Mate

Chapter Forty Three

Dustin's POV

Pulling into my driveway, something didn't seem right. I saw Alyssa through the window, dancing to Lionel Ritchie, swaying as she folded laundry. I couldn't help but smile. In a few weeks we'd know what we were having and I couldn't have been more anxious. I hoped for a boy, not because I thought they were better than girls but because I'd probably kill a man who hurt my baby girl. Being Kiaras big brother brought enough stress, nevermore bringing a daughter into this world. I sat in my truck, looking around to see what it was that seemed so off.
Turning the truck off to silence the engine, I listened. There. There it was. A heartbeat that wasn't Alyssas or our child's. I turned my head in the direction of the unfamiliar cardiac tune but saw nothing. Finally deciding to step out, I inhaled the air. It wasn't wolf or vampire. It was human.
Slowly walking towards the bushes, maintaining my guard, I spoke out.
"State your name and why you're here and I may spare your life ".
After a few seconds I heard rustling and out stepped this older African American woman with short curly hair, gold eyes and long slender arms and hands. She wore an amethyst amulet around her neck and an opal ring on her right hand.
She stepped forward confidently yet cautiously, looking at Alyssa through the window who was not dancing to Tiny Dancer by Elton John and her broom had become her microphone. We both smiled and she giggled.
"You have a beautiful family Dustin." and paused.
"My name is Janeen Abernathy. I'm an... acquaintance of your uncle Gabriel. I'm sure you've recognized by now that I'm not an ordinary human and in case you haven't quite figured it out yet, I am witch from the Aurora Coven"
I hid my surprise. The Aurora Coven. I didn't know much about witches other than they did not associate themselves with us lowly werewolves. I had however heard of the Aurora Coven. It is one of the most powerful group of witches to exist in the past couple centuries.
I'd find out more about that later. I needed to dig into why she was here.
"Mrs Abernathy.." I began.
"Janeen, please " she interrupted.
"Janeen... my uncle isn't here. Are you looking for him?"
She smiled at me a wry smile.
"You're smart Dustin. All you have to do is ask why I'm here"
"OK Janeen. down the brass tacks. why are you here?" I actually preferred this no bull shit straight to the point method.
She looked at Alyssa again and pulled me aside out of my wife's eye sight.
"I know Michael is coming for you and the packs as a collective. I won't lie to you and say that I'm here because I have this affinity for werewolf safety. I've agreed to help your uncle and the packs because this goes far beyond what you all see. If Michael is not stopped, he will destroy the supernatural world as a whole. First, your kind then the vampires and lastly mine. I've seen one slaughter of my kind, I won't go through another. Michael has the hunters and they know all of our weaknesses"
She crossed her arms and looked at me, lips pressed firmly and a crease formed at her brow.
"OK. You have my attention Janeen but again, why are you here at my home?"
She looked away for a moment before answering.
"My Coven will meet with your pack in the next 7 days to discuss the further course of action. I want to offer you a gift, as a way of showing you we mean no harm and we remain loyal to this cause."
"A gift?" I asked, my right brow rising in curiosity.
She placed her hands on my shoulders and closed her eyes breathing deeply.
I watched her while she did this but felt nothing. When she finally stepped away, I saw her a flame of fire appear in her hands. Within a second the fire came at me and immediately I flinched. It stopped right in front of my face.
She had placed a shield around me that the fire couldn't penetrate.
She smiled, pleased with her success then she turned and placed her hand on the wall of my home performing the same protection spell. Upon completing it she seemed tired.
"your home and everything in it, including your wife and unborn child is now under the protection spell" she stated
"Does it fatigue you to perform such spells" I asked.
"Just like when you exercise physical strength, you become tired and must rest, as is the same with our magic. Naturally we are stronger in numbers" and with that she turned to walk away.
I reached for her hand, gently grabbing hold.
"Thank you Janeen"
Moving her gaze from my hand to my eyes she spoke.
"You're welcome. Oh and Dustin.. Kiara must stay alive and she must at all costs, fulfill the destiny the moon goddess has laid out for her. It is imperative for the peace of your packs "
She removed her hand from mine and walked away.