The Wolf's Witch (book 1)

1. A Pit Full of Bones

Sethan:

I finished debriefing Gabriel as he sat with his hands clasped on his oak table with a blank expression on his face. Nothing on his face or body posture indicated that what I said surprised, angered or pleased him in any way. My wolf still stirred under his light gaze he regarded us both with. Gabriel, the Alpha of the Ember Pack and also coincidently my father, had yet to speak a word.

I clenched my teeth and grabbed the bottle of whiskey, not giving his wine collection a spare glance. I poured myself another cup. He spoke and beckoned my eyes before I could take a much needed swing. I knew what was coming and I was certain he wasn't going to disappoint. I rarely did anything wrong and when given the opportunity to lecture me, he never let it slide.

"I told you to lay low and gather as much information as you can. What part of that indicated that you should go on a killing spree?" he asked, slightly levelled with disappointment. Was he seriously angry at me right now?

"Did you not hear me? A pit full of bones and rotten boiled meat. Those witches were trying to summon some death god." I downed my cup and enjoyed the short burn, "You're welcome." I said pointedly.

"You should've reported it to me first." he insisted.

I remembered the tiny feet sticking out from the crater. 

I barely managed to keep my wolf silent. 

"Calling you would've been a waste of time. You would've told me to take care of the witches." I lifted a condescending brow at him just to irk him, "Am I wrong?"

"Sethan," he growled.

I felt my wolf's anger and let it fill me. It was better to be angry at at my father than remember. I knew explaining more of what took place wouldn't cut the lecture short. 

"You would've said otherwise?" I questioned him once more and felt like an ass. It was imperative that every pack member knew their place. I'd seen what could happen otherwise. 

My skin tingled and I bit my tongue in effort to distract my wolf. This pissing contest about who was the bigger and bestest Alpha was starting to get on my nerves. I used to enjoy getting things past my father and having him bristle but it was starting to get old. My wolf wanted to lead and my father wanted me to continue to follow his lead. He wasn't ready to hand over or fight for the title of Alpha, the leader of the pack. 

His fingers tapped the desk and my eyes found his which were surprisingly not glowing.

"You know you can't just go off deciding things on your own. That's not how things work."

"Right." I agreed and looked away instead of lowering my eyes. It wasn't him I was angry at but rather the recent events. My wolf didn't care though. Had we gotten there earlier, maybe some of those children could still be alive. 

"We can't do anything that—"

"Might disrupt the truce." I finished for him and frowned at him or rather myself. "I'm aware."  I muttered and sat down, lowering my gaze as a sign of respect. Unlike me, my father remained mostly indifferent. His control was better than mine. He wasn't blinded by his wolf. He controlled it and didn't let his wolf interpret my actions and words a real threats but the tantrum that it was. I'd disobeyed both of them by not following protocol but I meant no ill intent. No where in my mind did I believe that preventing more from dying would trigger another war. 

Shifters, witches, vampires and fae had agreed to a cease fire fifty years ago and eventually a truce about forty years ago. We made certain to stay out of each other's way as to not disrupt the fragile peace and met up once a month to settle any grievances. All sides had undergone significant loss and thought it would be best to keep the dialogue going.