That Crazy Witchcraft

Who?

Thea thought she had misheard him. "I am sorry. I didn't quite catch that."

"I am Zeta Bowie, Thea," he said, trying desperately to read her face.

She stood up and began to pace the living room she was in. Paul was looking on in shock. "You are the Zeta?" Thea asked quite loudly.

"Shush!" He begged. "Yes, I am. Please do not shout so loudly. Someone might hear you."

Paul got off the sofa and bent down. "Zeta Bowie, I am sorry we have been so informal to you this evening. I am honoured to have you in my home."

Bowie shook his head. "Please, sir, you do not have to treat me any different. I hate all the royal formalities, and I do not use them often in my own pack. Please just call me Bowie when we are alone like this and Rowan in public."

"Are you sure, Zeta?" Paul asked, still kneeling.

"Of course, sir," Bowie said, helping the man to his feet again. "And besides, this is your home, and I am merely a guest. I would never ask you to kneel before me. We are going to be family after all. I hope."

"You hope?" Thea gasped. "Did you change your mind?"

Bowie panicked. "Not at all. I just...well, I thought maybe you might change yours now knowing that I am Zeta. I know that you said you didn't like titles, and this is as big a title as you can get."

"Ro...Bowie, I like you. It is you I am mated to, and I am glad that I am. I do not care that you are a Zeta, just as I didn't care when you were a pack member with no ranking." Thea took his hand in hers, interlocking their fingers.

"So you accept me as I am? For all that I am?" Bowie asked, squeezing her hand.

"Of course you idiot!" She giggled.

"So why have you been pretending to be a warrior, and who is pretending to be Zeta?" Paul asked, looking very confused.

Bowie pulled Thea onto his knee, needing to feel her close to him. "That is my best friend and the Beta of our pack. He is actually called Rowan," he chuckled. "I find that people put on a front when they are directing the Zeta, and they tend to show off and try to look their best. But with the rest of us, they treat us normally and speak to us in a much more honest tone. I have been travelling, checking on all the smaller packs in the country, making sure everyone is happy, and that the packs are being smart with money and assets, etc. I find out more being a member of his entourage than I do when I am Zeta."

"That makes a lot of sense," Paul smirked, very impressed. "It lets you see the pack for who they really are. Behind the scenes look so to speak."

"Exactly, Paul. It is vital that no one else knows about my true identity. Not until I am finished with my meetings and investigations. I know that Alpha's son is turning eighteen, and I wanted to get a feel for his character before he is an anointed leader. I...have my doubts about him." Bowie couldn't explain what it was about Greyson that he disliked, but he definitely disliked him. It was his job as Zeta to know every Alpha and their next in line. He had final say over who would rule the pack, and if Greyson was as condescending and arrogant as Bowie thought he was, then there was no way in hell that he was letting him have the title.

"Don't we all," Thea mumbled, earning a look from both her mate and her father. "I don't particularly like him," she shrugged. "And he does not like me."

"He is just....He is still young, and he needs time to mature. I am sure he will make an adequate ruler one day." Paul said, trying to make him sound better than he was.

"Adequate is not enough, Paul. I do not know much about this pack. That is what I am here to find out. But from what I have seen so far and if it's members like you and Thea are anything to go by, this is pack is small but mighty and they deserve to have a leader who will steer them in the right direction and help them to grow, not use his title for personal gain."