Feral Bonds

Chapter 45

Natania avoided Gretchen in the three days it took for Keira and Koda to arrive. She couldn't forgive her until she knew what the bond did, and Natania didn't want to talk to Gretchen until she had decided.

When Brady came sprawling into the barn to tell her a coyote had arrived, narrowly avoiding a cow pie, Natania dropped her shovel and went to find her mate. Gretchen was in the middle of a meeting, updating the other workers on a change she had made to the milking system, but it couldn't wait. Natania cleared her throat in the doorway and Gretchen cut off her explanation, giving Natania a surprised look.

Gretchen quickly dismissed the crew, with a promise to give them more information later. Natania didn't wait for her to finish before heading to the driveway, she would catch up.

And she did, a minute or so later. "What happened? Are you okay?" Her voice was filled with affection and concern and Natania winced internally. The beast growled at her weakness.

"We have visitors," Natania said abruptly.

"Visitors?" Gretchen sped up so she could stop in front of Natania, but Natania sidestepped her and kept walking. "Nat." Gretchen grabbed her sleeve. "Please talk to me."

Natania glanced at her. "After." When Gretchen's gaze darkened she added, "I promise."

She heard Gretchen sigh, but by then Keira's van had come into view and Koda sprinted over to them, in coyote form, stopping just a few steps in front of Natania. "Hi Koda," Natania greeted him. Keira joined him a moment later. "Keira." She tried to keep the hostility out of her voice; she had asked them to come.

Gretchen glanced between the woman and the coyote and understanding filled her gaze. "You're a witch, too," she breathed.

Keira nodded and held out a hand. "Keira. Nice to meet you." Keira put her other hand on Koda's head. "This is Koda, my husband."

"Her witchbound," Natania said softly.

"Oh," Gretchen said, at the same time Keira said, "He was my husband first."

"No, he wasn't," Natania grumbled.

Koda shifted into his human form, a surprisingly burly guy for such a skinny coyote. "Don't lie to her," Koda said, with a laugh. "It wasn't far off though."

"Gretchen," Gretchen said, shaking their hands. "And I guess you've met Natania."

"Only once, really." Keira squinted at Natania. "She was cranky then, too." Keira reached out a hand toward her, then pulled it back. "Much less powerful, though."

Gretchen snorted and waved them over to a picnic table that had been set up nearby. It was private enough, with everyone else working.

"Vincent tells me you want to know more about witchbonds," Keira said, clasping her hands in front of her. She was sitting beside Koda, while Gretchen and Natania sat at opposite ends of the table.

"Maybe I should explain," Koda said, "considering our positions."

Keira kissed his cheek. "Why don't I give them both the rundown of the bond, we can answer some questions, and then you and Natania can talk." She turned her gaze to Gretchen. "And you and I can talk."

Gretchen and Natania both nodded their assent. "Okay," Keira began, "think of a witchbond as a... a tether. Connecting you."

"A leash," Natania growled.

"A tether," Keira repeated, frowning at Natania. "Please don't interrupt me. I'm trying to do you a favour. I get that the wolves harbour extreme hatred of witches and that can be hard to shake, but we are not as bad as you paint us. Have an open mind, or all you're going to hear is the worst."