Chapter 1
Grayson
Grayson ended the call with the Salem Supernatural Network. What a mess his pack was in. Would his attempt at mediation with the Sacco pack prevent war?
He stared out through the picture window of his office facing Franconia Mountain. The chairlifts were all running, and the early birds skied or snowboarded through the fresh snowfall from last night. He’d normally be out there himself to get a few runs in before heading into the office, but the rising tensions with the Sacco pack drove him straight to the base lodge to tackle the issues.
The responsibility to keep peace fell squarely on his shoulders. As beta of the Franconia wolf pack and CFO of Franconia Mountain Resort, he strove to keep the pack and business running smoothly. The death of a Sacco wolf during a fight with a Franconia enforcer had shifters in both packs itching to fight.
Grayson had worked so hard with his alpha, Rafe, to make the resort a success so the pack could live comfortably in the mountains, and it all could be threatened if the packs went to war.
That couldn’t happen. Grayson would do all he could to prevent bloodshed on the mountain. When packs battled, no one came out a winner. He knew that firsthand.
A Franconia enforcer, Damon, had sparked the hostility of the Sacco pack when he’d tracked his mate into their lands. A Sacco enforcer had attacked Damon, igniting a feud.
Tensions remained high and all were on edge, ready to fight. Rafe had grown impatient with the Sacco’s accusations and demands. It had taken all of Grayson’s skills at negotiating to keep Rafe from responding with more violence. Grayson had barely been able to keep from shifting into wolf form and tearing into Lars, the Sacco beta, himself, finding the Saccos too stubborn and unreasonable.
Somehow Grayson had summoned enough control to seek another approach. He’d talked to both Rafe and then the Saccos about bringing in an outside mediator to aid in negotiations since the two packs could not come to an agreement. The call from the Network informed him they’d found someone.
A witch.
He should have expected that. The network was based in Salem, Massachusetts, after all. But witches and wolves were too different and kept a cautious distance from each other. As much as Grayson was wary about bringing a witch to deal with wolf packs, he didn’t have much of a choice. He needed someone skilled at negotiating between hot-tempered shifters, and he needed them here quickly.
He left his office and strode down the lodge to Rafe’s office on the opposite end of the building.
“The Salem Supernatural Network just called,” Grayson said.
“And?” Rafe answered.
“A mediator will arrive tomorrow.”
Rafe exhaled. “I still don’t know about this. It seems like we’re just delaying what’s inevitable.”
“Don’t worry, I will work with her,” Grayson assured his skeptical alpha.
After all, how difficult would that part be? He’d meet with the witch and explain the situation, and then she’d go meet with the Saccos. That part would be easy.
Whatever happened after that, well, he’d worry about that when it was time.
Aurora
The snow-covered White Mountains were picturesque, but as Aurora drove closer to her destination, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something about this assignment was unlike any she’d ever faced before.
Was it because they were wolves, the most stubborn of all the groups she’d worked with?
Or was it something else?
No sense in trying to solve that mystery without any clues. She’d be at the resort soon enough. When the first sounds of Robert Plant’s “Big Log” played, she turned up the volume and admired the scenery as she drove north on the New Hampshire highway.
The distraction didn’t last until the end of the song.
She squirmed in the driver’s seat and leaned her head back on the headrest. Why had she agreed to take on this assignment?
She groaned. As if she didn’t know. Her Aunt Colleen had asked her, and she liked to please her aunt. She’d taken Aurora in when she was twelve and her parents were on the verge of separating. They’d all agreed that it was better for Aurora not to be around the fighting, but after her parents had divorced, she’d chosen to stay. She looked up to her aunt, a successful, independent witch who ran a magic-supply shop in Salem and was one of the founders of the Salem Supernatural Network. As soon as Aurora was old enough, she worked part time in the shop.
For the last few years, she’d also become a mediator for the network which catered to supernatural beings in New England and the Tri-State area. Her great uncle James had been killed when she was a child over a territorial dispute. Shifters had moved into Salem and had attempted to seize control from the witches. The witches had prevailed, but not without losing a number of gifted witches. Certainly, that had influenced her volunteering to become a mediator. She’d sought to prevent senseless violence as disputes could be better solved through peaceful talks.
Lately, though, she had doubts about her work for the network. Dealing with quarreling parties had lost whatever appeal it might have had as she’d begun to feel like a lawyer in divorce court.
But she couldn’t let Aunt Colleen down, so she resolved to do the best job possible before returning home. She replayed the conversation with her aunt to prepare for her assignment.
“A wolf shifter pack requested a mediator to help with a dispute. Can you go up to the White Mountains to help unruffle some fur?”
She sighed. Wolves. The shifters might be the worst to deal with their ridiculous pride and propensity to settle disputes through violence.
“What’s the situation?”
“Two wolf packs—the Franconia and Sacco—have a dispute over a treaty violation, which included staying off each other’s lands. When one trespassed, the other pack went nuts. You know, a typical territorial response. The Franconia beta, Grayson Dumont, asked for our help to find a way that they can live together in peace once more.”
Aurora replied, “Sounds like it will be a doozy.”
“It could be.” Aunt Colleen arched her brows. “Wolves are notorious for their pride.” She nodded. “But with your calmness and ability to get both sides to see the positives with compromise, I know you’re the best for the job.”
Although Aurora had doubts, she couldn’t say no. “Okay, I’ll give it a try.”
Ever since she’d agreed, she’d felt increasingly anxious, but she couldn’t figure out why. Each night, she’d performed a cleansing ritual beneath the moonlight, yet the odd restlessness remained.
Well, she’d go up to the White Mountains, deal with this mess with the wolves, and return to Salem as fast as possible. The sooner she got this job over with, the better. Then she could figure out the next step of what she wanted to do with her life.
Wolves. She sighed, already regretting how she’d agreed to play referee between furry, supernatural toddlers.
Enough of that. She’d didn’t have time to ruminate. The resort was just down this stretch of road.
Aurora touched her heart-shaped, rose quartz pendant to soothe her anxiety and prepare to face the wolves.
Grayson
“The witch has arrived,” Victoria announced. “She’s in my office.”