Free Alpha Curves (Paranormal BBW Shifter Romance): Wolf Clan Book 3 by Christa Wick Page A

We were at each other’s throat more often than not. All of it was wasted time."
    "What ended the charade?" Iris asked.
    "Leah," the witch answered.
    Confusion puckered Iris's face. "Another woman?"
    "Another latent," Esme laughed as she tied off the silver string binding the witch's lace. A wrinkled frown punctuated a moment's silence before she started to explain. "Believe me, there were a lot of 'other' women in Dana's life, and Leah is Seth Gladwin's mate."
    "Dana's foster brother," Iris nodded, old memories surfacing of when Seth had visited her clan along with other unmated wolves for an annual spring gathering. "How did he meet Leah?"
    "Searching for Hunters who were searching for wolves," Esme answered, another laugh escaping her. "The Hunters must have caught her signal because there were no wolves that we know of in that area."
    Pushing aside the very top layer of items in the box, Esme removed the black camisole and began attaching the witch's lace she had bound with more silver thread. "I would say it was pure serendipity that he discovered her, but it seems like Leah was intuitively inching closer to clan lands as soon as she was old enough to be out on her own."
    Finished attaching the witch's lace, she handed the camisole to Iris. "Best to get this on before Jet shows up."
    Iris hesitated until Esme gently elbowed her in the side. "Don't worry, there's more to tell, and I will, but let's finish charming you first."
    While Iris went into the bedroom and slipped the camisole on under her blouse, Esme filled a silver cup with a potion she had prepared.
    "Here." Esme handed the drink to Iris after she settled back onto the couch. "Best to get it down in one swallow."
    "Is this what Cade was supposed to drink?" Iris tilted the cup to her lips. The first sip brought a grimace to her face. Tilting the cup higher, she glared at the smiling witch.
    "No, this is something I discovered in the journals my mother left behind. She was still developing the recipe." A shadow passed over the witch's face as she spoke about her mother. A shrug and a blink erased it. "And don't blame me for how bad it tastes -- I've tried my damnedest to make it more palatable but it kills the efficacy."
    Finished, Iris put the cup on the table, a shudder running through her torso at the sour flavor that continued to maul her taste buds.
    Esme handed her a second cup, this one filled with clear water. "Just so you know, I've tested it on myself, which means I had to deal with both the taste and Dana's infernal pouts."
    "So it really works?" Iris asked, swallowing the rest of the water.
    "On latents," Esme agreed. "After we discovered Leah and I realized what she was, the flood gates opened. More and more latents have been discovered, as well as cubs. Before I found my mother's journals, we had to rely solely on the silver and witch's lace, which is much more time consuming than cooking up a vat of this foul brew."
    Returning the silver cup to the box, Esme directed a purposeful glance in Iris's direction. "Thankfully, I've only had to help a few latents cloak themselves while they adjust. Most are very accepting once they discover their nature. It's like part of a piece of themselves they always knew was missing, without knowing what it was, has finally snapped into place."
    Ignoring Esme's gentle hint, Iris grabbed a needle and thread and began working it around a weave of more witch's lace, her hands following the same distinctive pattern Esme had used. "So you came out once there were more latents?"
    "No." Esme clasped her hands in her lap, the fingers twisting tightly around one another. "I charmed Leah at her request, not revealing how I knew what needed to be done. Then we were both lured off clan lands by a healer who betrayed us. He took us straight to a group of Hunters. They started on me first..."
    Her words trailed off as she noticed Iris stiffen. Iris looked at the witch, mouth flattening as her eyes went dead.
    "Do you mean they