Free Branches of the Willow 3 by Christine M. Butler Page B

to the agenda in there.” I nodded back to the meeting room door.
    “Can you pull for an Olive Garden? I just want those damn crack-sticks they have. I don’t even care about the rest of the food. Just give me some Sangria and garlic bread.” Sierra walked away wistfully then.
    “She doesn’t require much, huh?” Mikael commented.
    “Nope, she’s a woman of simple tastes, but she’s right about the breadsticks though-yum!” My stomach growled at the thought of food. “An hour and a half, huh?” Mikael grinned and nodded his head. “This is gonna suck.” We both went back into the meeting hall, where everyone was now bantering back and forth about what happened earlier.
    “Jessica,” Avery called out to me as he approached. “I wondered if I might get a minute with you.” Avery and I stepped back out into the hall while he explained to me what happened with his daughter Annalise and my pack-mate Andy. I was shocked, but understanding of the situation.
    “I’m just glad they’re both okay. Hopefully, Andy stays that way!” I gave him a side-long glance.
    “I don’t see as there’s a choice left in the matter. He can stay on with us if you like, or…”
    I cut Avery off when his eyes turned sad. “How about we just let them decide what they want to do?” Avery agreed. “Oh, before we go back in. I have two Ancients that came in last week. I think they’d best go to your pack. One of them is a bit cheeky, so he bears watching, which is why I wanted him with you, but if it’s too much, considering…”
    “No, it’s fine. It’ll give me someone to yell at.” That seemed to cheer Avery up a bit, and we made our way back into the hall to sit with everyone else while we awaited on our dinner to arrive.
    My father did a good job of guiding the others through who could have possibly been working with John Freedman’s pack. As it turns out, one of Freedman’s sisters was traded off to Mac’s pack a few years back, and she had overheard her mate talking about the leader heading here for a special meeting. Mac promised to get the issue straightened out as soon as he got back.
    A knock at the door interrupted the lighter conversation that followed. We all thought it was just the food, so my father bellowed, “come on in.”
    To his surprise, and everyone else’s, Serena stood in place of what we thought was going to be our food order. Jaws dropped as the stunning woman’s piercing glacial eyes travelled the crowd until they found mine. “Jessica, we need to talk.”
    Every wolf in the room jumped to get in front of me, some snarling and snapping. They could sense that she was a witch, though they weren’t certain if she was friend or foe yet. Many were not aware what Sophia looked like, or whether witches could change their appearance on a whim. Mikael, even knowing who Serena was, still didn’t trust her. He pushed me behind him, and snarled at Serena right along with the rest of the wolves.
    “Please, if you would allow me to explain, I promise it would ease your worry.”
    “If you allow us to lock you up while you explain, then you can stay, but I’ll be damned if I am going to have another witch involved with anything near Jessica without taking precautions.”
    “I think that’s a fair proposal.” I called out from behind Mikael’s shoulder, suddenly pissed about feeling like a school girl who couldn’t see over the rest of the class. “Once you’ve said your peace you will be free to go. You have my word.”
    “Very well, if that’s the way it must be. I suppose you have a secure location to put me?”
    “As a matter of fact, we’ve been preparing.” My father announced stiffly. I hadn’t known anything about cells being prepared for witch containment, but then again, this was my father’s pack lands, not mine. He was free to do as he saw fit. “Once you are secured, Jess will follow.”
    Serena nodded, and allowed herself to be escorted out by my father, Mikael, and Mac.