Interestingly, Angus stiffened, as if he had not known, and Anna didn't have any reaction at all. Not to the witch's face anyway-she was definitely reacting to him. She was not a bit happy with the way he was going after the witch.
After Moira felt he'd had a chance to look his fill, she put her glasses back on. Tom stared at Charles with intelligent yellow eyes that promised retribution, and Anna looked not much happier with him.
"I don't know Moira," said Charles to the wolf who was Tom, since he understood his reaction the best. "I did know that I've never heard of a white witch who could do what she did. And if a black witch is masquerading as a white witch... first, the deception implies she is one of the enemy. And second"-he gave the wolf a small smile-"I've never encountered a witch who could hide her nature from me."
"We were nearly killed by a black witch a few weeks ago," Anna told them, though he could tell she was still miffed with him. "It's left us a little skittish."
Moira reached out and touched Tom's flank and let her fingers drift down over his tail, which she tugged playfully. "It's all right, Tom. These are the good guys-even if he's being rude."
She turned her head to Charles. "Fair enough. I've never heard of a white witch that can do what I can either. And I'm not sure how it happened exactly. I can understand being cautious."
"I am sorry I had to push," Charles said, honestly.
"I'm sure I'll find a way to return the favor," she said, showing her teeth in a white smile. "At least you didn't say ick and run screaming."
The warm anger at the vampire attack settled a little deeper in his gut, and he let a little of it leak into his voice. "I hope you turned whoever did into a pig."
She stilled, surprised by his reaction, he thought.
"Cowards don't deserve better," said Angus.
The witch clearly wasn't expecting support from that quarter either. Had there been so many repulsed by her scars?
But what she might have said had to wait, as someone knocked tentatively at the door. "It's Alan," their interloper said. "Can someone let me in?"
The minute the Emerald City Pack's submissive wolf walked through the doorway, Charles felt more settled. Alan Choo was full-blood Chinese, and he looked it: delicate and unexpectedly strong, like a well-made blade.
Except for when he was alone with Anna, Charles had spent his entire life with Brother Wolf raging inside of him, pacing and growling against the trappings of civilization they were forced to bear. That's what it meant to be dominant and ready to kill anything that threatened those under his protection. Kill at a moment's notice.
Today was worse than usual. Brother Wolf was raging, and it was all Charles could do to make sure no one knew how hard he was struggling to hold on to control. He'd thought it only a minor addition that there were two other dominant wolves-wolves not of his pack-in the room with him and his mate.
But that was before Alan Choo walked into the room. He wasn't an Omega like Anna-but he was submissive, and he knew how to deal with raging werewolves. Somehow having him in the room tipped the balance, and between him and Anna, they calmed everyone down-including Charles.
Charles sat in the chair on the other side of the little table from Angus. It was more to give Choo room to work than because he wanted take a seat, but being able to sit down with the other wolves in the room was an improvement.
Anna took a quick glance around, so Charles knew she'd sensed the new quiet in the room, too. She caught his eyes and gave him a quick smile and perched on the arm of his chair.
"He's hurt because of me," she told Choo.
Charles shook his head and told her the truth as he saw it. "Not your fault someone decided to try to grab you. Tom did his job, don't be sorry."
"Hey, Tom, man, whatcha been doing to yourself?" Choo's words might have been flippant, but his hands were careful as he handled the injured wolf.
Tom allowed Alan to straighten his leg without uttering a grunt of pain-the little witch did more than enough of that for him.
"Damn it, damn it," she muttered, as Alan worked. "With just a little more power, I could keep this from hurting you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Finally, Angus, Angus, who had no use for anyone who wasn't a wolf, said, "Enough, Moira. It's just a little pain. Over in a moment and not worth your fussing. It would be a lot worse if you hadn't been with them-six vampires are more than a match for two wolves and any other witch I've ever seen. If you hadn't used up your magic when you did, no one would be worried about a little thing like a broken leg. Enough."
There was a sharpness in the last word that shut her up and earned the Alpha a glare from his wolf. Angus raised an eyebrow, and Tom dropped his gaze. Angus rolled his eyes. "God save me from lovebirds," he said, and his gaze lighted on Charles and Anna.
They weren't cuddling: Anna didn't cuddle. Charles had the feeling that if life had been fair to her, she would have enjoyed it-and maybe a few years down the line she might. But for now he was grateful that she didn't cower every time he touched her.
Still, she was sitting close enough that the old Alpha grinned.
"All of you lovebirds," he said. "It gets in the way, and I'm not patient by nature. You-" He pointed a finger at Anna, and Charles was up and standing between them.
Reflex. So maybe he wasn't as relaxed as he'd thought.
Angus dropped his finger, but finished his sentence. "Tell me what happened. I want more details."
"Native Americans don't like to be pointed at," observed Choo quietly as he wrapped Tom's rib so it could heal properly. "Native witches, skinwalkers and the like, use the gesture to throw curses and disease."