The aged shifter walked over to Rem's horse, Fiona's salt and pepper hair braided down the center of her skull. "Get off your horse."
Rem complied, thinking of Oliver.
The Elder was Rem's height, wrinkles telling tales of ancient stories, although her bright green eyes burned with youth. "I have no interest in delays, so I will be blunt with you. I am not just an Elder, Rem. I have witch's blood in me, which will prove incredibly useful today."
Rem wasn't sure why she was being told this, but made it a point to ask, "Witches live among the shifters?"
"No, not quite. At least, very few can exist in the form of an Elder Witch. I am about as rare as a Silver, if you want to put it that way," the Elder said, nodding to Rem, the sun brightening around them as a cloud moved out from its path. Fiona's eyes went cold. "Except, hardly anyone knows that about me, except the Callons that are present. Which is where our lies begin."
Rem's nostrils flared, her pulse racing. She didn't quite understand the ramifications, but she understood the severe tone with which the Elder Witch spoke.
Quietly, Rem stammered, "I just want my brother to go home. Please, I'll—"
"In due time, Remara," Fiona replied, her tone shrewder as she raised a hand. "But first, you must earn his freedom. To do so, you are going to convince our Alpha to pick you as his mate."
Rem breathed heavier, feeling faint. She hated the way Fiona looked at her like she was no more intelligent than a squirrel. "I thought that was obvious."
"No, actually, it is not," Fiona flatly said. "He is not obligated to pick you, but we also cannot afford for him not to. There are thirteen other Silvers, and only three unmated Alphas in our alliance, so if you bore him, he'll simply choose another. It’s easier if he chooses you—for everyone involved—but you have to meet his standards, in the end…
“The reason we are stopping, you see, is because the Alpha is expectingyou, but not your brother. That was a decision made byus. What is about to happen next will remain a secret between the Callon Clan, myself, and you. Oh, and poor dear Oliver."
Rem looked at the others who had turned into their human state. They all bore similar resemblances to Owen and Deacon. These were the Callons of Warden Pack, and they were all her enemy.
She felt cornered by them. It was the way they stared at her, and the way Fiona’s eyes had a wicked gleam that made everything seemoff.
"What secret?" Rem uttered.
"That you are to do everything in your power to gain Alpha Ronan's favor. Please him, tempt him,everything. Our Alpha is scrutinous. It is hard to catch his interest, and we need to ensure his dedication to you. It will already be rather complex since he does not speak your language."
Rem clutched her hands together, shaking her head. Her new reality was too great to take in. “No… I mean… Why do I still have to convince him?" she pressed, still not understanding that caveat. "Deacon told me that Ronan wantedme, not the other Silvers."
It’s not as if the original plan pleased her, but she had to understandallof this; it was the first bit of information she received in weeks.
"That's not entirely true. You're just the easiest candidate for our Alpha. The other Silvers are further away, and have ample watch over them, with alliance negotiations being required for Ronan to secure them. If he grows tired of you, or doesn't like what he sees, then hewillseek them out It's just easier to explore your potential first. Butwecan't have him looking elsewhere. We need control over his Silver, which means since you aresoripe for manipulation, you'reexactlywhat we've been looking for."
Rem grew lightheaded, glaring at the Elder Witch.
"Why is my brother here?" Rem asked with a frown, the words almost inaudible.
They avoided telling her for the past two weeks, no matter how many times she asked. A pit in her stomach enveloped her heart while her imagination pieced it all together.
Deacon shifted uncomfortably next to her as the others gave a tepid smile.
Fiona said, "As you have guessed, Oliver will be your motivation. Or collateral, depending on how you behave. Perform for us, and then the boy can go home."
"No," Rem voiced, tears welling in her eyes.
She had been so determined not to cry in front of them, but the confirmation that her brother was being used to manipulate the situation dug the deepest, even after everything.
"May I remind you that your brother's happiness and safety is contingent on your responses?" Fiona asked.
Her chest was tight, and she spoke through thin lips. "For what gain is this?"
"Our goals and priorities are not for you to know."
This was ludicrous. Surely, this plan had to backfire. What if she became Ronan’s mate, and then he found out that his mate's brother had his life threatened? Wouldn't Fiona know that? What if Ronan took his anger out onRemwhenever he learned of this?
She felt like a child being roped into a horrible plan of revenge, with holes in its theories so wide she might fall through.
