Fake Mate of the Enemy Shifter (Red Oak Shifters #2)

1. Grey

Chapter one

Grey

T here is truly no place like home.

A strong breeze coasts over the Land of Aragay, my family’s home for generations, ruffling the wispy grass on the hills surrounding our castle and caressing the brittle, cracking leaves of the once vast, lush Red Oak Forest.

“I don’t understand why the forest is dying.” I approach the edge of one of the castle’s circular towers, gazing down at the small cluster of trees that are still left but are also still dying.

A faint glow of diminishing magic courses through the roots, but it’s so weak that I barely feel its strength radiating in the air nearby. When I was a child, its power could be sensed miles away, but that was two whole decades ago.

Isyk, one of my lead guards, steps up to my side, his hands joined behind his back in a sturdy stance. “It barely survived The War for the Forest. If it wasn’t for your parents’ bravery, it would’ve died years ago. All of its magic used up by evil forces.”

Is that the explanation? We’ve tapped into too much of its power over the years? It has belonged to my mother’s side of the family for generations, stretching far back down a line of witch ancestors that I don’t know by name.

Now, the forest belongs to my mother and father, the witch queen and wolf king of the Everblade Kingdom. Soon, it will be handed down to me.

“Evil forces that we don’t have to worry about anymore. The Shadowfang Tribe and Cinderborne Coven are gone - defeated in battle,” crossing my arms over my chest. “There’s no greater tale than the one telling how the Thornblade Tribe and Everwood Kingdom came together to defend the forest against pure evil.”

It’s a tale that will last for generations, even after I take my parents’ place and rule this kingdom. After I have kids of my own. If that’s even possible for a wolf and witch hybrid.

“The Shadowfang wolves and Cinderborne witches who didn’t die scattered across the region. Who knows where they are?” Isyk murmurs, the breeze blowing through his short, blonde hair. His icy eyes sweep over the land, his jaw tensing. “With the forest weakening, we’re more vulnerable now. You must be more careful when leaving the castle alone.”

I pitch him an annoyed look. “I don’t need to be coddled. If I’m going to take over for my parents at the end of this coming autumn season, I need to be strong enough to venture through my own territory alone.”

“It’s a big territory,” Isyk points out. “Your parents are miles away in Thornblade’s old territory. It’ll take the wolves half a day to get here if they shift, but for your mother and the other witches, they travel far slower.”

As if I need to be reminded again that I’m holding down the fort on my own. Now that both territories are combined, the Everblade Kingdom rules over the most land in the entire region.

That makes us the strongest, but the biggest clans always face the most danger and threats.

A deep, low howl suddenly cuts through the air, echoing in my ears and making my body tense.

Unexpected visitors have been found on our land.

“Remain at the castle! I’ll meet the patrol!” I tell Isyk, whose body tenses beneath his lightly padded armor, preparing to shift.

I throw open the hatch in the middle of the tower floor and climb down the ladder, my heart rate picking up speed as I move as quickly as I can. With a spark of nervousness burning within me, I rush out of the large castle and across the grassy hills to reach the east border. Warmth looms in the air as the sun continues its descent in the sky above, shadows and brightness clashing upon our land.

A common occurrence in more ways than one.

“Stay right there!”

I speed up, my eyes falling upon my kingdom’s early evening patrol of wolves and witches as they face off with a group of witches I don’t recognize. My jaw tenses as I stride to the front of the patrol, my eyes sweeping over ten witches who wear silver necklaces with moon charms. Too small of a number for an invasion but too many for traveling rogues.

“Why are you on Everblade land?” I question them, my eyes halting when they land on a witch around my age.

Dark, wavy hair. A steady, unreadable expression. Subtle curves under her white dress. But what really captures me is the way her brown eyes glow golden as the sunlight flickers across them.

“We’re traveling to see a sister coven on the other side of the region,” another witch says, making me rip my eyes away from the dark-haired beauty who eyes me just as curiously. The other witch steps closer with a man who looks exactly like her.

Slender figures. Brown hair. Dark eyes.

Twins.

“I’m Morgana. This is my brother Lucian. We’re the leaders of the Moonveil Coven,” she explains, giving me a small, friendly smile.

My patrol remains on edge and hardened. Magic crackling at the fingertips of the witches, and fur bristling on the shoulders and backs of the wolves.

“We thought we would make better time on our journey, but we’re exhausted and nightfall is coming. Is there any way we can just stay the night?” Lucian asks with a hopeful glint in his eyes. He gestures to the other witches. “We don’t mean any harm.”

Moonveil. I search the recesses of my mind for any information about them, but not much comes to mind at all. They must be a small, quiet coven who keep to themselves. After Everwood and Thornblade defeated the Shadowfang Tribe and Cinderborne Coven in the war, peace settled over the region, allowing all of the remaining clans to prosper without fear.

In recent times, it’s been safer to welcome other clans onto our land, but is it still a smart move?

Morgana glances over at the dark-haired witch, who steps forward with a sheepish look on her face.

“I’m sorry. I’m parched. Could I at least have some water before you send us on our way?” the dark-haired witch asks me.

“We don’t want to push things, Cassia,” Morgana tells her with a pointed look, making Cassia shrink back a little.

They seem harmless! They barely want to ask for water. My parents did urge me to make more allies than enemies if possible, and even if their numbers are small, maybe the Moonveil Coven can help Everblade with something down the road.

“You can stay for the night. We have enough rooms, and there will be more than enough food to share at dinner,” I speak up as my eyes sweep over the Moonveil witches, relief radiating off their tired bodies. My gaze soon finds Cassia, my heartbeat quickening as intense heat seems to radiate from her.

From within her.

I feel like a moth drawn to a flame, her glowing aura proving to be the most surprising temptation.

“Thank you so much. We will never forget this,” Morgana tells me as her smile brightens. She turns to the other witches as my patrol relaxes. “We’ll pick up our journey in the morning after a good night’s sleep.”

Cassia breathes in deeply, her hand briefly pressing against her stomach as she steps closer to me. She offers me a small smile, but it almost seems… forced. Is she nervous? Unsure? “Water?”

I slightly tilt my head at her, trying to get a read of the witch who has fire within. “Of course. Follow me.”

Cassia nods and steps up to my side, our arms briefly brushing as our eyes meet. “Thank you, Grey.”

It seems like she knows who I am. Then again, who doesn’t? I’m the only witch and wolf hybrid in the entire region.

But despite me not knowing her, I can’t shake the feeling that she was meant to step upon my land. For what reason, I do not yet know.

“Escort them to the castle. Show them the guest rooms and facilities,” I tell Harper, the patrol leader, before striding toward the castle with Cassia by my side.

Let’s just hope I’m making the right decisions.