***
Deloris waited until Jeremy entered the building before turning to Ryan. “Now, unfreeze just his head.” She instructed. She knew that Ryan hadn’t tried that on anyone before so needed to concentrate. Ryan was not too conversant with his warlock abilities so Deloris made it a point to give him pointers whenever she could. “Just picture the head in your mind and…” She trailed off when Paul began to look down at himself in surprise. “Brilliant.” The warlock murmured under her breath, looking impressed with Ryan.
“Who the fuck are you?” Stan asked with a growl.
“Why can’t I move?” Paul asked as he stared down at himself. “And where is he?” He gasped, glancing around in confusion.
“Now he talks.” Camille drawled. “Hasn’t said a word since we picked him up. Clearly didn’t want to give himself away by talking. Where is who?” She asked angrily.
“Jeremy,” Paul responded, still looking around. “I just want to shake his hand.”
“Why?” Deloris asked.
For a moment, Paul looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. “But I haven’t seen all of you since…” He rolled his eyes exasperatedly. “I just want to greet him, that’s all.”
“Really?” Camille sneered. “You weren’t too keen on greeting your best friend or even your mate. But you wanted to greet Jeremy?”
“Mate?” Paul turned his head to look at Camille curiously.
“Who are you? Really?” Deloris said in a cold voice. “You’re clearly not Paul. The jig is up. See these werewolves?” She pointed at the group of scowling warriors who were standing around. “They are ready to tear you to shreds. I can prevent that from happening. All you have to do is tell me who sent you and what your mission is.”
“Hey, I don’t want any trouble alright?” Paul said, looking from one face to the other with wary eyes. “Just allow me to shake Jeremy’s hand. Then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“And what exactly do you want to accomplish with this all-important handshake?” Deloris asked. She could tell that whoever was impersonating Paul was not a warlock. Clearly not that powerful.
“My instructions were to shake his hand and leave,” Paul responded with fear in his eyes.
“Listen, I’m not comfortable seeing him like this,” Agyemang growled suddenly. “Admittedly, he’s not my mate but he looks exactly like him. And seeing him with all the fear in his eyes is killing me. Can’t you just…”
“You need to show me your real face.” Deloris addressed Paul. “Otherwise…”
“I can’t.” The witch whimpered. “A spell turned me into this form so… I was told it’s temporary.”
“I bet it is,” Deloris muttered and then began to recite some words. “Now let’s see…” She breathed as she reached out to touch a finger to Paul’s forehead. The head immediately morphed into that of a pretty sassy looking green-eyed blonde.
The witch let out a deep exhale. “Can you just let me go now?” She asked.
“Not so fast, you bitch.” Camille growled. “I left my job and came all the way to Oklahoma, thinking I was rescuing your arse. Mum?” She looked up at her mother who was groaning. “You need to give her to me after y’all are done with her.”
“Oh, you can just join the warriors in their practice, Cami darling.” Stan drawled. “Would have been more fun if she were a guy but we’ll still enjoy kicking her around.”
“Do you have to?” The witch mumbled. “Who kicks a lady around?”
“A lady?” Stan burst into laughter. “More like danger on wheels.”
“Not my fault?” The witch snapped. “I was merely…”
“Where the hell is my mate?” Agyemang’s sudden roar was so powerful it startled even the werewolves and made the witch whimper.
“I don’t know…” She groaned shakily, looking at Agyemang with panicked eyes. “Please, I don’t know. The spell sent me to a location to wait. I never saw this Paul person myself.”
“Why the hell are we even listening to this bullshit?” Camille growled. “Let’s just kill her arse already. She’s about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. If Paige were here, she’d be dead already.”
“But she’s such a pretty little thing.” Stan grinned. “Maybe we can make a…quick detour on our way to the practice zone…”
“Shut up, Stan.” Deloris groaned. “We all thought you were rescuing our Paul, baby.” Deloris addressed her daughter. “And we would have been thrilled if it had been him. But you know these Wyatt warlocks. This one is clearly a witch for hire… right?” She looked at the witch who nodded quickly. “See, it’s not her fault. She was probably promised something in return. Clearly didn’t know she was waltzing to her own death. This is hands down the double-cross of the year.”
“Double-cross?” The witch breathed.
“Yes,” Ryan answered. “You were asked to shake my mate’s hand, right? I mean Jeremy. That’s my mate.” He smiled with pride.
“Yes.”
“You are a walking fireball,” Ryan informed her. “You would have gotten blown to pieces together with my mate the instant you touched him.”
“What?” The witch gasped. “That bitch!” Her eyes flashed with anger.
“Oh, you’re a fine one to talk.” Camille scoffed, drawing an amused chuckle from Philip.
“A. G. why don’t you go inside and wait with Jeremy,” Philip told his friend who looked as if he was going to shift at any moment. The last thing they wanted to deal with was a furious alpha wolf. Definitely not Agyemang’s. “We will get any information that can help us locate Paul out of her.”
“I need to go and find him.” The angry alpha growled.
“I will personally go and bring Paul, A. G.,” Ryan said fiercely. “You have my word. But right now, you need to chill. Go in and… Philip, Paige is coming…” Ryan groaned when he looked up and saw Joel, Paige, and Gloria approaching. If Paige got to know what the witch’s mission was, nothing would stop her from killing her. She was that protective of Jeremy.