Chapter 32

Katherine POV

I woke with a start, fragments of a pleasant dream still clinging to my consciousness—a dream where Samuel, Edward, and Lucius had been with me, not as warriors, not as enemies, but as something much more intimate. The details faded as I blinked away sleep, focusing instead on the sound of rain pounding against the broken gutters of my house.

Six in the morning. I'd slept longer than intended. Padding barefoot into the narrow kitchen, I brewed a cup of bitter coffee and settled into the rickety wooden chair facing the front window. Portland's perpetual rain left serpentine trails down the cracked glass, transforming the already dreary East Side neighborhood into a blurry watercolor painting of decay.

"Morning," Edward's voice startled me as he descended the stairs. Despite having the triplets stay at my place last night, I still wasn't used to their presence here. "Sleep well?"

"Fine," I replied, sipping my coffee.

Edward grabbed a mug and joined me. "Really? Because you got up four times to check the perimeter."

I studied his face, seeing genuine concern rather than accusation. Maybe he did care.

"I needed to make sure the area was secure," I explained. "Especially after that Pure Blood Alliance witch got so close to you all yesterday. I do this every night."

Edward stared at me, something shifting in his eyes as understanding dawned. "You're really serious about protecting us, aren't you?"

"It's my job."

"We don't like being your job," he said quietly. "Not when you're our mate."

"What would you prefer? That I let you die?" I countered.

"What would you do if you found something out there in the forest preserve or on Portland's streets at night?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Handle it."

"Just like that?"

"I'm trained, Edward. It's not a big deal."

He leaned forward, coffee forgotten. "So what's the plan for Portland? Everyone's coming after us. How do we fight them all?"

"That's why I'm here."

"But you can't fight everyone at once. Not if they all unite against us."

"Edward," I sighed, "relax. I know what I'm doing. We all do—everyone who came to Portland to protect you."

Heavy footsteps announced Samuel and Lucius's return. They shook rain from their jackets, droplets pooling on the warped floorboards as they poured coffee and joined our makeshift war council.

"Did Father learn anything about the witch?" Edward asked.

Lucius shook his head. "Nothing. Not a single piece of information about witches."

"She won't talk," Samuel added. "Except to say how terrified she is of her leader."

"Which doesn't help since we don't know who that is," Edward grumbled.

I set down my mug. "He controls all the Pure Blood Alliance witches in Portland. He's a warlock who shows no mercy. That witch wasn't powerful—she was sent to observe, not fight. He's still gathering information. He's not ready to attack this place yet."

"Do you know who he is?" Samuel asked.

"No."

"How do we find him?" Edward pressed.

"Sally's been trying for months from her cover at Portland's Art Academy," I explained. "But no one in Portland's supernatural community will talk about him. They're too afraid. They'd rather die than fall into his hands."

"And we have no idea where to find him in Portland," Edward said.

"If you're thinking about going after him, forget it," I warned. "You'll never find his hiding place in Portland."

"Then how do we win this?" Lucius asked softly.

I looked at the three of them—all watching me expectantly, waiting for some brilliant strategy. But there was no brilliant strategy. Just survival. The "Peace Accord" had no grand master plan, just a collection of supernatural beings willing to die to protect these three. We had contingencies, not solutions.

I stood, leaving my empty mug on the table. "Let me change."

Upstairs, I pulled on a black and red athletic top with matching leggings, socks, and shoes, then headed to the basement. The brothers followed, clearly surprised as I revealed my makeshift training facility. Despite the black mold stains creeping up the damp walls, I'd transformed this decrepit space into something functional.

Opening a concealed vent to circulate fresh air, I began my cardio routine, then strength training, each breath heavy in Portland's damp chill. Finally, I moved to the training area where wooden targets waited.

I positioned myself at one end of the room, six throwing knives in hand. In one fluid sequence, I launched each blade, every one striking the dummy's head with deadly precision.

"You train like this every day?" Samuel asked, eyeing the arsenal mounted on the walls.

"Every day."

"Even in the East Side?" Edward questioned.

"When I lived here alone, I had to find other places—abandoned warehouses, private dojos. Now I've adapted this basement, so I don't have to leave."

Hours into our training session, Samuel's phone rang—Alpha Griffin summoning us to the estate. We quickly left my crumbling house, racing through downtown toward the luxury of the northern suburbs, windshield wipers fighting the relentless rain.

The estate's marble floors and crystal chandeliers contrasted sharply with the moldering basement we'd just left. Julia was already there, along with Beta Noah, Bob, and Bella.

"We've been trying to learn more about the witches," Alpha Griffin began. "They seem to be taking the most action against us. But we've found nothing. No information on any of the witches."

I couldn't help myself. "Did you expect them to advertise on social media every time they came to Portland to kill your sons?"

"Katherine, show some respect," Julia warned.

"Why? He's not my Alpha. I don't have one." I felt my fingertips grow warm, the FIRE ability responding to my irritation.

Alpha Griffin ignored our exchange. "How do we stop them if we don't know where they are or how many there are?"

"Katherine," Julia said pointedly.

Edward frowned. "What do you mean?"

"She can sense when witches approach North Portland and if there are multiple witches," Julia explained. "That's why we needed her in Portland to protect you."

The triplets stared at me, clearly surprised despite having witnessed my abilities firsthand last night.

"Are there any witches around Portland now?" Alpha Griffin asked.

"No, not currently in North Portland. I still need to do another perimeter check, especially near the coastal areas."

"My patrols are already out there," he said. "Julia tells me you were checking Portland's boundaries all night."

"It's part of the job."

Samuel's eyes flashed. "We're not your job."

"She clearly doesn't respect the mate bond," Bella interjected. "That was obvious at Portland Public High."

I turned to her, feeling my temper rise. "I like your mother and brother. That doesn't mean I'll go easy on you. I beat you once, and I'll do it again."

Bella crossed her arms and sank back into the leather sofa, fuming when no one came to her defense.

"How do I keep my sons safe in Portland?" Alpha Griffin asked.

"Katherine, tell them," Julia urged.

I surveyed the lavish living room before answering. "There are several options. From keeping them in the estate until the threat is neutralized, to removing them from Portland completely."

"Where would we go?" Samuel demanded. "They'll hunt us across the country."

"I'm not talking about this country," I replied.

"Katherine can open portals to different dimensions through her mixed-blood abilities," Julia explained.

Alpha Griffin's eyes widened. "You want to take them to a different dimension? Away from Portland?"

"That would be the last resort," I clarified. "But I'm prepared to do it if necessary."

The triplets exchanged worried glances. I understood their reluctance, but I didn't care. I would do whatever it took to keep them safe in Portland, even if it meant sacrificing my own life in the process.