Chapter 72 - Painkiller

**Jesses pov**

I can’t remember the last time I had a hangover like this. It was as if my brain was in a vise and every time I turned over and found a new comfortable position for my poor head on the pillow, some devil was there to tighten the vise a little tighter. I took a few deep breaths and enjoyed the few seconds of relief as the scent of Cathy’s bedclothes hit my senses. Cathy...I could distinguish her scent among a hundred others...a thousand, ten thousand for sure...but she wasn’t here and what little I felt was quickly gone, chased away by my alcohol-soaked bad breath. Callum had played his cards smartly. I had known from before that he had the idea for me to take over the Low Falls pack...but since I hadn’t quite taken the bait, he used wolf vodka and Cathy...at least indirectly. And I had fallen for it and promised to do as he pleased. Why had I done it? Because it had been Cathy’s suggestion...she wanted me there and that was enough for me to throw away everything familiar I knew as my life and step into a new one... I put the pillow over my head and growled out my frustration at my lovesick impulsiveness.

The sun shone through the window, and the light gray blinds did little to dampen its stubborn rays. A black velvet eye-sleep mask hung from a kind of jewelry stand on the nightstand, but as tempting as it was to block out all light, I knew where my limit was. I wasn’t going to put on Cathy’s nightwear.

“Jesse, are you awake?” The pain of the sharp voice on the other side of the door was as unpleasant as the relief of it. Ina knocked as she spoke and opened the door without waiting for an answer.

Ina…Cathy’s Ina…My Ina… She beamed as she stepped in and our eyes met. She squealed with what could only be interpreted as joy and threw herself on top of me in bed.

“Why didn’t you contact me when you came yesterday? I’ve missed you, you big hunk!” She drilled herself into me until I was forced to put my arms around her. Not that it was under any threat, both Argus and I welcomed her presence. The same could not be said for my headache which seemed to increase tenfold by her bright voice. Someone she noticed immediately.

“Hahaha, someone has been looking too deeply into the glass I can tell!” She lay next to me on her stomach, her sweet face looking teasingly at me, resting in her hands.

“Shhhh…not so loud…”

“Hahahaha, big strong guy, floored by a drink…”

“Ina…it’s not fun…it hurts like hell and I might need a bucket soon…”

“Aaawww….how lucky you are that I came right now then.”

“Why? Do you have a bucket with you?”

“No…I have something better…” Her eyes glinted with a mixture of secrets and pride before she laid her head on my chest.

“Just hold me and relax.” This should have felt strange, lying here, in Cathy’s bed, holding another woman…but this was Ina…and Ina was…special.

It didn’t take long before I felt my brain fog dissipate, the clamp that had been holding my head in a torturous, squirming grip loosening a little more, second by second. The stabbing throb in my temples and behind my eyes slowly numbed away. My treacherously anxious stomach settled down and instead began to grumble, asking for breakfast. The feeling of a sickly cold sweat disappeared and instead, the faint warmth from the window felt pleasant. I felt Ina shivering as she lay against my chest and I looked down at her.

She no longer looked as fresh and vibrant. Dark shadows came and went under her eyes, her lips looked dry and her skin pale and glossy.

“Ina…what did you do?” She smiled a weak and somewhat exhausted smile before relaxing against my chest.

“I fixed you…I fixed Argus too, it was a little harder so you need to give me a minute to recover, okay?...” I didn’t answer her but just wrapped my arms around her a little tighter…Ina, Cathy’s Ina…Our Ina…

“You didn’t have to…I’m very grateful but I don’t want you to get sick because of it” I gave her head a brotherly kiss.

“Don’t worry, I’ll bounce back soon you’ll see…I’ve been using this spell for years, both on myself and others. Cathy included” Her voice started to sound more lively as she spoke and I felt relieved. I was familiar with her capabilities but I never wanted to be the reason she felt bad, not even for a little while.

“I don’t know if this sight should make me angry…” I looked over Ina’s shoulder towards the door and saw an irritated younger version of Zandra. Zara, Zandra’s granddaughter. The witch girl who had messed with most of the kids in the pack when they were younger, but especially Cathy. Now, as I understand it, Ina’s…partner. There was a faint glint in her eyes and out of sheer defiance I pulled my arms a little tighter around Ina who responded by giggling against my chest.

“Well! When you’re…done with whatever it is you’re doing, Callum has called a meeting down in the dining room, invite only.” With that, she turned on her heel and stomped away. Both Ina and I burst out laughing.

“You’re a bad boy, my dear Alpha.” I was surprised when she said that, she had never called me that before.

“Sorry, I hope I didn’t get you in trouble.”

“I can handle Zara and she knows where she has me, she’s just a bit possessive.”

“And my new nickname? You’ve never called me Alpha before and rightly so, I’m no Alpha.” Argus grunted in my head in annoyance and Ina chuckled a little again before she raised herself on one elbow and looked at me.

“You’re a true Alpha James”

“Je…”

“James, Jesse, it doesn’t matter. You’re a true Alpha and before the day is over you’ll have your pack. That’s why Callum called the meeting, to make it public and let those who want to follow you do so.”

“That was quick…damned vodka…”

“Listen, Jesse, Low Falls has no witch, no magician at all, if you want me I’ll come with you…”

“Ina…”

“I connected with Argus right away, I belong with you…I know it!”

“Ina, listen to me… There’s no other crazy person I’d rather have by my side than my new best friend.” I kissed her forehead and felt how pleased Argus was.

“But what about Zara?”

“She’ll probably stay here, or go back to Maribell’s in town…either way, it’s not a long distance so we’ll make it work if it’s meant to work. But now you’re the one who jumps in the shower because you stink!” She jumped out of bed completely recovered and stopped in the doorway.

“Ina…just one more thing…” I wanted to bring it up, but at the same time, I didn’t want to scare her or make her nervous.

“Yes?”

“You know…the thing about you connecting with Argus so easily…and I’ve also noticed that you connect with Sasha’s wolf, something no one else has done…I had a chance but lost it.” I thought back to the evening out in the desert when she had a hard time shifting back. I hadn’t seen or heard her wolf since then.

“Mhm?” I could see her stiffen a little, not much, barely noticeable, but I saw it.

“Have you heard of wolf whisperers Ina?”

“I have…”

“I think you are one…” I watched her expression go from tense, to scared, to irritated, and finally defeated.

“James...you’re right, okay?.. But you also know the danger I would be in if it got out…”

“I would never!...”

“I believe you, I want to believe you...but understand my side...we’re almost extinct because of paranoid Alphas…”

“Are you calling me paranoid?”

“Well...you’re overthinking a lot...” Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me teasingly but pleadingly.

“You’re safe with me Ina...always and forever, you have both my word and Argus’s.”

“I know...why do you think I want to come with you?” She winked at me and I knew that if I had a missing sister somewhere, I would have just found her.

“We couldn’t be happier for anyone else...”

“You’ve made the right decision, I know you’re worried about Cathy, don’t be, all that will play out as planned, nothing any of us can do about it anyway...see you down there.” With that, she closed the door behind her and disappeared.