Chapter 35

The Pack

It is hard to say when and by whom the first love potions were made, and how many lives have been affected when someone tries to mess with destiny.

The recipes are not hard to find, and therefore not easy to screw up. The whole are can be ruined with a few rounds of bad press through the centuries.

And so, most of the real potion-masters let the public go sour on their practices until they were entirely left alone.

And so there will always be tinctures for sleep, a salve for baldness, and something in a bottle that you trust will provide you with whatever good fortune you desire.

Lila was optimistic that her recipe was correct, and that she had followed every step perfectly in concocting her own elixir.

The sedative will take control first, but then the mild stimulant will keep him active. The mallow root will cause attraction, and the addition of her tears and burnt hair would be sure to link all effects back to Lila.

Dominic, sipping it slowly from his glass, would hardly notice that he was feeling anything more than a slight champagne buzz. He would become more relaxed, and a serotonin boost would open his heart to anyone nearby.

And when a mysterious emergency at the hospital would drag Mira out of the room, Lila would be there to make sure the woozy, love-drunk Dominic was well taken care of.

Dominic

I had never imagined I would see Mira act like this.

While I knew she enjoyed champagne at these events, I had never guess she would be in a phase to gulp down a full glass in front of the entire Pack at dinner.

She didn’t even seem to enjoy it, and her face looked nervous when she finished. Her eyes were glassy, but she looked at me quickly with a smile like everything was alright.

I realized I was staring at her when I felt a hand on my arm. It was my father’s hand, and his face seemed to ask me if everything was alright.

I gave a half smile and a small shrug, signaling Mira was nervous but under control.

His eyes change and I follow his line of sight to look back at Mira, who is now steadily chugging the water glass in front of her.

I look back to my father with a face that says “she’s crazy but she’s mine” and he chuckles, going back to his plate.

The group begins going through courses and I keep my eye on Mira throughout.

She was withdrawn and focused on her food at first. Then, as if embarrassed, she became overly chatty to those around her, including my second cousin, Marta, who happened to be seated next to her.

“And it’s not that different, Mira, Marta,” Mira was saying, “they must come from.. the same entomolo— I mean etymological.. place…”

Her voice was strong but disjointed, and the pace of her speech was getting slower and starting to slur. I thought back through the meal, wondering if she had consume more alcohol than I had noticed.

But it was just that one glass, the first glass. She drank so swiftly and then abstained the rest of the night, and yet here was acting like she was completely inebriated.

And when had she ever mixed up the names of scientific study?

I gently touched her right arm, pulling her attention in my direction.

“Mira, my dear, have you gotten enough to eat?” I said with formal concern.

“What?” her head moved but her eyes took a second to focus on mine. “Sure, sure, I’m fine I got enough…such good food,” she mumbled.

She seemed to register my identity, and whatever she saw made her smile. Her eyes crinkled and I swear I heard her giggle as she looked at me.

Her fingertips were soft where they lightly touched my cheek, then my forehead, then traced the bridge of my nose.

I didn’t move, just let her peruse my face in wonder.

“You really are so handsome,” she said, sighing almost with melancholy at ephemeral beauty. “Such lovely skin, strong bones— really just a wonderful skull.”

While others around us were pretending to ignore as she caressed my face, the word ‘skull’ brought many to full attention.

It was the strangest compliment I had ever received, and yet coming from her, it was perfect.

“Thank you, Doctor,” I said, taking her from my head and bringing it down to my chest. “What a kind thing to say.”

She just beamed back at me, almost like a child who is completely unbothered by what other people think of her. Something was definitely wrong to make her like this, but I couldn’t help enjoying seeing the purest heart of Mira on display.

“I can’t believe you’re mine,” she said to me.

There was a new rhythm in my chest, and I couldn’t help but smile back at her. I thought of how I told her she was mine before dinner, it was too rough and possessive.

But the way she say that, about me, told me there was joy and excitement and possibly in someone calling you “mine.”

Things changed again when I felt her hand move onto my thigh, sliding down towards my knee and giving a small squeeze.

The reaction I had to that, and to the look on her face to match it, made me think of things far less wholesome than Mira’s pure heart. Why was she suddenly acting like this, and why now?

I grabbed her hand and moved it to a neutral space between us, hoping our on-lookers had gotten bored with us and didn’t notice that change in our dynamic.

“Mira, how are things in the hospital?” It was my father. “I hear you're making waves with your reforms.”

“I’m doing my best..sir…” she was blinking slowly as she spoke, not a great sign. “It’s really just about…staying open and…evolving…”

“Yes, I’m sure, it's hard to get old dogs to do new tricks. I’m sorry—“ his tone changed quickly as he looked at her. “Mira, are you alright?”

Mira had one elbow on the table, and was resting her chin on her hand. It looked like an unstable balance.

“Mmhmm,” she purred.

“I think I should get Mira home,” I jumped in, taking Mira gently under her arms. “She had a long day, and ins’t used to drinking. Maybe a touch too much champagne and excitement.”

“I’m fine Dom’nic… seri’sly…" She tried in vain to break out of my grip, but she had no strength in her.

“Can’t handle her champagne?” Tess scoffed as I lifted Mira away. “The lower the tolerance, the weaker the wolf.”

Mira’s face twitched at the comment, then went to buddy again as she leaned against me to walk out of the room.

The fresh air hit us hard, and I hope it would do her good and sober her up a bit from whatever influence she was under.

“Why would she say…that?” Mira mumbled into me. “About…my wolf?”

I couldn’t really understand what she was talking about, but wanted to comfort her at this moment.

“You know Tessa,” I said, “she needs to make others feel small so she can feel big.”

“Hrmph,” was all I got from Mira.

“What happened to you tonight? Something is definitely going on with you and I am starting to worry you might be on drugs. Just please tell me, are you on drugs?”

“Drugs? Pfftt…champagne drugs…”

“Champagne…drugs?” I repeated back to her, but she didn’t answer.

She was less and less sure on her feet, and I was basically holding her upright as we made our way back home.

Then she stopped, making me stop with her.

She stood still facing me, opened her eyes wide, and traced her hands up the outside of my arms. I could tell she was shivering, so I wrapped my arms carefully around her waist.

She was swaying gently, as if she wanted to dance.

“You’re so strong…so attractive, so hot,” she said in a voice unlike her own. My spine tingled, and I resisted the urge to spread my hands up her back. “Take me…home.”

She fainted into my arms.