Titan Drink: The Warrior's Strength Spell

Talia's POV

My heartbeat's all over the place, and I'm breathing funny.

Alpha Axton is looking straight into my eyes, and I can tell he's got questions on his mind. How do I put this into words? This is something I can't share with anyone. At least until I figure out what it is.

As Alpha Axton gets nearer, I feel this weird tingle all over-like someone just flipped a switch. The power goes out. That powerful energy and overwhelming force? They're gone for good.

I blink and stretch my fingers, feeling a bit shocked. I just broke a tree branch with a light touch, and now I feel fine. This makes little sense.

I tightened my fists, checking if there was any leftover strength, but nothing came up. It's like the effects of the potion were never there.

Did I imagine it? Axton's eyes narrow as he checks out the broken branch lying on the ground. He looks tense, and I can tell he heard that noise.

He steps closer and says, "Talia. I heard something snap from across town. That was the sound of a tree breaking right? I thought the rogues were attacking."

My brain's working a mile a in a minute, hearing him speak, but I know I need to keep my cool.

I make a confused face. "A tree just snapped?" I look around, pretending I'm in the dark about what he's saying. "I've been out here, but I have heard nothing like that."

Axton watches me, but I keep eye contact and maintain a calm face.

We sit in silence for a while until he lets out a breath and gives a nod. "Maybe I imagined it."

My chest bursts with relief.

"But hey," he warns with a serious expression, "Be careful here. We've seen some rogues hanging around the borders. If you notice anything weird, just come to me right away."

I give a quick nod. "Of course."

He takes one last glance around, then turns and strolls off, vanishing into the woods.

I stay put until his footsteps fade away.

I take a deep breath and dash inside. With a shaky grip, I bang the door closed behind me. My chest feels tight, and my head is all over the place. What the heck just happened to me?

I hurry to the kitchen, grab my cookbook, and quickly browse through it. There has to be a means to brew a reversal potion. I can undo this with a simple step.

I check out the faded writing, my fingers gliding over spells and cures. But the Titan's Brew has no counter-recipe.

A sudden chill of anxiety hits me. No antidote? No way to weaken the effects?

I quickly take some herbs off my shelves, hoping to make a mixture that brings my body back in line. I smash up some star anise, lavender, and a pinch of salt, toss them into the water, and murmur spells. I drink, but nothing changes. That portion is still hanging around in my system.

I added another portion to the counter, but still nothing changed. I'm feeling more and more panicked.

What if it never goes away? What if I can't break free from this? I inhale and lean my hands on the counter. Everything in the kitchen feels like it's going in circles, and I can't keep my thoughts straight.

I need to relax and sort my thoughts out.

It looks like the power's off, which means these effects could be only for a while. Who knows, I could return to my normal self or this might just be a one-off thing. I give a slight head shake, knowing I'll have to be calm for now.

I move the book out of the way and start rubbing my temples. I'm exhausted, but I just can't seem to fall asleep.

Suddenly, a pulse shoots out from the book and I just stop in my tracks. The leather cover shines softly, with the runes on its spine flickering like flames at night.

It's like the air is thickening, humming with a hidden presence. I gasp a little.

I extend my hand to the book and I feel a surge of energy zipping through my fingers and racing up my arm like a bolt of lightning.

I pull my hand away, but the light disappears. My heart races, and I can't believe it. What in the world is going on? I glance at the mirror on the opposite wall to get my bearings.

When I check out my reflection, I see a stranger grinning back at me with this weird, ghostly glow, kind of like the last flickers of a fire before it goes out. I feel this gentle energy swirling around like a mirage.

I take a step back unsteadily. Whatever this is? It's not just giving powers; it's about something else, too. It's like some old magic coming back to life.

Then I catch a whisper, or maybe it's more of a feeling, like a voice sneaking into my head and gliding over my thoughts like smooth silk.

"You are not what they think you are..."

The temperature in the room falls by ten degrees. I spin around, catching my breath. I get this weird tingle down my bone like someone's right behind me.

I feel a chill go down my spine. I feel like I have company. I bang the book closed and toss it onto the shelf, my fingers fidgeting. My heart's racing so much I can hear it in my ears.

I stay awake all night long, sitting on my bed, knees tucked in, fixated on the book lying across the room.

Should I just get rid of it? I can't do that because I've got a ton of questions swirling around in my head right now.

I want to get some answers.

I've spent my life believing I was nothing. Weak. Wolfless. A rejected mate, an unwanted pack member.

But what if I wasn't meant to be any of that stuff?

What if there's more going on inside me?

I can't shake this chilling question that's creeping in: If I'm not just wolfless... then what am I? I grip the blanket tighter as another whisper sneaks into my thoughts.

"It has begun..."

I shut my eyes tight.

I should not share this with anyone.

Nobody can find out about this, nope, not right now. I need to figure out what's going on with me first.

Sitting here in the dark, I still can't shake the feeling that someone's watching me.

This time around...

I'm sure I'm not just imagining things.