Chapter 1 In The Beginning

Raija’s pov

"Raija, you really should not leave today, Tonight is the full moon, you should stay with me here until tomorrow before returning to your small cottage."

"I know, Mom, but I should have left a week ago," I replied while checking the glass bottles containing the potion. “Plus, my cat needs me. I can’t leave him alone much longer.”

I looked up at the night sky through the window. The big silver moon hangs low in the black night sky, almost illuminating the whole night.

Dark energy reaches its peak during the full moon night. As a young witch, I have a lot of work to do.

“Fine, I can never change your mind. Just put on your cloak when you're out of the Black Storm pack’s territory.” Mom said while opening the door for me. “Werewolves are at their strongest during the full moon. Don’t take the risk of going outside during the full moon."

"But us witches can get the strongest energy during a full moon too, right? I won’t have any issues.” I smiled, walked out, and quickly hugged Mom.

“You are still young, Raija. When you become a supreme witch, you can go anywhere you want.”

“Ugh, Mom you become a supreme witch when you were 23, I’m just 18 now.”

“Yes, so what is an 18-year-old young witch supposed to do during the full moon?”

“Stay at home. I know, Mom.”

Us witches, are no strangers to werewolves. Werewolves and witches used to be at odds. Werewolves feared us because of our magic, but there were so many of them that we were outnumbered. But this is all from the last century, and now both of our populations are declining. We have to cooperate when facing the same problem.

My mother Simona is a Supreme Witch, the most powerful of our kind. To get help with the prophecy, Alpha Daniel of the Black Storm pack allowed us to live in their territory. It butted up against another pack we weren't familiar with.

The Supreme Witch can predict the next leader of the werewolves, that is, who is the Alpha of the Pack. Peek into the future is a very mysterious and dangerous ritual. Only the Supreme Witch can do it correctly. Only pure virgins can practice to become the Supreme Witch. My mother said that I would continue this work when I became the next Supreme Witch.

In addition to it, werewolves will also ask us for the divination of their mate. Mate is a gift from the moon goddess to werewolves. It is said that werewolves can perceive their mates at close range after the age of 18, and they can gain powerful power after mating with mates.

But finding a mate is not so easy, if they are thousands of miles away, relying on the nose of a werewolf will not work. The Alpha of the Black Storm pack, the strongest pack nearby, found his current luna with my mother's help.

“Good. Be careful on the road. Though we have a deal with the Alpha of Black Storm, who knows if they will lose control?" Mom kissed me on the cheek.

“Don't worry Mom, I can take care of myself. "

Two hours later I parked my truck at my new home. I was about to walk out into the forest. Nothing happened. Which was great.

I took a breath and turned to the mountain out of the Black Storm pack.

"Sorry Mom, but I can’t miss the first full moon after I turned 18," I said to myself.

After laying my crystals out under the beams of the full moon, I began removing my simple dress for the ritual I was giddy to perform. The hill that was further up from my home was a perfect spot to perform my magic.

The cool air of the night caused me to shiver slightly as gooseflesh spread down my arms and up my thighs. Closing my eyes and raising my arms toward the moon, I called on the ancestors as I began chanting the rejuvenation spell to cleanse myself of the human world I occupied. It was the first ritual that I had to finish to continue to become like my mother.

Rotating myself as I chanted in the dark I didn't see the two glowing eyes watching me curiously from the tree line. My foot caught on the edge of a plant root and I stumbled down the slight incline of the hill I was upon.

Laying on my back in the tall grass, I blinked my eyes at what I was seeing above me.

The full moon lighted the large tan-colored wolf with bright amber eyes staring down at me. Its pink tongue was hanging out from its mouth as it gazed down at me.

Feeling a bit of uncertainty over the wild creature, I chose to speak to it.

"Nice puppy, you're a handsome wolf," I murmured. The wolf started to growl low as I sat up. Getting sniffed was a bit unnerving as the large animal circled me.

When it pounced on me and shifted into a rugged man. I gasped at his weight. With wide eyes, I saw he had a shaggy head of dirty blonde hair and a start of a beard and mustache. I squealed as I tried to push him off of me.

"You're a…a werewolf?!" I snapped.

A deep chuckle came from the man as he nodded his head at me. He buried his nose into the groove of my neck and sniffed me more. His crazy hair tickled me and I giggled in irritation.

"Are you smelling me?" I asked in annoyance.

"Do all werewolves smell others without their permission?"

"I will have you now," he said firmly. I furrowed my brow feeling something like a warm snake moving up against my bare thigh. Shaking my head, I pinched my fingers and sent a jolt of magic into his taut side. Snarling, he rolled off me cursing crudely.

"You are very brazen and are very nude, mister!" I gasped and quickly covered my eyes.

“And you too," He said.

I blushed and quickly searched for my dress but I couldn't find it!! I had no choice but to cross my legs and shroud my breasts with my arm while covering my eyes with my fingers.

"I am called Axel Rathbone and you are, miss?" He asked.

Peeking between my fingertips, I replied, "Raija Hexum." I feel like he won’t hurt me.

He nodded his head as his amber eyes continued to study me closely.

"You are a human," he said in disgust and I frowned.

"I am a human witch," I corrected him then added, "And you are an unkempt flea-ridden beast."

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly in a grin.

"I take what I want, Miss Hexum," he growled as his eyes narrowed at me.

"Then you are an uncivilized beast as well," I added.

Nodding his head he glanced toward the forest.

"It is not wise for you to be out here alone. These are the lands of the Shadow Moon pack now. I was once their Alpha until two twin brothers forced me out with their deception," he said in regret. Swallowing nervously I told him I was sorry for his loss.

"I will get my pack back once I return with my Luna and my renewed strength," he asserted.

"Good luck with that," I replied. I hurried up the hill in search of my dress again. Not finding it where I'd left it, I heard chuckling. Turning back towards the wolfman, I saw him holding my dress to his nose.

"I think I will keep this to indulge in your unique scent until I claim you, mate," he said firmly.

"Mate? No, give it back to me!" I didn’t finish my words and he turned to disappear into the trees.

My eyes narrowed as his muscular butt vanished. Mom is right, I should have stayed with her!

Fuming, I gathered my crystals and stormed back to my small cottage, naked! Opening my door, I closed it quickly and leaned my back against the wood. Looking down at my black cat Sawyer, I huffed.

"I'm going to plant wolfsbane around my entire property," I stated hoarsely then glanced back outside. It was dark but the moon lit up the yard a little.

Shaking my head I mumbled determinedly," And yard lights as well."

As I put my crystals back on my altar I thought it was unnatural the way the odd man had caused me so much unbalance. I was certain that it was he who had caused my ritual to falter. Gritting my teeth at the thought of that wild creature made my heart skip a beat.

"Claim me?" I snorted. I would not allow any man to claim me and certainly not a werewolf, I thought. I was pure and untouched and that was how my powers thrived.

There was no way in hell that I would become mates with a dog. Slipping on my robe, I made myself some Chamomile tea and sipped it while petting Sawyer. My cat seemed standoffish and I figured it was due to Axel's scent covering my body.

"I will go wash his scent from my flesh, old friend," I sighed before heading to my shower. I didn't realize that Axel had followed me to my tiny home and was currently marking it with his urine.

After my shower, I tilted my head after hearing a man's sigh of relief outside my open bathroom window. Squinting my eyes, I could see the silhouette of a man pissing all over my property. Gritting my teeth, I snuck out my back door grabbing the water hose.

Going to the side of my house I turned on the water nozzle full blast. With a water sprayer in hand, I turned the corner and blasted the man in the back of his head. When he turned to face me he got a face full of hose water.

"Stop pissing all over my things!" I shouted, smelling the strong stench of urine wafting through the air.

"Stop drowning me, woman. It's for your protection," Axel growled sourly. Lowering the hose, I glared at the wet man. Shaking my head I told him he had to leave.

"My home is warded with magic and I am fine. Thanks for your strange concern." I mumbled softly.

"I will get you a towel," I added as I dropped the hose and scurried off. Shaking my head in frustration, I grabbed a towel and stopped at Axel standing in my doorway growling at my hissing cat.

Tossing the towel at his head it smacked him in his face. I bit my lip to stop the laugh that almost burst forth. His amber eyes glared at me once he swiped the towel down his face.

"Thanks," he growled sourly.

"Are my ward's causing you irritation?" I asked him curiously as he dried his hair and scruff. Glancing over at me he curled his lip.

"The only nuisance here is that black ball of fur," he snarled and shoved Sawyer back with his foot.

"That is my familiar. I think it's time that you left, sir," I said sternly and lifted my stunned feline into my arms. Shaking his head at us both he grunted.

"The moon Goddess is one cruel bitch," he hissed as he turned.

"Lock your door, sweetheart," he said firmly over his broad shoulder and walked off down my stone path still clinging to my towel.

"At least he has a nice physic," I mumbled to my cat and deadbolted my door.