Jamal’s POVThe message from the owl arrived under the cloak of night, a messenger of the unseen realms. Its white feathers glowed in the moonlight, and in its beak, it carried a small vial—a vessel containing an otherworldly concoction. The air crackled with arcane energy as the owl descended, talons gripping the edge of my windowsill.The vial was delicately sealed, its contents shimmering in a mesmerizing dance of ethereal hues. A folded parchment accompanied the mysterious elixir, tied with a silver ribbon that seemed to hum with magic. I unraveled the parchment, its texture smooth against my fingers, and words inscribed in an elegant script greeted my gaze."Jamal, Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack,In the realms where shadows intertwine, a meeting awaits you. Drink from the vial before the moon's descent, and the dream shall be your conduit. Heed the call of the unseen, for revelations await.The White Witch."The cryptic message held a resonance that transcended the physical real
Jamal's POV My father's last warning echoed in my mind, "Never trust a stranger, Jamal. Especially one who claims knowledge of the supernatural."Yet, here I was, standing before a weathered, moss-covered house, drawn by an inexplicable force. The house seemed to hum with an energy I couldn't quite place, an energy that both repelled and intrigued me.I knocked hesitantly, and the door creaked open, revealing a man who appeared to have stepped out of a time capsule. His clothes were a hodgepodge of styles, his hair unkempt, and his face lined with the wisdom of ages.Great, I got sent to a fucking soothsayer. Just absolutely amazing."Alpha Jamal, I presume?" he asked in a voice that sounded like gravel scraping against metal.I nodded, my voice caught in my throat."It's my utmost pleasure." He said, bowing slightly, "I have been expecting you."I said nothing, preferring to give as little as possible away and let him figure out this shit by himself."I sense some skepticism." He sa
Jamal's POV The drive back home was usually silent, but my brain was humming so loudly, it felt otherwise. I had taken a huge step. Desperate yes, but then desperate situations called for desperate measures, and the situation was indeed desperate. Every second Methis spent away from us, from me and the kids, was wasted. Moments we should be spending together as a family were washing down the drain and if I let it continue, if I let that Xander figure get closer than he already was, it was inevitable that irrevocable damage would be done. I needed to end this charade and I needed to end it now. But was this the only way? Did I really have no choice?I parked the car at the usual spot on the street and hurried upstairs, clutching the burgers I bought on my way home on one hand and the drinks on the other. It was my way of apologizing to them for wasting all day, visiting what was essentially a soothsayer to help get their mom back but then again, a man had to do what a man had to do.A
Methis POVI stood by the door, staring awkwardly at him as he stared back, begging him to say something, anything at all to break this silence."You look..." I paused, unsure of what to say, "Good."He smiled, "Yes, well apparently the black eye looks good on me, I haven't gotten so much attention since when I pooped my pants in the third grade."I remained silent for a moment, looking at him confused while he smiled back."It's a joke Methis." He said, noticing my confusion, "It's a joke.""Oh," I replied, chuckling nervously, grateful that he had at least made an attempt to cut out the tension in the air between us."So." He said quietly."So, Sophia isn't home?"He shook his head, "No, she went out to get some groceries.""Wanna talk about what happened?" I asked, quietly, trying to maintain eye contact. Awkward conversations like this weren't my strong suit.Thankfully, he seemed to recognize this. "Yeah, I would rather we take a walk."I looked up at him gratefully, "Really?""Ye
Xander POV “What are you doing here, Methis?” I asked, watching her saunter over to my chair and sit down crossing her legs. "Just wanted to see how my favorite drug dealer is doing." I rolled my eyes, walking over to her, "It was just a cigarette Methis, and you didn't finish it." She shrugged, and smiled. “I just wanted to see you, and have a little chat. Is that a crime?” “Yes, it is,” I said, reaching over. “You’re not welcome here. You’re not welcome anywhere near me, or my mate. You’re a nuisance and a troublemaker. You need to leave, and stay away.” She pouted, and shook her head. “Oh, come on, Xander. Don’t be so rude. I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m here to help you.” “Help me?” I repeated, skeptically. “Help me with what?” She leaned forward, and lowered her voice. “With your little problem, of course. The one that involves your mate’s stepmother.” I felt a surge of anger, and fear. How did she know about that? How did she find out? Who told her? “What are you ta
Xander's POV I walked home that night refusing to take the bus. For the second time in just a few days, I needed to clear my mind, again. The cause of both agitations? Methis. It seemed inevitable that we clashed. It happened, every single fucking time we were together these days, a fight was brewing just below the surface. It was starting to get exhausting and I was starting to get very, very sick of it. I needed a break from her, from everything. I could not keep living like this, and it was the fact that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to stay away from her, that filled me with the most dread. I needed to fix this as soon as possible and I knew exactly where to start. * * * The city skyline glittered like a sea of stars as I approached the apartment I shared with my sister. I had sent her a quick text just a few minutes earlier telling her that I was on my way home and we were going to talk this out tonight. It was a simple text to see if she was ready. If I got
Xander's POV The night apparently held more surprises for us. In the shadows of an unfamiliar alley, we found ourselves face to face with a group of menacing figures. Their demands cut through the night air, a harsh reminder of the dangers that lurked in the city's underbelly. "Well." I muttered as we walked along quietly, taking in the cool night air. "That was fun." She leaned up to kiss my cheek smiling at me, "Thank you Xander." I smiled back, "Does that mean you forgive me now? We are even." "No, not really." She said quickly, almost nonchalantly. I frowned, "We aren't?" "You got me beaten up by a stranger Xander." She said, "It's only fair that I return the favor." She led me up to a group of men, skin head by the looks of it and gently tapped one of them, flashing her most charming smile. The man turned around, a snarl on his face, which she ignored, saying sweetly, "My brother over there has something to tell you." before stepping out of the way. I glanced at Sophia who
Jamal's POV At the heart of the sewers, I encountered a peculiar chamber, dimly lit by the feeble glow of a distant grate. The air was thick with an otherworldly energy, sending shivers down my spine. In the center of the chamber, I discovered a pedestal, and upon it rested the elusive magic staff. The moment I laid eyes on it, a surge of energy pulsed through me, as if the staff itself communicated a revelation. But before I could comprehend its meaning, a low growl echoed through the chamber. Shadows stirred, coalescing into an ominous form. From the darkness emerged a creature, its eyes gleaming with an unsettling intelligence. It was a rat. It was a big, fucking rat. And as I stared at it, as still as possible, it sniffed in the air, trying to find what was making the racket, which was when I realized it was blind. Calling it big was an understatement, it was fucking massive, bigger than a German shepherd, with it's eyes as red as blood and it's claws as long as a dagger. But t