Chapter 9

DAMIAN

Evelyn got everything ready in record time while I was trying to get my claim back on the throne to be strong after my mate was gone. They had given me some time to bring her back to the pack and make her my wife once again. I knew that I had to be fast, and Evelyn was quick to make that happen.

The road stretched out before us, winding and empty. The towering trees seemed to loom closer with every mile. I sat in the back seat, arms crossed, my thoughts tangled and chaotic while I still tried to catch on with some work. Wyatt, my beta, was driving while Evelyn sat beside him in the front, her eyes flicking back at me from time to time.

It felt strange, like this whole trip was a bad idea. It felt like a betrayal to my pack and everything I’d once stood for. But then again, nothing felt right since Aurora left. My anger, emptiness, and everything seemed magnified now that she was gone. She had left me so exposed to my feelings that getting up during the day had become a hassle for me, which was not an option. I needed to be more present now that the pack was expecting more from me.

Evelyn turned in her seat, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she leaned toward me. “Damian,” she purred, “you’ve been so tense lately. Let me help you relax. Should I come behind?” She tried to stretch her arm to touch me.

I moved away instinctively, surprised by my reaction. Her touch, once exhilarating, now felt invasive. I caught her frown before she turned away, clearly irritated, but she didn’t press further. I couldn’t understand it myself. Evelyn had been my escape, my freedom from being forced to marry a woman I did not want to marry. But now, her presence only reminded me of everything I’d lost. Because in a surprising turn of events, the one I had always avoided was the one I wanted now.

Wyatt cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “Damian,” he said, his voice low, “are you sure about this? You know the elders and lords won’t be happy if they find out their alpha is dealing with witches.”

I took a deep breath, “I need her back, Wyatt,” I replied, my voice tight. “Whatever it takes.”

He glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his expression unreadable. “Just be careful. Magic isn’t something to mess with lightly.”

“I know,” I muttered, clenching my fists. But the thought of Aurora with Ethan, living her life like I’d never mattered, gnawed at me relentlessly. I couldn’t just sit back and let her go.

We finally arrived at a small, isolated cabin on the outskirts of town. The place was as creepy as I’d imagined, shrouded in shadows from the trees and with black smoke curling from a chimney that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years. Wyatt parked the car, and the three of us climbed out. The realization of what I was doing settled in me, and I let out a breath.

“Let’s make this quick,” I muttered, leading the way up the creaking steps. Wyatt and Evelyn followed closely, their silence a reflection of the tension that hung in the air.

As we stepped inside, the scent of herbs and something acrid hit me, making my nose wrinkle. The room was dimly lit, with only a few flickering candles and the glow of a fire casting eerie shadows along the walls. The witch, a tall woman with piercing dark eyes and smooth, clear skin was waiting for us. She was incredibly and unnaturally beautiful, which I assumed she was using magic to contain.

Without a word, she gestured for us to sit. I hesitated, the uneasy feeling deepening in my gut. But Evelyn looked unfazed as she took a seat, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Wyatt and I followed reluctantly, settling across from the witch.

She stared at me for a long moment, her gaze intense. “You have a request,” she finally said, her voice low.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper. “I need to bring someone back to me. Someone who left.”

The witch nodded slowly, as if she already knew everything. She closed her eyes and began to mutter words I couldn’t understand, her hands moving over the flames in front of her. The fire flickered, responding to her commands, twisting and turning in unnatural ways.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes and reached for a small vial filled with a dark, shimmering liquid. She held it up, the firelight casting an eerie glow on the vial as she turned to me.

“This,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper, “will make her lose her mind. She will come back to you, unable to resist.”

I stared at the vial, my mind racing. The liquid seemed to pulse, almost alive, and the very sight of it sent a shiver down my spine. Magic was something I’d always viewed with distrust, something that was unpredictable and dangerous. But the thought of seeing Aurora again, of having her back even if it wasn’t real was tempting beyond words.

In that moment, though, a flicker of doubt surfaced. Was this really the way I wanted her to return? Did I want her broken, helpless, and bound to me by magic? I gritted my teeth, wrestling with the conflict raging within me. Without thinking, I stood up abruptly, turning toward the door. I needed air. I needed to clear my head. Wyatt and Evelyn were quick to follow, their footsteps echoing as they caught up with me outside.

“Damian,” Wyatt barked. “What’s going on? Why did you walk out?”

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. “I don’t know if I want to go through with this,” I muttered. “Magic. This whole thing feels wrong. Unnatural.”

Evelyn huffed, crossing her arms. “Oh, now you have second thoughts? Damian, you wanted her back, didn’t you? You wanted her to pay for rejecting you. This is the only way.”

I shot her a glare, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “I know what I said, Evelyn. But this feels like crossing a line.”

Wyatt placed a hand on my shoulder, his expression suddenly turning calm. “Damian, whatever decision you make, I’ll support you. But you should have thought twice about this since. We have come all the way. You might as well just do it and not waste all of the effort we put in.”

I looked between the two of them, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. They were both right. I had wanted this, hadn’t I? I had come all this way for revenge, to see Aurora come to me and only need me. And yet, now that I was here, the thought of doing that to her felt suffocating. But I knew I could not allow myself to give this chance up. I had to do this.

After a long silence, I finally nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”

We walked back inside, and I forced myself to sit down in front of the witch once again. She held the vial out to me again. I reached for it, my hand shaking slightly as my fingers closed around the cold glass.

Evelyn leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. “How does it work?”

The witch’s voice was a soft, hypnotic murmur. “Slip it into her food or drink. Once ingested, she will lose control of her mind and will want to be back to you like you want.”

I took out a small bag of money, and set it down in front of her. The witch’s eyes gleamed as she took it, tucking it away without a word. She nodded, signaling that the deal was complete.

As we left, the vial tucked securely in my pocket, my heart pounded with a strange mix of anticipation and dread. This was it. I had what I needed to bring Aurora back. It would be easy enough to get someone that will lace this in her food. I had detectives and spies that I paid a good amount that was close to the palace. They would be able to do this for the right amount.

Evelyn walked beside me, her smile smug as she glanced at me. “We did it, Damian. Soon, she’ll be right where she belongs. And I will be where I belong too. Beside you, on the alter”

I forced a smile and kissed her on her forehead. The thought of Aurora being forced back to me completely out of her mind was a vision I hadn’t fully allowed myself to picture until now. Damn it. Wyatt gave me a small nod of reassurance, but I still felt concerned. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to ignore the creeping guilt gnawing at me. For now, I told myself, this was the only way. And I would see it through, no matter the cost.