SHILHI’S POVI threw the last mandrake into the cauldron pot as I prepared another set of potions for Alpha Zadok. Joy filled my heart at the thought of his face when he finally realised what a fool he was - A joy I planned to share with the exterminated clan of witches after I sacrificed them at the heart of the dark forest. Poor Ithra. I wondered how she would feel knowing she was but a means to an end. The pot’s content boiled under the threshing fire, and I put in the secret ingredient of the Alpha’s potion - A sealing spell. My mouth moved, and murmurs of chants filled the air. The pot grew green, and a wicked smile touched my lips.Everything was perfect. It was only a matter of time before I took my revenge and made the werewolf race pay for the evils wrought against the witches. After 12 years, everything was finally coming into place. I dished the potions into small bottles and left them on a table in the greenhouse, just beside another bottle that held the consciousnes
ZADOKIthra stayed glued to me in a tight embrace. I tapped her back as she held tightly to me. “It’s okay,” I managed to say, “It’s over.”We remained like that for a while, and slowly, her breathing normalised. I fought against asking her why she left without a word, but I knew it wasn’t the right time. Shilhi’s words strongly reverberated inside me. I couldn’t scare her away If this thing would work between us. I needed her. And with the looks of things, she needed me to survive in this forest and get our desired results. We needed to work together.I knew that, seeing her nearly give up to the Sirion told me just how vulnerable she was to the beasts that lurked in this forest alone. It scared me how easy it was for them to kill her and bring doom to my mission. There and then, I vowed never to let her out of my sight. She needed me as much as I did her. I just had to make her see it. “Thank you,” Ithra said after stepping away from me. Her voice was so low. I almost didn’t
ITHRA Zadok’s words struck a chord within me. It was the first time I had heard about such a thing. Not only was the forest hostile to witches, but it only gave one opportunity to visit. Which meant I only had one chance to achieve my goal - one chance to get my power. I couldn’t fail. If I did, I might as well kiss my powers and clan goodbye. The only way I could be free from the Blood Hound pack was if I got hold of my powers. “What do you say? Are you willing to put the past behind you and work together?” Zadok asked. I could hear the desperation and vulnerability in his tone. He wanted me to choose him. He wanted me to help him break the curse and get the ghost orchid. I wondered how he would feel if he knew that the ghost orchid he needed to break his curse was the same way I needed to protect my clan. There was a conflict of our interests. As much as I’d love to help, I couldn’t do that to the detriment of my people. “This alliance cannot work.” I finally said, “
ZADOK “You don’t trust me,” I said after a long silence. Ithra didn’t budge - confirming my assumptions. I let out a brief laugh, “After everything? I told you all there is to know about me, and you still don’t trust me enough to continue the journey with me?” My tone was bitter. Because worse than turning me down, I hated not being trusted. I hated that she chose to keep her guard up when I lowered mine to the ground. “Trust is earned, not demanded.” “I just saved your life.” I pointed out, “I also just told you how valuable you are to me. You couldn’t possibly think I have something bad in mind.” “And there you go again.” She sighed, “Rubbing that you saved me in my face.” I raked my palm through my hair, “Listen. I just want us to be together. This forest is crawling with beasts that you can’t imagine. We have a better chance at survival together than alone.” Ithra’s eyes remained on mine. It seemed like she was contemplating my words. “We will split ways at the f
ITHRA“Stand back,” Zadok said in a low voice.His eyes focused on the sleeping Boar while mine remained on the book. “I need to get the book. I’ll be quiet.” I said, and without waiting for a reply, walked towards the beast with steady steps. Before I could take one step, Zadok dragged me back by the arm. “Are you stupid?!” he whisper-yelled. “Or are you trying to get yourself killed?”“Leave me alone,” I replied in a hushed tone. “It’s asleep. I’ll just get the book, and we will be off.”I made to move, and he held me back, much to my frustration. “You know what?” He said, holding his forehead in an exasperated manner. “Just stay back. I will get it myself.”It was my turn to hold him back. “What do you mean?” I asked in a hushed tone, picking offence. “I am more than capable of handling it.”“We don’t have time for this, Ithra,” Zadok said in a slightly raised voice. “I’ll quickly get it, and we will be on our way.”I didn’t hear what he was saying. My eyes widened to the size
ZADOKI watched with horror as Ithra charged at the boar from behind, holding a sharpened wood. She was trying to kill herself!The boar noticed her as soon as she got closer and turned around with agility. Scared for her life, I charged at the boar from behind, hoping to get its attention away from Ithra to enable her to run away, but to no avail. They were far too gone to stop. Ithra went face to face with the boar, tightly holding a sharpened wood in her right hand. Her face was taut, and I could see determination coursing through her. It happened so fast. Within a second, Ithra jumped into the air and stuck the beast at the centre of the head using her makeshift knife. My eyes went wide when I saw blood pour from the head of the boar. It tumbled to the floor and breathed its last.I couldn’t believe it. Ithra did it. She took on the darned beast and won! My heart was relieved, and joy sprang instead of the horror I’d felt - one that knew no bounds. Ithra looked at the boar w
ITHRA“Don’t be silly,” I stated, pushing my hair to the back of my ear. I took in the dark waters before me and felt my heart shrink in fear. “Yes, you are,” Zadok said, scrutinising me with his eyes. “Is there a reason why?”“I said I am alright!” My words came out harsher than intended. He raised his hands in mock surrender and said, “No need to bite. I was only making sure.” Zadok walked ahead without sparing me a glance. I could tell he was offended. I couldn’t find it within me to care. As a child, they warned against getting close to water. The only thing that could neutralise a Celts witch’s power was water - water in its large body. Thankfully, I never experienced the horror of what water could do to a Celt’s witch, seeing I didn’t have powers. But I was no stranger to what it could do to a witch. I once watched a witch get traumatised by a mere hallucination of an ocean conjured by a witch as an attempt at a joke. There, my mother placed a ban on casting such a spell
ITHRA I relaxed on the tree and finished off the remains of my roasted meat. I couldn’t lie. Zadok was one hell of a cook. It made me wonder just how many things he excelled in. My eyes raked over his sturdy back as he stood watch a few metres away from me. He felt my gaze and said without glancing back, “Done having dinner?” He stated. “Yes, thank you.” I find myself replying. We shared a moment of silence before I spoke again. “Do you plan on staying there all night long?” “Someone’s got to keep watch.” He answered with a shrug. “You can go to bed.” I resist the urge to say something rude. “If you are staying awake, why can’t I?” A brief and tired sigh left Zadok’s lips. For the first time, I saw his shoulders sag. How tired was he? “I don’t have enough strength to bicker with you, Ithra.” He said, finally turning around. “Go to bed already. We have a long day ahead.”
ITHRA’S POV I woke up with a moan. Zadok was between my legs. This has been the case since I was declared ready and fit to go home. I couldn’t believe I survived. And that with Logan intact - my little fighter. When I woke up, I was unable to use my body or legs properly, I remembered the relief I felt when the news broke that my baby had survived the poison given to me by Cole. They said he had a will to fight and three months down the line, he was still kicking and ready to come out - our hybrid baby. Zadok licked me and I let out a soft moan, “Baby...” “Good morning, Amore.” He said with his face between my legs. His breath caused a vibrating feeling down my cooch and I bit my lips in ecstasy. “Zadok,” I muttered, and his finger slipped into my core. A shiver passed through my body and I felt my baby kick. “I want you.” He said, “I want you in all the way possible.” I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of his hands on my body. His fingers went in and out of me, increa
ZADOK’S POV I held Ithra’s hand while they attended to her. “How is she? And my baby?” I stuttered, unable to swallow. She looked too thin. Our baby bump was showing but she was yet to wake up. It’s been three days already. “Her body is weak, and the baby has been poisoned. We are trying to save their lives but the odds are not in our favour.” I got on my feet and held the shirt of the doctor. “You will save both their lives!” I roared in his face and he looked scared out of his wits. “You will save them both or I will have your head.” Azriel stepped in front of me, holding me back. “Alpha. You need to let them do their job. Staying here and scaring them out of their wits will only hinder the smooth operation and speed recovery of the Luna.” “What am I supposed to do?” I asked, breathing heavily. “What am I supposed to do when my mate is lying lifeless and I risk losing her and my baby?!” Azriel maintained silence. He knew I was at my wit's end and was capable of doing a
AZRIEL’S POV I figured out the best way to rescue the Luna that night. You can imagine my shock when I came to share my progress with the Alpha and found him gone with a note that he was taking a head-start. My shock grew when my spies in the Moon Light pack informed me of Zadok’s arrest and his close execution. I was already on my way with the warriors when Athaliah’s message of Zadok’s impending death was delivered. We got to the pack at midnight, and according to my three-month-old plan, we infiltrated the borders, clearing the guards while keeping a low profile. The heavens must have smiled at us because the entire pack was gathered for an announcement, making our entrance, swift and painless. By the time they were done crowning Athaliah Luna, we were mixed in the crowd, and brushing the dungeons for signs of the Alpha and Luna. Soon enough, news of our arrival spread and warriors were dispatched to the dungeons, seeking us out. It soon became a warzone, and I killed ever
ATHALIAH’S POV I was one step closer to my goal. I walked down the aisle with a faux smile, while Cole stood in the portal with an impatient look on his face. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on the prisoners and I could understand that. A sudden assembly had been called to welcome me as the new Luna of the Moon Light pack. I heard the whispers. They couldn’t believe that I had climbed my way up to snagging the position of Luna. Thanks to Ithra’s sudden pregnancy, Cole decided she had been tainted and could not serve as his luna. However, he had every intention of making her his slave after killing the bastard that grew in her stomach. But of course, his crazy obsessive mind couldn’t deal with the thought of killing Ithra with her baby, so he sought ways to kill the growing child while keeping its mother’s life. Hence, her imprisonment in the dungeons, coupled with the timely administration of abortive potions. Live long enough and you will see a lot of things. In the thic
ZADOK’S POV “This is useless!” I banged my fist on my office desk. “I need to leave. I need to get her out.” Azriel, the ever voice of reason spoke first. “I understand your reasons. But we need to cover all bases before we rescue her from Cole’s hold. It’s one thing to sneak you into the pack, but It’s another to take her out in one clean try.” “I don’t care! I don’t care anymore.” I said, getting up on my feet. “If it will take a war to get her out, then rally the warriors. Because I’m done with this shit!” “We can’t go to war.” Azriel's tone was levelled. “That would be us sending people to their deaths with the risk of coming up empty.” “I don’t care what you think. I need to go back and retrieve her. If you are unable to come up with a plan, then rally up the warriors, we move in three days.” “We can’t go to war.” He said and I saw red. “And why the hell not?!” “Athaliah.” He said and my anger rose to an all-time high. “She is the new beta of the Moon Light pack and
ITHRA’S POV It’s been three months. Three months since he visited me, promising to return and save me from this insanity. Every day I woke up with hope, waiting for him to save me like he promised - only to be disappointed when night fell and there was no appearance of him in my room or the Moonlight pack. A lot happened this past few months. After my sizzling night with him, I decided to prepare. I woke up that morning, wore my clothes and pretended I couldn’t feel the ache or hollow between my legs that yearned to be filled by him. I went about my life like a docile bride, doing everything within reason to convince Cole I had submitted to him. The first few weeks were tricky, seeing he didn’t believe my act and thought I had something planned. However, as we approached the third month, Cole was convinced of my acts and took every opportunity to show me off as one whom he managed to bend to his standards. Kissing up to Cole had its ups and downs. For starters, I was no long
ITHRA’S POV I returned to my room from dinner with Cole, escorted by two guards. Dinner with Cole was painful. Listening to him yap about how I needed to be good to enjoy more of these ‘privileges’ with him made my stomach churn. I sat there like a moron while he fussed over me like he didn’t beat me a while ago. I could feel my sanity dwindling the more I remained here. Much more than anything, I craved freedom. Freedom that Cole has vowed never to give me. I was trapped in an insane nightmare that was my life. One would think I have suffered enough to experience peace but whoever wrote my story thought otherwise. We arrived in front of my door and they opened it, silently urging me inside the dark room. I walked in and the door was shut and locked. I sighed and felt the walls around me, looking for a light switch. Soon enough, light flooded my room, or should I say - my prison and the first thing I saw was a dark shadow standing by my window. Startled, I blinked, grabbing
AZRIEL’S POVThis madness ends today.I thought as I marched to Zadok’s office with proof of why we must rescue Ithra.Yes, I was beyond convinced she was the one. My instinct had once again been proved right and if the Alpha refused to take action this time, I would do so myself.She was my half-sister after all.I knocked on the door and Zadok ordered me in. His face was a wreck as always. I didn’t care. I was done doing things on his terms. If there would be any further proceeding with us, then he needed to get out of that self-depreciating slum or I would yank him out myself.Damn the consequences.
ITHRA’S POVThe sound of the metal door opening stirred me awake.“Rise and shine, Luna,” Athaliah said with a smile.I felt weak. Too weak to say a word to her.“Thankfully, your mate is better and he has ordered to have you out of here.” She said with a clasp and some men entered my cell. “Seeing you can’t help yourself, I thought to bring some guards to speed the transfer.” She added with a smirk and the guards picked me up roughly.I felt pathetic. I couldn’t even fight back as they roughly dragged me through the concrete floor, leaving me with bruises and scratches.By the time I returned to my room