5. Decisions

.**Aminda**

I had just showered and lay on my bed wearing my white bathrobe. I was still sore from my earlier encounter with Kian. As I touched my mark, I smiled. He was so possessive of me; he wanted me as his Luna—Queen Luna Aminda. I liked the sound of it, but I could never let that happen. I couldn’t forfeit my responsibilities. We could be lovers, though. I still didn’t fully understand how the mate bond worked with werewolves. It was strange when I heard him in my head. I would need to do some research.

Suddenly, my door burst open, and I sat up. Alister stood in front of me, his eyes filled with lust as he looked me over.

“Have you ever heard of knocking?” I spat at him, holding my robe tightly.

"Your guards told me the mutt went to see you at the institute."

"My guards? They're your spies. I never agreed to have guards," I scoffed. He shifted his posture into something more threatening.

"Listen, Rabbit, if you keep seeing that mutt, I must hurt him. Not only him, but I will finish his whole family. I will burn that pack down. Not even the ashes will remain after I'm done with them." He pointed at me as he spoke.

"What is it to you? It’s none of your business who I sleep with. Do you think I’d prefer your centuries-old cock over his? If you touch a single hair on him, I will end you."

An evil grin spread across his face.

"Tut, tut, little Rabbit. I’ve taken precautions. It won’t be easy for you to get rid of me."

He walked closer to me, and I didn’t move. I was no longer afraid of him.

"Tell me, pretty bunny," his voice was taunting and sickeningly sweet. Have you ever asked yourself if your father is really dead?" He grabbed a lock of my hair and pulled it close to his nose, exaggeratingly inhaling its scent. Vanilla and honey. My favorites." He winked.

"What do you mean, Alister?"

"There are some things your mother hasn’t told you, but I’m willing to help you for the right incentive." His lascivious stare lingered on my cleavage. "I’m dying to test my theory, Rabbit. Are you sweeter than your mother?"

I slapped him so hard my wrist hurt. As I rubbed it, he grabbed me and threw me onto the bed. My robe opened, exposing my breasts. The sight made his mouth water. "Fuck, Rabbit, I knew they’d be the same shade of pink as your lips." His voice came out shuddering, bringing goosebumps all over my body. He was disgusting. I pushed him away, making him crash against the wall.

"Leave, or I’ll call Aunt Marilla. Once I become Witch Supreme, the first thing I’ll do is get rid of you." He walked toward the door with a sardonic laugh.

"That’s what you think, Rabbit. I told you the day you were no longer pure, I would make you mine. I have worked hard to get where I am, and you’re my prize."

I slammed the door in his face with a flick of my hand. If I stayed there for another minute, I would go crazy. I quickly wore a glittery blue mini-skirt, a white crop top with low cleavage, and high heels. I texted Bessa that I was heading to her house. I needed some time alone with my thoughts.

As I went downstairs, I found my mother arranging some flower vases.

"Mother, stop doing that. You know flowers don’t last here with all the negativity Aunt Marilla and Alister emit." She chuckled. She was so beautiful; she didn’t look a day over thirty.

"Are you going out, Aminda baby? Please take care."

"I am a mother. But when I return, I’ll have a serious conversation with you… about Father."

She looked taken aback but nodded. Just then, Alister slithered in from the hallway.

"Coraline, I need you in our room now!"

"But we just…"

"I said now, Coraline!"

Mother hurried upstairs, and Alister followed her. He turned to see me licking my lips. "I’ll keep trying second best for now." He laughed as he loosened his tie and continued on his way upstairs. Soon, Alister, your time is ticking. Once the black magic candle in Aunt Marilla’s niche finishes consuming, the crown and the rest of my powers will be bestowed upon me. I opened a mental image of the candle. It was almost finished—any day now.

Deandra was already there when I arrived at Bessa's place. Her hair was completely blue.

"You dyed your hair? I like it!" I said. She ran her hand over it, and it turned back to her usual black.

"Just magically. We’re making TikTok videos! Look, blue again. Change yours, too. Come on, Bessa, we’re three now. This video will go viral."

I ran my hand over my hair, and it turned hot pink.

Bessa put the TikTok video on her phone so we could learn the steps. It was the new TikTok sensation, the Cukak dance. It was relatively easy, and after a few tries and many laughs, it came out perfect. Deandra sat on the floor to edit it and posted it online. There was a ping sound on my phone when I got the notification. I opened it and burst out laughing.

"#witchsupreme #thepowerofthree #witches #bestfriendsforever. Never a dull moment with you girls."

"So, Aminda, how are things going with your super hot werewolf? What did he want today when he came looking for you?" Bessa asked as she conjured a bowl of popcorn and some juices.

"Well, he wants me to be his Luna. You know he's the future Alpha King and insists that he needs me to claim his throne."

"He kinda does. My mother has always been fascinated by werewolf culture and shares interesting facts with me," Bessa said as she helped herself to some popcorn.

"He says I'm his fated mate."

"No way!" they both exclaimed.

"Oh yeah, I haven't shown you the huge mark he left on my neck." I tilted my head to the side to reveal the mark again.

"Wow, Aminda, it's beautiful," Deandra said.

"He marked you as his," Bessa exclaimed as she opened a book about werewolves.

"According to this book, once you're marked, all other werewolves can scent who you belong to. They'll know you're their Luna."

"That is so romantic, Aminda. What will you do? Their Goddess chose you for him." Deandra's eyes turned dreamy.

"Well, he had no right, Deandra. I'm not a werewolf. I have my own kingdom to rule and my own battles to fight."

"Are you going to keep seeing him?" Bessa asked hopefully.

"Alister has put a price on his head, but next time I see Kian, I'll put a protective spell on him. I'm not ready to let him go just yet. The sex with him is amazing. We did it again today."

The girls squealed and began talking over each other.

"On school grounds?!"

"Right against the wall. I'm sore all over. He's a brute, but I like him. We could be lovers if he's up for it."

Bessa looked pitiful. "It's sad for him. You're his fated mate. To him, you're already everything. Don't you feel something more for him than lust?"

"It's strange. Since the first time I saw him, he's all I see. He has ruined all other men for me. When he touches me, I feel delicious sparkles all over my body."

"That's the mate bond!" Bessa exclaimed.

"I can see myself falling for him, but you know it's impossible. Imagine uniting both kingdoms—werewolves and witches. It sounds crazy."

Deandra looked at me intently. "But you'll be our Queen Supreme. The most powerful of all. It has to have its perks. Maybe you can make that happen."

"Seriously, Aminda. Or would you rather see your hunk take another woman as his Luna?"

A strange sensation washed over me. Could this be jealousy? He's mine. Nobody else is worthy of him.

"We'll see where we go from here. It's too early to speculate," I said, feeling unconvinced.

Deandra started jumping gleefully, staring at her phone. "Look how many views we've already gotten—thousands!!"

The three of us stared at the video playing on the app. We were wearing very short skirts and high heels. I was in the middle, with my hair dyed hot pink, Deandra's was blue, and Bessa's was purple. The views were closing in on a million.

"We do look sexy. I hope Alister doesn't use TikTok. I'd hate for him to use it to... you know," I thought to myself with disdain.

The girls laughed.

"Aminda, do you have Kian's phone number?"

"Now that you mention it, Bessa, we do other things every time we meet. We haven't even gotten to exchanging contact numbers and addresses yet."

"That's so hot! I need to get myself a boyfriend. Kian will definitely see this video, though. If it's true that werewolves are possessive, he won't be happy about it. You look freakishly hot."

"Oh, Bummer."