Episode 3

“Ahhhh!” I woke with a loud cry, my eyes snapping open as I jerked up from where I had been lying. Sweat poured down my face, and my heart raced as if I had just finished running a marathon. Taking in my surroundings, I realized I was back in my own life, and that's when I saw the black-haired witch enter.

"What the fuck was that?!" I shouted at her, struggling to catch my breath.

"Congratulations, your ritual is complete," she replied, smiling warmly at me. In the blink of an eye, I found myself back in my beautifully furnished bedroom in my mother's castle.

"What the actual fuck," I muttered to myself, still trying to comprehend what had just occurred. I attempted to stand up from my bed, but my legs felt weak, causing me to collapse onto the floor.

"Shit!" I cursed, trying to get back up, but my efforts were in vain. I decided to call out for my personal maid.

"Ellen!" I yelled as loudly as I could, but there was no response. So I resorted to using telepathy to summon her.

Wait, what? Did I just do that? I couldn't use telepathy until that moment. The witch was right. I was beginning to manifest my mother's powers.

I heard my door fly open almost immediately. "Goodness gracious, Ma'am," Ellen gasped, her hands covering her mouth. Without wasting any more time, she hurried toward me and helped me up.

I still couldn't stand on my own, so she assisted me back to my bed.

"Ellen, what's happening?" I asked, feeling utterly bewildered.

"The entire community has been searching for you. We thought you were gone. We thought the alphas had taken you," she explained, and I scoffed.

"Yeah, right. The alphas wouldn't stand a chance," I smirked, and she smiled warmly in response.

"How long has it been?" I inquired, hoping to find answers for my inability to walk.

"It's been two months, Ma'am. You look like..." she started, but I cut her off. "Two months?!" I exclaimed, my head spinning as I struggled to comprehend the fact that my mere two-day absence had translated into two months for my community.

"Yes, Ma'am, and so much has changed," she replied, looking slightly uneasy as if it was difficult for her to say the next piece of information.

"Like what, Ellen?" I commanded, my rage growing as I already anticipated what she was about to say.

"Your sister has returned," she uttered, immediately averting her gaze to the floor, unable to meet my eyes.

Of all the things I had speculated in my mind, the return of my sister was the last I could have imagined. Never in my wildest dreams. Had she forgotten what she did to us?

My sister had been banished from the Coven when I was only sixteen. She was a wicked witch who wasted no time in harming even our own kind. Before my mother took her and locked her away, she caused significant damage. Since my mother held the key to keeping her locked in the void, Amanda has finally returned now that our mother is dead.

"What?" I asked, utterly incredulous.

"Yes, and she currently sits on your mother's throne," she dropped the final bomb, and I was consumed by anger. I pounded my hands on the bed, inadvertently setting a portion of the sheets ablaze, which quickly turned to ash.

I gasped at the mess I had created. I still wasn't accustomed to my mother's powers, so whenever I grew angry, they seemed to have a mind of their own.

"I'll clean this up," Hellen said, looking visibly uncomfortable and afraid.

"Go do your thing," I told her, my anger still simmering as I dealt with the weight of the news I had just received. I contemplated in my mind how I would confront my sister. Our relationship had never been the best. She used to bully me relentlessly when we were young, but deep down, I always believed she was scared. Despite the harm she caused others in our community, she never laid a finger on me, always protecting me. I wondered how she would feel now, after we had locked her away for eight long years.

With Ellen's assistance, I managed to get into my chair since I couldn't stand on my own. My legs had grown weak from two months of disuse, and frustration gnawed at me.

"Is she searching for me?" I finally broke the silence, my mind filled with thoughts. "Yes, she is," Hellen replied, unable to meet my gaze as she tidied up my bed.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, swallowing hard. I didn't want to confront my sister while in this crippled state. I had to find a way to regain my ability to walk as soon as possible.

"Make sure nobody knows I'm here. I mean it, under no circumstances should anyone find out. Do you understand?" I commanded, and she nodded. Using her magic, she concealed the hole in my bed, then retrieved fresh sheets from my wardrobe, making the bed appear fresh and new once again.

"Go get me Grace," I instructed at last. She bowed slightly before me and hurried off, closing the door behind her.

I used my magic to tighten my locks from where I was seated so no one would enter unless I authorized it.

Not long after, screams pierced the air outside my window. My mother's castle was fortified with high fences and a massive gate. We had even brought the village market inside the castle grounds, allowing people to carry out their daily activities under our watchful eyes.

It was meant to be a bustling day, but suddenly the air filled with screams and the chaotic sounds of people running. My senses sharpened as I strained to listen to the commotion outside. Seated in my chair, unable to walk, I made the decision to crawl toward the window beside my bed. With a lot of effort, I managed to get on my feet, supporting myself with the metal rails that protected my window. I peered through the window and caught a scent of blood that didn't belong to a witch. Only the Coven Queen possessed such powers, and it dawned on me that the werewolves were targeting us once more.

How could I protect my people in this feeble state? As I looked outside, gasping for breath and pondering my next move, my eyes fell upon two extremely attractive men who I had never seen before. Although others were still scurrying about in panic, I sensed that these two Alphas were not the only ones present.

Muttering incantations under my breath, I conjured the largest tornado I had ever seen, creating a distraction. Then, with my weakened and disabled body, I began hurling fireballs and ice balls at them, hoping to scare them away.

In the midst of my magical assault, one of the men I had noticed earlier caught sight of me. I instinctively tried to duck, but ended up falling flat on the floor, praying he hadn't spotted me. Unfortunately, he did. He rushed toward my window, growling like the wolf he was, attempting to intimidate me.

I scrambled to my feet and locked eyes with him. He was undoubtedly the most strikingly handsome wolf I had ever encountered, his fangs bared and ready to bite, yet my window shielded me. I spat at him in a bid to aggravate his anger, but to my surprise, he let out a hearty laugh.

"Leave my people alone. Now," I commanded, my eyes ablaze with fire. He gave me a perplexed look.

"You're not Eloise," he remarked, still appearing puzzled.

"Of course I'm not, you idiot. If you're so brave, come face us when we are prepared instead of acting like a coward and attacking us when we least expect it," I snapped at him, his face mere inches away. He paused for a moment, lost in thought, then nodded.

"Alright. Until we meet again," he said, mockingly bowing with a foolish grin that irritated me.

I watched as he went to gather his brothers, signaling for all of them to depart.

"The woman has ordered a battle between the alphas and the witches. But this time, they must be prepared. It will be an arranged battle," he loudly declared, making sure that I could hear every word.

"Fuck," I muttered, knowing my people were already tired of those wolves but always ready to fight them with all their might.