Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Sierra

Monday

Another wonderful Monday morning getting ready for the first day of my senior year. It seems bittersweet to be starting my last year of high school. I hadn’t put much thought into what I was going to do after graduation, but one thing was for certain, I was getting the hell out of this small town. I want to see the world, experience what life could be like outside the walls and boundaries of this town and my family. I want to experience culture, and music, and food, and everything that comes with it. The places on my bucket list are endless. Unfortunately it is crazy expensive to travel, but I have been working since junior high to save up enough money to do some traveling after graduation. My family has always isolated themselves in this small town. They wanted to live some place that they could feel free to practice their magic. I should mention that we are definitely not your typical family, but growing up in a magical family has its pros and cons. Mom always said that my brother and I should be thankful for our gifts, that everyone isn’t so lucky. I never cared much for nurturing or practicing my gifts, but having magic makes life more convenient, and honestly it’s the only life I’ve ever known.

“Sierra”, my mom called from downstairs.

“You’re going to be late for school you better hurry up”. Her voice carries up the stairs to my room, breaking me from my daydream. I pull my brush through my long wavy brown hair a few more times, trying to make it look somewhat presentable. I take a look in the mirror at the baby blue eyes staring back at me and shrug my shoulders. Just one more year, I can do this. You would think most girls would be excited about graduation and prom, but I’m really just looking forward to being done with school, turning eighteen and being able to do what I want on my own terms.

I rush down the stairs my mom sending scouring looks my way.

“I know it’s your senior year, but you really shouldn’t be late on your first day”, my mother scolds. “It’s fine mom, I have plenty of time to get there I promise I won’t be late”, I replied as I started packing my bag.

“Hey, sis, you need a ride to school? I was headed that way. I gotta bring the car in for Joe to take a look at anyway”, my older brother Dave shouts from the kitchen.

“Oh jeeze I’m not getting in that death trap with you”, I giggle.

“Aw, c‘ mon it’s not that bad it just makes the loud banging sound sometimes”, he smirks.

Dave is older than me and graduated high school three years ago. Since then he has stuck around town doing odds and ends, never really choosing a career for himself. Rumor has it he’s positioning himself to run for high council of the town, although someone his age has never been considered before. I personally think he would be great at it, but there are still a lot of traditional witches and wizards in this town that are resistant to change. Especially the type of change that Dave would bring with him were he elected.

The council is typically run by a bunch of old men who believe and make decisions solely on tradition. It would be nice to have someone on the council to advocate for us younger witches and wizards, but I worry Dave’s efforts are in vain. Dave is probably the most accomplished young wizard in our town. In my opinion he’s more than qualified, but taking a council seat is not that easy. He has to run against other wizards who want the title of council member and everyone in the town over the age of 16 gets a vote. Elder Wynn steps down this weekend during the equinox so Dave will start officially campaigning at his farewell party. Anyone interested in running will have 60 days to campaign before the vote is cast. It almost seems unfair to have such little time to win over the town, but technically all those who are planning to run must wait until Elder Wynn officially steps down out of respect for his title. Even though those are the “rules” everyone knows if you want to actually win you need to start secretly campaigning earlier than that. That is why Dave does odds and ends around town, to make himself noticed with all the citizens of the town, old and young alike.

This weekend will be a spectacle to say the least. Our magic is particularly present and significantly stronger during celestial times such as an equinox, solstice, or full moon. Elder Wynn has decided to step down on the autumn equinox since it is close to his 70th birthday. We will celebrate his stepping down and birthday all in one celebration. It will be the highlight of the year for the town and an event that the town will talk about for months. Other wizard families will be visiting from other nearby towns, as well as the alpha of the nearby werewolf pack with whom we share a border.

We have always lived peacefully with the werewolves. They mostly keep to themselves, and we show them the same courtesy. I assume the Alpha and his family will attend just to pay their respects to Elder Wynn and ensure that their treaty with the council remains.

“I’ll see you after school”, I shout to my Mom and Dave as I make my way out the door and start walking in the direction of school, deciding that walking even in the September heat is better than dying in Dave’s death trap. I almost hope he gets the council seat just so he can afford to get a new car.

On the corner I spot Alyssa, my best friend since we were three. I was never lucky enough to have a sister, but Alyssa is and always will be the closest thing.

“You tryin to make us late for first period” she shouted down the street at me, flipping her long blonde hair over and pulling it into a high pony tail.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, calm down!”

I breathe in the hot summer air as I make my way down the sidewalk to meet Alyssa. It was still only September so the summer heat had not quite left yet and the leaves had not changed. I was so ready for the cooler temperatures, yummy pumpkin spice lattes from our local coffee shop, and cozy sweaters. If it were up to me we’d have fall weather all year round.

“Jeeze where’s your mind at today girl”, Alyssa quips.

“I don’t know just caught up in my own thoughts I guess. I’m not ready for another school year I just can’t wait for it to all be over”

“Oh c’mon senior year is supposed to be fun! Make memories and all that! Plus… PROM!!” She screamed as she twirled in a circle and pretended as if she had on an expensive ball gown.

I glare at her. She knows I despise dressing up. If it were up to me I’d wear yoga pants and big sweaters everyday.

We make it to school in five minutes flat. I quickly realize that I do not have a single class with Alyssa this year which totally bums me out. I doubled down on all honors and AP classes while Alyssa barely ever made a ”B” in any class she took. I guess it kind of seems silly to try so hard at school especially for those looking to settle down in our town, but I hate the idea of just succumbing and marrying someone right out of high school and popping out a bunch of babies. Living in the whole white picket fence Stepford wives stereotype was not something I had envisioned for myself. Why go to high school at all if they just want you to marry off and continue to populate the town? It was ridiculous if you ask me.

I honestly hadn’t thought much of going to college, but if it was the only way to get out of this town I would totally be up for it. I knew I would be applying to at least a few in the upcoming weeks.

“Well I have work this afternoon at the bakery. Stop by will you?” I shout to Alyssa as I see her blonde hair bobbing down the hallway.

“I don’t know I have to see what Jace wants to do.”

“Ugh you’re back with him again! Get it together girl and make up your mind!!!” I scold her as I lose sight of her down the hallway.

Her and Jace have been on and off again boyfriend and girlfriend since freshman year. I swear they must hold the record for the most break ups and make ups of all time. In my honest opinion he’s a total douchebag who doesn’t deserve her, but she keeps going back for more. She says it’s love, but I’ve never even kissed a boy let alone been in love so what do I know.

I shrug my shoulders take in a big deep breath and work my way towards my first class of the year. Well, here goes nothing.

Before I know it the first week of school has flown by. Tomorrow is Friday and I couldn’t be more thankful for the weekend to come. I regret taking on such a heavy workload because I already have 3 papers due on Monday. Even though Elder Wynn’s ceremony is this Saturday my teachers showed no mercy in piling on the work.

“Girl I have the best news!” Alyssa yells at me, running down the hall at full speed, almost knocking me over. “All the seniors decided to put on a bonfire on the outskirts of town after Elder Wynn’s ceremony!”

You wouldn’t think anything strange of a bunch of high school seniors throwing a bonfire party, but when magic was involved it could get very dangerous. The more alcohol they consumed the more they tried to create creatures from the fire. Last year they almost burned down half of the woods and the Elder’s were pissed. Thankfully our neighbors, the werewolf pack, didn’t throw a fit.

“Uh, is that a good idea? We’re going to have people visiting from other towns and the Alpha will be in town. What if it gets out of hand again?” I asked

“Oh c’mon don’t be a Debbie Downer! It’ll be fun!” She said as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

“I’ll think about it, but honestly I have a ton of homework to do this weekend”. I’d rather stay home and avoid them all, but I know at the very least Elder Wynn’s ceremony is mandatory for the entire town, and even if it wasn’t Alyssa would drag me kicking and screaming.

“You better not disappointment me!” She shouted after me as I started walking towards home.

As I walked in the door hoping to sneak past everyone and head straight for my room, I was spotted by Dad. He was in the kitchen making himself a sandwich when he stopped me in my tracks. He motioned for me to sit down at the kitchen island and smiled at me while he took a bite of his masterpiece.

“Soooo how’s your first week of school going?”, he smiled warmly.

“Oh you know, school is school.” I smirked.

“Yea I get that just remember to cherish these moments because before you know it you’ll be an old fart like me”, he laughed and winked. Dad was so carefree and devilishly handsome. He did not look anywhere near his age. As much as I loved mom and Dave my Dad and I always had a special bond. I guess you could say I was a typical daddy’s girl. If I were to go to college after I graduate I’d want to become a doctor like Dad. I practically grew up at the town hospital watching my Dad treat patients and take care of everyone. He has always been so selfless and it’s one of the things I love about him.

“Where’s your mom and brother? I have something I have to tell you three!” He said looking around. “Sam, Dave! Can you come into the living room” Dad yelled.

“What is it dear?” As mom walked from the backyard, through our kitchen into the living area. Our house had a very airy feel. It was open concept and very modern. From the front door you could see straight through the family room through the kitchen to our backyard. Since Dad was a very well respected doctor, and honestly the only one in town, we had one of the largest houses on the street, and in the town for that matter. Dad was an amazing doctor and although many of our ailments could be healed by potions or spells it was sometimes easier to get a couple of stitches or some Tylenol to help the healing process along. Magic can heal, but only to an extent. There are stories that are taught to us at a young age that there are some witches and wizards with magical powers strong enough to heal any ailment, but no one has met one in centuries. Now we just mix magic with modern medicine, and it still helps us heal faster than the average human.

“I have news for all of you” Dad announced as Dave walked in.

“What’s goin’ on dad?”

“We have been selected by the council to host the alpha and his son for Elder Wynn’s stepping down ceremony”

“What?!?” My mother gasped. “John I will not have werewolves in my house you know how I feel about them!”

“Alpha Leo and his son are very nice and have never caused any issues. Besides we don’t have any choice the council chose our family”.

“Son”, Dad said looking towards Dave, “if you want to run for council you’ll be working with them so this would be a great opportunity to get to know them”.

“I don’t have any issues with them staying here dad you know that. It’s mom that’s freaking out”, Dave laughed

“Look I’m sure they’re nice people, but they’re outsiders” Dad glared at her.

“But, seeing as we have no choice…” Mom sighed, rubbing her hand over her face. Dad turned and looked at me last.

“Whatever doesn’t make any difference to me”, I said.

“Good, it’s settled then. So what’s for dinner, I’m starved” Dad said finishing off his sandwich and rubbing his stomach like he was Winnie the Pooh looking for a jar of honey. The man could eat seventy times a day and still be hungry.

Having Alpha Leo, and his son in our house didn’t bother me. The guest wing was on the other side of the house so I doubt I’d even see them between work and the pile of homework I had. I was always content staying in my room digging my head into a book or listening to music. Being alone never really bothered me.

Since we had one of the larger homes, we more then enough space to accommodate guests. On occasion dad also helped the pack doctor when they were busy or if they needed a second opinion on something. It’s not as if we could just go to a human hospital and explain that we were witches and werewolves. With their wolves giving them extra healing and our magic helping us to heal a human doctor would easily realize something was up. Dad has been on the pack’s land several times and worked closely with the werewolves so it wasn’t anything unusual for him. As for me I has never met a werewolf even though they live so close. The council is very adamant that we keep our towns and people separate. I had, however, heard stories about Alpha Leo and his son.