Chapter 5

DAMIEN.

"Oh enough already," Maya snaps at me.

"What? What did I do?" I demand, looking over to my side to stare at her in confusion.

Maya had met me at the edge of the woods after my run. She had wanted to make sure I was in the right frame of mind to see the witch.

Which begs the question, why?

Why would she think that I would ever be in the frame of mind to welcome a witch?

Anyway, we are walking towards the mansion and she has been giving me cautious side eyes as if she is worried I would wolf out and go on a rampage.

Ridiculous.

It has been years since I have done that.

When we were killing our enemies.

"You have been grumbling under your breath for the past five minutes. It is not like I am in love with this idea either. It is a necessity."

"I know," I snap before controlling my temper. "I know, I am sorry," I say gently.

She just harrumphs in response and walls ahead of me.

I can't blame her.

We were supposed to be bonded today and instead, we are meeting up with a witch.

In my pack.

What the hell is wrong with the world today?!

"So dramatic, you humans," my wolf scoffs.

"Don't start. Not now."

"Why not?" he growls. "Our mate is hurt and alone in the pack clinic and you are here going to see a witch with your wannabe Luna."

"Hey! No. You don't talk about Maya like that. She deserves our respect. Your respect."

He is silent for a few seconds before I hear him rumble faintly. "Sorry."

"You are forgiven."

I look up to see Maya standing at the entrance of the mansion, a blank look on her face.

Great, I sigh.

I jog up to her and reach for the door.

"Were you talking to your wolf just now?" she asks, freezing me in my spot.

"Yes."

"What… what does he think about the whole thing?" she asks quietly.

I stare at her for a few seconds before answering.

"He thinks this whole thing is stupid," I say before walking in.

I don't miss the relieved sigh that sounds from her.

I am an asshole.

"You are a liar," my wolf screeches, causing me to wince.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, Maya. I am good."

"You are a bloody liar."

"I didn't lie. I just misdirected."

"Liar. You are playing with fire."

"What?"

"You say she deserves our respect and you lie to her. You are only setting her up for heartbreak. Again."

That's cold.

If it turns out that the woman is my mate, that will mean I have to let go of Maya.

She had already had her heart broken when she lost her mate, can I hurt her again like this?

I shake the thoughts out of my head, refusing to reply to my wolf's taunts, and step into the living room.

There, seated on the couch is the witch. She is being guarded by three warrior wolves.

Two by her sides and one at her back.

Smart.

"Alpha," she says as she stands up to bow.

I ignore the salute and get right to business. "What have you been told?"

I am sitting on the table facing her with Maya by my left.

Five wolves, one witch.

Enough to make her think twice about messing up.

"That there is something wrong with your- the tattoo and that I will be treated with honor if I come to help."

I cut a look at Maya who just continues to stare straight ahead.

Without saying much, I stretch forth my wrist for the witch to examine.

She reaches forward to first stare at the fading petal, before she grabs it with her hand.

Everyone moves to attack but I stop them with a growl.

I watch the witch as she trails her finger up and down the tattoo before gripping my wrist tighter and throwing her head back.

In an instant, her eyes go stark white and blue veins crawl up her throat.

"You have met your mate," she says, her voice echoing in the room.

It is as if there were different people with different intonations speaking through her.

"My mate? I was cursed to not find her," I remind her.

"Don't lie to me, boy. The spirits see everything. Your mate is here. She found you."

I look over to Maya and see that blank stare again. Even more frigid than usual.

"Do not mourn for your friend, child," the witch continued in that eerie voice, bringing my attention back to her.

"What?"

"Do not mourn, for your own time is running out."

"My time?" I question, getting even more confused.

"Yours and your mate. The curse was clear, you shall not find your mate. She found you."

Oh.

I didn't… think like that.

"And now the clock has begun. When all petals are gone, you two would cease to exist."

"Excuse me!"

The words came from Maya but I identify with it.

"What do you mean by that?" I snarl, ripping my wrist from her grip.

It is like a switch coming on. The blue veins retract, her eyes clear up and blood flows through her skin again, giving her color.

Witches freak me out.

"Exactly what I said," she says panting, clearly the trance she was in took a great toll on her. "Once those petals fade, both you and your mate will die."

"Why? Why are you witches so against us?" I demand.

"It is not us witches," she snaps in offense.

"It is one witch, one not welcomed among our society. Be careful who you rage on, you are not very innocent yourself."

Maya growls at her in defense, but I pull her back from tearing the woman in two.

She did promise the woman to be treated with honor.

"Very well, how do we stop this countdown?" I ask.

"Simple. Kill the witch and live".