How long will he cling to this determination? How long until my magick wanes and I become visible?
He’s the Alpha’s son; the second in pack hierarchy, if I were assuming. Which probably means he’ll be at the meeting tonight, and if he were to spot me now and later recognize me,there’s no telling what he’ll do with this information—and that’sifhe lets me leave here alive.
Lost in thought, I miss exactly what changed when his eyes flash silver and nostrils flare again with a rumble from his chest that—oddly enough—vibrates through my stomach. Though, that may be nerves.
When his body stiffens, haunting, ethereal eyes flick right to my face.
Still, until knowing for certain he’s somehow able to see through my spell, I remain unmoving. Even my lungs stop taking in air, scared to disrupt a speck of the forest that’d give away my location.
“Well…” His tongue flicks his bottom lip. “You’re a long way from home, aren’t you, witch?”
Three
RYDER
After Freya’s visit,I hide the vial inside my cabin until the time comes to use it. Alpha or not, trusting a witch when attempting to kidnap another will lead to questions, so I don’t speak a word of it to anyone, the elders and Xander included.
Dad’s aged a decade throughout the course of the night. Without a way to ease the cursed magick, Marissa is stuck doing whatever she can to make him comfortable and hope he sleeps the week away until the witches return.
Being helpless while holding a position meant to have power and authority makes everything seem pointless. Being Alpha means being responsible for everyone here—and I’m failing my own father.
It was only Xander’s ongoing reminders about the meeting tonight that have prevented me from ripping into the town and hunting Carina, despite not knowing what she looks like. All the hesitation felt when the other coven gave me this task faded throughout the night. No matter what conflict it initiates, Dad comes first.
There are only hours before the meeting with Highridge Coven. I’m tense and on edge, so before my control goescompletely to shit, I leave Xander in charge and escape to the one place that always provides solace—a refuge protected by my mother’s soul.
Standing by the pond doesn’t give me the usual tranquility. Something in the air feels tenser today. Though, that may be my nerves. Frayed and hours away from snapping and causing a bigger fight when I inevitably get aggravated by not having a proper plan.
The wind changes directions, a different scent suddenly fills my nostrils. I lower my arms from where I’m about to tear out my hair in frustration. It’s coming from somewhere behind me but relatively close too. It’s nothing I can place, but it has my wolf clawing for release, to chase, hunt, anddevour.
As I turn for the patch of woods, I inhale as much of the surrounding scents as possible, mentally cataloguing all the familiar ones: the water from the pond, the crinkly early-fall grass beneath my feet, and the pure air not clogged by the city’s scents.
Beneath them, another scent teases the edges of my senses. Moss and…water—but not the same water as behind me. No, this water is more subtle, a misting rather than a pool. It’s strong and laced with subtle traces of fire, wind, and dirt.
Witch.
There’s a familiarity to this one that the five from last night nor Freya came with. Their witchy scent is matched with a hint of mortals, telling me whoever the witch is, is from Highridge Coven.
A coven member wouldn’t dare come this far down the mountain, today of all days.
My next step towards the intruder is slow, the crisp twigs beneath my bare feet barely registering. I scan the bushes that line the woods and between the tree trunks but continue to pause on the centremost bush.
The closer I get, the stronger the scent of water becomes. Like faint rain that’s soothing and rejuvenating. Unlike the witches from last night or any from Highridge, this witch doesn’t cause my nostrils to burn.
The intruder is a female. Underlining her scent is a sweeter perfume that warlocks don’t generally come with. Femininity and fear, and my lips part slightly to capture it.
My wolf scratches at my insides, his whine in my throat. He wants out, to hunt the potential threat. Or to do something else entirely, because his reaction is strange. To any female, but especially a witch.
I enter the treeline as my ears pick up the scrambling of feet as she presumably attempts to escape. There’s nothing but an untouched forest…even if she sounds close.
Curious. Witches and their abilities.
“I won’t hurt you, whoever you are.”
It’s the truth. I won’t hurt her, but Iwillbe capturing her. A Highridge witch dropping into my life is too great an opportunity to miss. Kidnapping her will make her a gambling chip to exchange for Carina.
Another pass through the trees, trailing the scent forward, but still without seeing a body.
My skin tingles, a pulse in my stomach, as though I can feel her. It makes zero sense and is probably a deception of her own magickal making. Yet, I continue onwards.
