“That makes sense,” Arianna relents, glancing at me. “That's why my inner wolf was guiding me toward coming back and finding the journal and this necklace. I would have never guessed otherwise.”
Delilah nods. “A witch will always get the calling and gravitate toward the coven when it's time. Perhaps that's why I'm here today. It's always divinely orchestrated.”
Delilah's knowledge about the magical world seems to leave Arianna in awe, and there's a moment of silence that stretches, which I break when I remember that there's a threat at large.
“Your visions…you've been seeing the rogue werewolf that's been crossing our borders…”
“I think so,” Arianna concedes with a frown, and shrugs. “I'm not sure. I don't know how these visions work, and if they're supposed to mean something.”
“Trust me, visions are always foretelling the future,” Delilah smirks proudly. “It helps keep trouble away.”
“So, I'm looking forward to my imminent death, then?” Arianna chuckles wryly.
“Not if we can intercept it. We'll need to tap into your abilities and unlock them fully, so your visions become clearer and come at the right time. If the rogue that crossed Moonshine's border today was the same from your vision, you're almost there.”
“I'm not sure if it's linked,” Arianna shivers. “I mean…the man I'm seeing in my nightmares and in that vision was supposed to be a human. I was so sure of it. Now he's showing up as an oddly-formed werewolf creature.”
“A mutated rogue wolf…” I add. “You haven't seen what they look like, but we've seen enough in black ops to recognize them, even by scent. We've…dealt with a few.”
Delilah nods in agreement. “If you'd like, I can help you unlock the full extent of your powers. You might find that you're able to do more than just have visions.”
“I mean, the visions alone will help us fight whatever dangers come our way,” I suggest. “If you can see the future, you can help the pack with your gifts.”
Arianna becomes silent and purses her lips, appearing to have a million thoughts racing through her mind with how tightly her brows are knit.
“Sorry…will you excuse me, please?” she murmurs as she slowly rises to her feet.
I straighten up and move aside, only for her to walk toward the door with her head bent and leave for the hallway without saying a word.
When I turn to Delilah with a questioning frown, she only offers a nonchalant shrug.
“She'll be fine,” she snorts dismissively, picking up the leather-clad book from the box and turning the pages. “Now, I need to figure out which of these spells can be used to unlock her powers.”
“You're gonna help?” I ask, still frowning.
“You're damn right I am!” Delilah clicks her tongue. “She's a fellow sister, and there's no way I'm leaving her in the dark while she's going through it.”
“Yeah, I can sense that she's going through a lot…”
Delilah looks up and tilts her face to the side, scanning my expression. “You care about her, don't you?” she asks, and when I take a deep breath, unsure of how to properly answer that question, Delilah gasps, a hand flying to her mouth when she springs up.
“Oh, my Goddess! She's your fated mate, isn't she?!”
I chuckle nervously when she makes the observation, rubbing a hand across my nape sheepishly.
“Is itthatobvious?” I grimace, wondering how much longer I'll be able to hide it from the others, especially from my parents, once they return.
They'll no doubt still pester me about taking a mate of high ranking, just to keep up appearances.
That's all they seem to care about.
“Of course, it's obvious, dummy! I'm a witch, remember? I have a nose for these things,” Delilah giggles as she flicks her nose.
“So, why were you acting so surprised?” I frown when she returns to her seat.
“I'm just trying to lighten the mood. It's all so gloomy. Must be a lot going on.”
“Yeah, you have no idea…”
