by Rowan Thalia
Faith nods, and I look up into the great witch’s eyes. Her lip curls. She grabs a wooden vessel from the ground.
“Moon Born. The oracles have foretold of your coming. It is our duty to honor the Goddess and gift you with three powers. I gift you super strength,” she calls as she dips her hand into the vessel. Her wet fingers trace a line down our snout, and she backs away.
A second witch comes forward, “My gift is invisibility. Use it with care, for it will drain you dry if you are not well-fed.” She dips her fingers and draws circles around our eyes.
“And my gift to you,” Millie lets down her hood, “Is that of true sight. You will look into the waters and know what will be at the rise of the moon each month. Now stand and take your human form,” she commands as she pours the remaining liquid upon our face.
Faith
The change comes swiftly and effortlessly. My skin chills in the night air. The last few drops of liquid fall from my nose. I don’t know what is happening, but I can feel the electric tingle of magic flowing into me. It’s almost orgasmic. My eyes sweep the merry little band of witches, and I bite my lip as a jolt of fire flashes down my spine.
“Someone tell me what the fuck is happening,” I gasp, clutching my heart.
“You are the chosen one. Part wolf, part witch. Moon born on the seventh hour of the seventh month. It is your destiny to lead a new coven,” Millie answers timidly.
“How? Hours before now, I was so weak another wolf was able to defile me!!!” I yell, the scent of his sweat is still fresh in my mind.
“Unfortunately, that was also foretold. You had to be broken to be reborn,” a tear drops from her eye,
“You KNEW this would happen to me?” I circle and recognize another witch as Thane’s.
Millie raises her palm. “Yes and no. We knew it would happen; we did not know it was you until it was done. You were cloaked by your father so that your surrogate father would not know.”
My mind is reeling. What now? Where do I go, what will I do? What does this mean?
‘We will kill those that hurt us. Then we will build a great coven,’ Snow growls.
It seems in her time taking over, she’s given herself a name. My heart aches as I realize I should have done this years ago. Why was I so cut off from my own other half? Looking back, I realize how much of my life was out of my control and rage courses through me.
‘Do not anger yourself over these things. It was all necessary for us to rise.’
‘You’ve known this, all these years?’
‘I have. I will not apologize. It was not a choice.’
Well, fuck me on a stick. How much of my life was a path ordained by the Goddess, and how much was my own choosing? One thing I know for sure, I will take revenge on Thane and his minions, as Snow has said. Heads will roll. Building a new coven? Well, I can digest that mind fuck later. Right now, I just want to find my men and go fuck some shit up.
“What now?” I look to the third witch, who has been silent.
“You must drink this, it will hurt … but your powers and your wolf will merge with you fully. After that, we serve you,” she kneels, lifting a bowl into the air.
Hesitantly, I take the bowl and sniff the contents. With a cough, I look down at her. She shrugs. The liquid is dark like blood and could undoubtedly kill me. Do I feed into this nonsense, or run?
‘I would know if it were poison.’
‘You realize how fucking crazy this is, right?’
‘Your whole life has been crazy.’
‘Touche,’ I shrug and throw my head back, drinking all of the potion in one long gulp.
The bowl falls from my hands, and a seizure clamps down on my body. The rock spears my spine as I fall, splayed out. The moon seems so close, I reach my hand up thinking to touch it. Drums beat. My vision wavers. A tingling starts in my toes and moves up my body, pain, and pleasure mixed in a heady combination. I cry out, but my voice is drowned by the howl that leaves my lips. I’m going to change, and nothing else matters besides running free. The world spins. I give into the powers plunging through my veins.
‘Rise Moon Born,” a voice calls.
I stand shakily on four paws. The witches bow before me. I raise my snout and let out a long howl that reverberates through the night like the great horn of the Vikings. With power coursing through my body like ocean tides. My wolf is part of my consciousness now, our thoughts merged. I don’t have to reach for her as before. We are indeed one.
‘Ranger. Bring our pack. It is time for revenge,’ I command.
‘Yes, my beloved.’
The full moon fills the sky, seeming to enlarge and touch down on the mountain before me. A gust of wind whistles through the trees. I scan the edge of the clearing, waiting for my pack to appear. The witches surround me, swaying and chanting, their arms raised high in the air.
I have too many questions to stay wolf. The change has never been hard for me, but tonight it's fluid as the river. Standing naked before the fire, gooseflesh rises on my skin and I step closer to the warmth of the flames. As if my presence startled them, the witches stop dancing and kneel before me. I hope they don't keep deferring to me like this, it's getting uncomfortable. I step from side to side, hugging my arms close. Millie takes the cloak from her back and hands it to me with a smile. I nod and accept the heavy fabric gratefully.
"How did you know to be here tonight?" I cover my nakedness and sit beside them, hoping to soften the mood.
"We didn't know until the hour was upon us. The awakening of the Moon Born reached out and portaled the nearest witches. We were blessed enough to be within range of your magic. We are now connected with you in a way that is like a mate bond … without the mating part," she winks.
"I know you're trying to help, but I'm getting more and more confused by the moment," I scrunch my nose.
"Sorry," she shrugs. "The magical world rarely makes sense."
"Okay. Can you at least help me learn to use the powers you all gifted? Would I be able to use them to fuck up my former pack leader? Cause that's all I care about right now," My eyes zero in on a rustling in the tree line.
"That we can definitely do, I'm Alyssa, by the way," the first witch with brown hair bows her head slightly. "The gift I gave, super strength, is easy to use as it will not require you to do anything."
"I'm Tyffani," the second, with a head full of blond ringlets, tilts her head. "The gift of invisibility will be harder, but not terribly so. You'll need to use the incantation. As I said before - be sure you're at your most powerful. The words are 'montes Gelboe nec aspectu' or 'let there be no sight.' Try now," she gestures with a wave of her hand.
I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and repeat the words. "montes Gelboe nec aspectu." My chest tightens, but otherwise, I feel nothing. When I open my eyes again, the three witches are smiling at each other.
"So, it worked?"
"Yes. You are a natural. Now say, 'ut videatur' - to be seen."
"Ut videatur," I breathe. This time I feel a cool breeze wash over me. Millie dips her chin and squeezes my knee.
"Can I ask a weird, maybe rude question?"
Alyssa laughs and nods. Wringing my hands, I whisper, "Will my eyes turn purple like all of yours? Is that a witch thing?"
"That's not rude at all. Yes, yours have already changed as ours did when we came into our magic. It is a sign that we are blessed by the Goddess. It can also become a curse, as humans have used it to hunt us. Many of our sisters cover their eyes with magic or contact lenses. Although in modern times, it isn't as necessary," Alyssa states with a wave of her hand.
"Thank you for answering. Millie, what about …"
"We can work on my gift later. You'll also need to work on your basic magic, but we can do that one day at a time," she points to my pack as they enter the clearing, Ranger in the lead.
As fast as I can, I stand and hand Millie her cloak back. Dropping onto all fours, I race to my pack faster than my legs have ever carried me. My pack and I meet
in a flurry of nose touching and whines. All four males sniff and prod my body to be sure of my health. I can feel the ripple of unease wash away as they inspect me, and I allow it for that reason.
'Faith … tell us what's going on!' Ranger's muzzle closes over my jaw.
'Where do I start?'
'At the beginning?'
'You all know I was taken," I sniff the air trying to think of how much I want to say. 'They threw me in a van. I asked to go to the bathroom, hoping to escape. I was being attacked by one of Thane's men ... when Millie saved me. My wolf took over, I don't remember anything that happened while she was in control. I know she, Snow, hid me away until the moon rose. Apparently, I'm a freak witch-wolf, and I gained my powers tonight … It's a long story. I promise I will have her tell you later. Right now, all I want to know is who's ready to go kick Thane's ass?'
'Wait … you can't just slide past all that as if …'
'I can. That's what happened. I want revenge. Let's go!'
'Petite …'
'NO!' I jerk my body in a half-circle and growl. 'You will not get another word out of me on what happened. Are you with me - or not?' I hope to hell they don't push me to recount the details, I can't relive that memory. Not now, maybe not ever. All I can do is focus on right now, and the fact is my having powers may just tip the balance in my fight with Thane. I just want to get moving and obliterate those who would cause me harm.
'Our fight with Thane. We're always with you,' Ty nudges me with his snout.
'Hell yeah, we're always with you,' Brandon leans his massive body against mine.
I notice Lewis hiding behind Ranger. Part of me breaks because he blames himself for the attack. I also know there's nothing either of us could have done, besides stay at home like chickens. With a grunt, I peer at him over the Alpha's back. He cows down, ears flattened. Wriggling between the two, I paw at him and lick his face. 'Don't do this. I don't blame you. Please. I need you right now.'
'I've never been good enough for anyone. And now this? I would understand if you kicked me out of the pack. Faith - we found the site where you … '
'Don't you dare, Lewis! That was no one's fault but the piece of shit who did it! Not yours - not mine, not even Thane's! Please don't make me talk about it, or I'll lose my sanity!' I shimmer into human form accidentally, then turn back abruptly. I'm losing control from the stress of the trauma; I can feel magic pulsing in my center.
"Wolves! Whatever your discourse, I suggest you put it to rest. Faith is still learning her magic, and is quite volatile," Alyssa breaks into the circle with a frown.
'Who the fuck she thinks she …' Brandon starts creeping her way.
'Stop! These witches are all bound to me now. She means well, there's a lot to explain and most of it I don't know yet. We can sort that part out later. I NEED to go face Thane, or he'll never stop sending his goons after me.'
He rolls his eyes, as well as a wolf, can. 'Babe, you sure? Cause these days, I'm not trying to trust anyone that isn't pack.'
'Yeah. How far is it to the truck? I'm serious, I want to get out of here - now!'
'Not far,' Ty steps forward.
Realizing I can just follow their trail back, I take off. I'm tired of talking. These guys will keep me here all night if I let them. Besides, it's not like they won't follow me. I get it, really, I do - but all their questions can be answered later.
'Petite Louve! We get it, you want to face your former Alpha. Can we at least agree to find a hotel for the night and talk about this strategically? Please?' Ranger pulls up beside me.
'Yes, that's probably smart. I can agree to that. Race you to the truck.'
The hotel idea may have been Ranger's best yet. I barely make it in the door before I collapse on the bed. Every cell of my body is ready to shut down, even Snow has gone silent. I don't know how I thought I would make it back home to face Thane, wishful thinking, I guess - the heat of the moment type stuff.
"Thank you for this," I sink my face into the pillow.
"Babe, I'll always take care of you. I know I can be an asshole, but I can also take care of my girl," Ranger says in almost a whisper.
As I lay there, I realize that none of the pack has come close to me since we turned back human. My nerves are still shot. I'm probably projecting the shame of being raped over the bond. I can't decide if I need them near me or if I want them to stay back. To be honest, both options hurt.
"Can I run you a bath?" Ty motions to the bathroom door. "I won't stay or anything…"
"I'd like that," I nod. "Maybe you could sit in there with me and talk?"
"Of course," the smile that lights up his face makes my chest ache.
Ty eases into the bathroom. I lay on the bed for a few more minutes, digging around in my own psyche and trying to probe how to move forward from today. Ranger is leaning against the dresser. The other two are slumped in the additional bed, hands over their eyes. The vibe of the room is morose, and I find myself wishing the guys would pick up their usual banter to fill the air.
"Your water is ready," Ty peeks out from the bathroom.
With a groan, I scoot to the end of the bed and stand up watching the floor. Ranger's toes are just in front of mine, the bond between us vibrates, and I look up into his eyes. There's a storm of emotion beckoning me forward, although Ranger doesn't move a hair on his body. I hesitate for a moment, then close the space between us. His body trembles, but he stays still as I lean my face on his chest and allow tears to stream down my face.
"Faith? Can I hold you?" His voice is rough.
"Please," I croak.
He shuffles his weight carefully and wraps his arms around me, dipping his face into my hair. The last bit of strength I have crumbled and choking sobs erupt from my mouth. A collective sigh whispers through the room, and I peek over at my other men. Their eyes are wide with worry.
"I love you so much," Brandon whispers. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to keep you safe."
"We all are," Lewis's voice trembles.
"After the first enforcer came, we should have kept you closer," Ranger growls.
I lean my head back; his eyes burn with rage. "No, this isn't your cross to bear. We were just living our lives. If anyone's to blame, it's me. I should never have left and put you in this position. I knew better. Hell, I should have been scared shitless from the moment I arrived and been more careful… but I wasn't. I guess I hoped they'd forget about me. I didn't think I was that valuable. But… maybe Thane knew about my heritage after all."
"That's a possibility. Or else he wouldn't have sent his closest enforcer to retrieve you. But then again, why wouldn't he have sent the witch first? None of this makes sense. Nothing to do but move forward," Ty stomps out of the bathroom, his Omega waves slamming into me. "We've all got to promise to stop badgering her with this. She will talk when - and if she's ready. For now, we focus on the present and move forward. Come, kitten, your water is getting cold," he grabs my hand and tugs.
Biting my lip, I look up to Ranger. He lets his arms fall to his sides and lifts his chin toward Ty. I tighten my grip on the Omega's hand and follow him into the steam-filled bathroom. He stops at the door, ushering me inside before closing it behind him and leaning against the counter.
I avoid my reflection and slowly pull off the shirt I stole from Lewis when we reached the truck. My skin prickles, but Ty's Omega powers calm me before my nerves take over. Exhaling in gratitude, I step into the tub and sit. The warm water embraces me, and I sink back.
"That's better," Ty whispers as he closes the curtain. The clang of the toilet lid fills the space. I watch his outline through the white fabric as he sits, legs spread out and leans forward with his face in his hands. A calmness spreads through my limbs like an ice storm, leaving a tingling in its wake. I've never felt his magic so strongly, I wonder if it's different now that my witch powers are present.
"Thank you, Ty."
"Anything for you, Faith. Rest now. We have the rest of our lives to talk.
You need to process the events of today without the pack weighing on you."
Someone forgot to close the fucking curtains. The sun has reached through the window and scorched my eyeballs. I'm pissed as hell as I shoot up from the bed.
"Fuck!" I bellow.
"Someone get that damn shades!" Ranger commands, pulling me back down beside him.
"Got it," Lewis groans.
The bed jostles as he bumps past. I nuzzle into Ranger's neck. I'm not ready to get up, but I am ready to start planning our attack on Thane. I overheard a bit of the guy's proposal last night, but exhaustion fell over me before I could reply. A light rapping on the door startled me, and I look over. Lewis eyes the peephole, turns toward me, and raises his brow.
"Your witch clan is here."
"Let them in," I sit up.
He nods, unlatches the door, and opens it slowly. Millie is the first to poke her head inside, before entering with an armload of coffee. The smell hits me. I almost fly from the bed in excitement. Coffee is life. The other two shuffle in and close the door while I decimate half the iced latte I've ripped from Millie's hand.
"Well, good morning to you too," Millie chuckles. "I trust you all slept well?"
"Yeah, I slept okay. How'd you know where to find me?" I chug the last bit of bliss and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
"Witch-bond. As Millie told you, it's sort of like your mate-bond. We will always be able to find each other, and we will know if the other is in need or hurt. One big difference is that we can't speak through our minds like you guys do, thank the Goddess," Alyssa steps forward.
"Handy," I eyeball the other coffees in the tray.
Lewis chuckles grabs a cup and hands it to me. "Take mine. I know that look."
I don't even hesitate or thank him, which I know is rude, but I feel like a ravenous beast this morning. Witchy bullshit, I'm sure. Or at least that's what I'm going to chalk it up to if anyone asks. Millie shrugs, steps into the room, and hands the other cups out.
"So, what's the plan, wolves?" Tyffani flops down on the chair near the window.