Chapter Seventeen
Nighttime had descended upon the town of Paxton as Dean strolled out of his cabin. For the second time, he and Kate had no choice but to seek Helena’s assistance. Hopefully, they would not find her in the middle of the forest again. The situation had upset him so much that he craved to see Clover Lake once more. That way, Dean would try to relive the night he had confided in Kate.
“You know what they say,” he smiled, as she eased his front door shut behind her. “Second time’s a charm.”
“When you mentioned going to the lake, did you mean…” She faltered, putting her thumb in her mouth like a schoolgirl. “Walk?”
“Yeah,” he snorted in amusement. “What else?”
“I don’t think so, Mr.” Kate smirked, taking a step closer to him, with a mischievous smile on her face. “In fact, I think I’ll race you to it.”
At that, she tipped forward, and started running towards the woods, leaving a stunned Dean behind her, staring at her in sheer surprise. He smiled to himself, watching as she quickly put distance between them. Of course, he liked her idea. Kate was being herself, and he was not going to complain about it. Rolling his fingers into fists, he began to chase after her. Only seconds into the race, she glanced up at him over her right shoulder, wearing a broad grin that reminded him of the happy girl she was. Could this be a prelude of what was to follow in their relationship? He didn’t know. What Dean did know, was that she was coming back, maybe sooner than he anticipated. Kate’s exaggerated scream filled the air, as she ducked under a low-hanging tree branch.
“Come on, Wolfy!” She cried, her sweet voice echoing in the wilderness, as she turned left. “Is this all you got?”
Jumping over a sizeable rock, he chose not to respond. Dean could outrun her at any second, but he would not do so. There was no point in passing her by. If he did, he would lose sight of the moonlight, and how the moonlight and darkness flowed like ink and light over her back as she sped through the trees. Dry twigs and leaves cracked and broke, under the weight of his boots. Willing to tease her, he quickened his pace, as a large owl flew over his shoulder. Once more, Kate threw a quick glance up at him. Her brows shot up, and her eyes twinkled, as the lake surface came into view.
“Oh, no, you won’t!” She yelled, nearing a tall bush that blocked her path. Her sneakers picked up more dust and gravel from the forest floor, as she hurtled around it. Kate brushed past the last tree, finding herself in the clearing, just before the shore. By then, her chest was heaving, and her breath was coming in short pants. Turning right, she hopped over a big stone, as she headed towards their spot on the opposite shore. Dean averted his gaze from her, only to stare down at the moon’s reflection on the lake. Still, even that beautiful image wasn’t enough to distract him for long. Almost immediately, he returned his full attention to her. Her long, blonde hair was shining, as it streamed out behind her back. Dean was not more than twenty feet behind her, when she took the last, left turn. The large rock she had found him on was getting very close indeed. Sadly, just before she reached it, a squeal of fear left her lips, as she stumbled upon a stone that barely stuck out of the ground. Kate landed flat and hard on her chest, as Dean slowed down behind her. Still, her misfortune did not steal her smile. She rolled over onto her back, gasping for breath, as she looked up at him.
“Owned you, baby!” She cheered, thrusting her arms up into the air.
“Owned?” He wondered, raising an eyebrow, as he put his hands on his waist. Dean spotted a few, tiny drops of sweat that had formed on her cheeks, as she ran her gaze down his face. Her smile was wiped off of her face, as she fixed her eyes on his chest.
“You let me win.” Kate grumbled, as he bent his knees. “You’re not breathing heavily.”
“You beat me, fair and square.” Dean said, his voice calm, as he knelt down. The moonlight was reflecting off her big, brown eyes, lighting up her glorious face. Filled with an uncontrollable urge to kiss her, he leaned forward, catching a glimpse of a few grains of soil in her hair, out of the corner of his eye.
“Ahem…” Helena cleared her throat, effectively ruining their moment. “Pardon my intrusion, lovebirds, but time is of the essence.”
“Damn it,” Dean hummed, swinging his head right to glare up at her. “Should I talk to you about timing, or would I be wasting my breath again?”
“I hear your tone of voice, second son.” Helena groaned, narrowing her eyes at him. “We need to get to your grandpa’s sanctuary, as soon as possible. Get up.”
Dean offered his right hand to Kate and pulled her up, as he rose from the ground.
“I’ve been meaning to talk with you about more than just Kate’s ancestors.” Helena announced, as her feet led her closer to them. “Hold hands, lovebirds. This won’t take long,” she continued, holding out her hand. Helena twisted her staff, as Kate wrapped her fingers around Dean’s hand. The young couple and the witch closed their eyes, as a powerful blast of wind rustled through the woods. A small ball of fire sprang from the bottom end of her staff, scorching a few leaves in its wake. The wind blew harder, causing the flames and sparks alike to leap up into the air. The moonlight dimmed around them, as they embarked on a crucial journey, one that would change their lives forever.
Chapter Eighteen
“You can open your eyes now…”
The poignant smell of cedar wood welcomed them, as the echo of Helena’s soft voice lingered in the air. Still, the hall wasn’t exactly as he recalled. The library to the left was almost empty. A mere glance down at the floor told Dean why. The books were in bigger and smaller piles, scattered right below the library shelves.
“What happened in here?” He asked, curiosity written all over his face.
“I’m sorry,” Helena sighed, dragging her gaze away from him. “I discovered a few more things about Kate’s ancestors earlier. I took out my wrath on the books.”
“Your wrath?” Kate squinted at her. “What are you talking about? Why? What did they do?”
“Ugly deeds, dear,” Helena stated, the stiffness in her tone causing the skin on Kate’s face to tingle with fear. “Foul deeds, to be precise. Before I elaborate, I have to say I’m amazed by the fact that you are the offspring of such evil creatures. Monica has told me many good things about you. I don’t believe for a second that the same malice flows in your veins.”
“We’re all ears, Helena,” Dean muttered, folding his arms across his chest. “Go ahead.”
“Ok.” Helena sucked in a deep, cleansing breath, as she brought her eyes to Kate’s face. “First of all, you are born from a witch bloodline. You are of English descent, and your family is one of the highest among the witches. Your forefathers possessed power over the elements. They could bend water, fire and earth to their will, provided that they were free to do so. By ‘free’, I mean with line of sight, and hands unbound. Now, witches used to be persecuted in Europe, as well as in the US, although things were not as bad here, as they were overseas. Back in 1814, one of your ancestors, Linda McIntyre was found guilty of practicing witchcraft in Kensington, a small town outside Newcastle, England. They hanged her. When her sister Margaret found out…” She exhaled, hard. “She wasn’t content with punishing the ones that sentenced her to death. She burned the town to the ground. A similar tragedy took place in Canton, a village just outside Manchester, just six years later. This time, Margaret was the victim. Her sister Elisabeth avenged her, by flooding Canton. Very few survived her rage.”
“Ok, they were terrible people.” Kate spoke her mind, maintaining the calm in her voice. “But that was almost two hundred years ago. How do you know this stuff, anyway? Do you have any proof?”
“I have friends in England, my dear,” Helena declared, a hint of annoyance in her tone. “Both events have been documented. The reports are being mailed to me as we speak. I wish I only had to disclose those two tragedies, though.”
“What else is there?” Dean inquired, hi
s baritone riddled with tension, as he leaned closer to Helena.
“My God…” The witch sighed, tearing her eyes away from Kate, as she raised her hand to cover her mouth. “I wish there was an easy way to say this.”
“Ok, now you’re scaring me,” Kate confessed, as fear cracked her voice. “What is it?”
“I tried to break your memory spell last night, child.” Helena spoke, her own voice a wobbly whisper, as she shifted her gaze to meet Kate’s. “I could not. I could not look into your future, either. It seems that whoever cast that spell the first time has cast it again. I contacted my people in London. They said that witches of old used memory spells, in order to protect their offspring from persecution. They ensured that their children only discovered their powers in adulthood. Those spells were passed down, from generation to generation, and were comprised of three, rare ingredients: Baby hair, baby nails, and birth blood. Your mother…” she faltered. “Your mother is alive, Kate.”
Dean gasped in shock, his eyes popping wide open, but that was nothing compared to the effect the revelation had on Kate. Her mouth dropped open, as her face fell in utter disbelief. The sparkle in her eyes dimmed, as she stared at Helena, unable to force another word out of her throat.
“How can this be?” Dean’s breathless whisper ripped through the silence. “She’s supposed to be dead.”
“Do not forget that we are dealing with a witch, Dean,” Helena urged, her voice dropping down an octave, but her gaze still locked on Kate. “Faking her death would have been an easy ruse to pull.”
“I saw her body!” Kate’s pain-ridden cry reverberated through his skull, as she tossed a fierce glare Helena’s way. “I buried her!” She spoke through gritted teeth. “Are you telling me that my own mother dumped me when I was sixteen? What about my father?! Is he alive, too?!”
“I do not have all the answers,” Helena said, her face like stone, as she intensified her stare. “You’d better believe it, Ms. Brooks. Marianne McIntyre is alive and well.”
Dean was still struggling to come to grips with the news; the last thing he was expecting to hear was that Kate’s mother was unharmed. Still, his girlfriend’s emotional state compelled him to take action. He would do what he had done very well a number of times so far: soothe her. As he attempted to reach towards her however, Kate thrust her right arm out, her palm facing him. In an instant, he felt a massive amount of pressure on his abdomen and his chest. His body was sent reeling across the room, as she whipped her head to the right. The massive thump sent vibrations through the hall, as he was slammed up against the wall. He squeezed his eyes shut, a cry of agony fleeing his lips, as he dropped down to the floor.
“Dean!” Kate squealed in terror, exploding towards him. Gritting his teeth, he sensed the pain spreading across his back, as her hurried footfalls filled the hall. Dean opened his eyes to slits, only to realize that his vision had become blurred. He could hardly make out Kate’s figure, as she sped towards him. But a mere blur was the least of his problems. The woman who had stolen his heart had threatened to end him, and the beast within did not appreciate that one bit. A snarl of fury rumbled from his throat, as he felt his fangs lengthening. The sight of her throat, coming closer and closer to him, tempted the wolf. He might have loved her, but he could not ignore his primal instinct. He was aching to be released, and show her the true meaning of punishment. However, Dean had to fight back against his urges. The wolf was guided by instinct alone. Reacting like that was only natural. Right now, he had to use his logic, and his logic told him to stand down. Kate had merely made a mistake; she did not mean to hurt him.
“Oh, my God,” she exclaimed, speaking too fast, her voice breaking as she dropped to her knees beside him. “What did I do to you?”
“It’s ok,” he said, his voice faint as he still tried hard to focus on her. “I’m alright.”
“At last, the witch has awakened,” Helena interjected, with a smile of contentment on her face. “Now, I need to teach you to control your powers.”
“Not until I have a little chat with my mother,” Kate retorted, reaching her hand towards Dean’s cheek. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, grazing her fingers through his beard.
“That would be most reckless,” Helena commented, as her face hardened. “Besides, you don’t know where she is, do you?”
“Kate’s right, Helena,” Dean raised his voice, as he turned his attention to the witch. “Her mom owes her an explanation.”
“Has it occurred to either of you that Marianne has got to be the one who tried to have her killed?” The sarcasm returned to Helena’s voice, as she gazed down into Dean’s eyes. “Meeting with her would be suicide.”
“She won’t be alone,” Dean declared, slowly rising from the floor. “Please, get Raul over here. We need to talk about this.”
“As you wish,” Helena said as she gave a reluctant nod. He took a deep breath, getting lost in his thoughts, as she disappeared in a plume of smoke. Kate’s display of power had troubled him. Part of him couldn’t help but think about the end of every mariner that fell under the spell of a Siren. Tragic death awaited them all, in the hands of their enchanters. Still, Dean put that thought aside. There were no bonds between sailors and Sirens, other than physical attraction. His bond with Kate was not skin-deep. On the contrary, it was growing stronger, day by day. Now that she wanted to find her mother, it was going to be put to the toughest test so far…
“I’ll follow you, Kate. I would die for you. I can only hope your mom doesn’t turn on us. Because if she does, she will leave me no choice…”
Chapter Nineteen
Dean found himself in a dilemma, as he and Kate patiently waited for Helena and Raul. His brother was the Alpha wolf. The pack obeyed his every decision, and would follow him anywhere. Raul himself loved him dearly; he would always provide a helping hand. Still, going up against a creature, like Marianne McIntyre, required much more than the combined strength of two, dominant wolves. Even with Ray and Melissa by their side, the odds were stacked against the siblings. Dean was forced to request the help of the entire pack in this fight, but could not know how Raul would take it. Just like the Bradford brothers, no wolf in Paxton was fond of witches. They would not hunt down one witch, in order to save another, and that fact added to Dean’s worry.
The hardwood floor began to vibrate, as smoke shot straight down from the ceiling, in the middle of the hall. As it cleared, he spotted Raul, towering over Helena. He was not alone; Monica was with him.
“Evening, kids.” His brother winked at Dean, slipping his hands into his pockets. “What’s the matter? Couldn’t we talk in the yard?”
“Ladies, could you give us the room?” Dean politely requested, sauntering towards his Alpha. One by one, Kate, Monica, and Helena walked out of the hall, as he wondered how to phrase his next few sentences. Just when he was about to speak, Raul spoke first.
“How the hell did you get into this mess?” He asked, his deep voice coming out teasing, rather than reprimanding. “Helena talked to me, before we got here. I mean; dating a witch? Her mom faked her death, too? Damn.”
“The same way you got into yours,” Dean was quick to respond, a hint of discomfort in his tone. “I wouldn’t have met Kate, if you hadn’t been involved with Monica.”
“That’s true,” Raul agreed with a nod. “So, what’s up?”
“The news about Kate’s mother has me all riled up,” Dean sighed, running his hand through his hair. “She wants to go find her, and I’m at a loss. What should I do? Go with her? Ask her to think it over?”
“When was the last time she had her head checked?” Irony was dripping from Raul’s lips, as he narrowed his eyes. “Does she have a death wish or something?”
“Her head is just fine,” Dean muttered, trying to keep his annoyance from showing on his face. “Her mother might be a witch, but she’s still her mother. Yet, she abandoned her. What would you do?”
“This is
n’t about me!” Raul glared down at him, his blue eyes smoldering with unmasked anger. “That thing Kate calls her mother is nothing more than a cold-hearted bitch. She proved that when she left her. She proved it again, when she sent those goons after her. What does your girl want, huh? Hug and make up? Trust me, it’s not going to happen.”
Rants like this were not in Raul’s character. He always used to speak just enough. This outburst was just indicative of his disapproval, but it was the last thing that Dean wanted.
“I need your help, Raul. I need the pack.” He said, his voice steady, his face a stone-cold expression. “I’m not going to let her do this alone.”
“I had a feeling you’d say that,” Raul uttered, lowering his tone of voice, as he clenched his jaw. “You know you can count on me.” He continued, raising his right arm to pat him on the shoulder. “But asking the pack? I don’t know.”
“You’re their leader! They will obey your orders!” Dean emphasized, furrowing his brow, unwilling to stop hiding his discontent anymore.
“I know how you feel, Dean. I’ve been there.” Raul’s voice came out mellow, as he leaned closer. “But, let’s face it: sending the pack after that witch is too dangerous. Even if we do take her out, I doubt we’ll get out of this battle unscathed. Some may get hurt; killed, even. I’d put my life on the line for you. You know that. I just don’t think others would do so, too.”
Under any other circumstances, Dean would have appreciated his brother’s offer to help. But this situation was not like any other circumstances. It was by far the most dangerous situation they had been in, and those words meant virtually nothing to Dean. Before he could come up with a rebuttal however, a sound he never expected to hear indoors grabbed their attention: an eagle’s call, echoing back at the walls of the corridor outside. Dean averted his gaze from his brother, and looked at the door, a split second before Helena stormed into the hall, with a bald eagle on her right shoulder.
A Wolf's Desire (Wolf Mountain Peak Book 2) Page 9