Chosen Witch
The Olympia Pack Book Two
From USA Today Bestselling Author Rae Hendricks
Copyright
© 2020 by Raven Heidrich
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Acknowledgements
To my husband for telling me to write this to begin with. To my daughter to always inspiring me.
And to Isaiah and Annalise for becoming my adult Bella and Edward, coming alive on the page in a way I never thought possible.
To Chandra for finally giving these covers the look they needed.
WARNING
This book is an upper YA/NA slow burn paranormal romance with some sexual situations and minor language.
Other Books by Rae Hendricks
Prophecy of the Stars Series
DESTINED
LOYAL
Paranormal Hunter Academy Series
BLOOD WITCH
AURORA WITCH
DEMON WITCH
Mirrored Prophecy Triunity
DAVINA’S QUEST
DAVINA’S ASCENT
DAVINA’S PREVAIL
Blackwell Academy Series
ALMOST DEAD
ALMOST LOST
ALMOST BROKEN
Witches of Moon Gate Trilogy
PRIME
CREATOR
HEDGE
Academy of Dark & Light Series
LEGENDARY TRIAD
LEGENDARY DARKNESS
LEGENDARY WAR
LEGENDARY GRADUATE
Guardians of the Sea Series
OF DRAGONS AND STORMS
WATER COLORED MEMORIES
Keep up with all of Rae’s latest releases via her website!
http://bit.ly/rae-hendricks-author
Coming Soon by Rae Hendricks
ACADEMY OF OLYMPIANS SERIES
SOUL ACADEMY SERIES
BOUND BY THE COVEN SERIES
TRANSFORMED
Isaiah's failure as the new alpha has now gone even farther than he imagined as he faces family betrayal he never expected and a slew of hybrids that must decide whether or not to join the pack.
Not surprisingly, he again is finding a great ally in the young and powerful Annalise, the witch that is meant to rule the entire Olympia coven. Though, as they get closer, regardless of the chasteness of their relationship, the distance between Isaiah and his mate will grow.
Annalise is coming into her own and discovering her new powers. She thought she was back with the coven for good until the strangest order came to her from Hyacinthe, the interim leader of the coven that thrusts her right back into the middle of the drama of the Young family. As secrets are uncovered and she finds herself getting more involved with the pack, she begins to realize she is not as over everything as she thought.
Now, there is a new war, one that is being waged inside the leaders of the coven and the pack. It is the kind of war that cannot be won with claws and teeth. It is a war of the heart, and no one knows who will win and who will be lost in the process.
Fans of Stephanie Meyer, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Katie Salidas will love the twists and turns in this new adult paranormal romance series!
Contents
Chosen Witch
The Olympia Pack Book Two
Acknowledgements
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOUTREEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
***2000***
***2008***
***Present Day***
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER ONE
Isaiah had a crisis on his hands. It was no small task trying to figure out what to do with all these possible new pack members, especially when his current pack was likely to be unsympathetic. Sure, they had seen with their own eyes what had happened at the almost battle with the coven. They knew someone had set both the pack and the coven up. It was not so easy to change a deep-rooted prejudice surrounding the thought of witches. Asking his pack to welcome hybrids with open arms was a bit of a joke.
He and Roman had kept busy, going practically door to door to find out if anyone was willing to put up a couple of the hybrids for a bit if it came down to that. He wouldn't know until everything was squared away with the two fugitives. Nor what the new treaty would turn out to be and ask of him regarding the witch werewolf hybrids. What to do with those that had accepted his call as alpha, or those that wished to leave it now that they understood what had happened to them. Either way, there were new wolves around until they could all figure out how to shift at will. He didn't think that they would all take to it as easily as Annalise.
Isaiah had lost track of the time, waiting on word to come back from the tracking group. He kept wondering if it had been a terrible idea to allow Tamara and Annalise to go together like that. Since he could not go himself, he had to trust Tamara, as his mate, to be his eyes and ears in the situation. She would not allow anything to happen to Orson without a chance to explain.
Isaiah heard a padding of feet coming towards him and whipped around to see that Hector was approaching in wolf form. He must have run a long way. Isaiah tried to be patient for word as Hector made his change back to human form. He was still young for a werewolf, especially considering he was turned and not born.
“Where is Roman?” he asked, gaining his equilibrium. Isaiah nodded in the distance. His brother was already headed towards them. When Roman saw that Hector was there with news, he picked up his pace. “I wanted to be sure I let both of you know that Roan and Orson have both been recovered. They are waiting for the two of you at Hyacinthe’s place,” Hector announced to them. Isaiah looked over at Roman with concern. He knew his brother had been taking all of this hard but had yet to express much emotion on the surface. That was one of his biggest flaws.
“Can you tell us yet who all was involved?” Roman asked, jumping right in. Isaiah did not like how he was acting. He would rather take what happened as it came. This being true, especially knowing his youngest brother was somehow involved in this betrayal and power grab gone wrong. They would both take a hit if Orson had to be severely punished for his part.
“Diane was able to use a truth spell on Roan. It was just them. It is looking like it was all Orson's idea. I’m sorry guys,” Hector said empathetica
lly. Isaiah felt a welling of emotion inside of him as some of the wolf came out involuntarily. His head reared back as his nose elongated. He howled like he had never howled before.
Annalise could hear their footsteps before she saw their faces. She tried to focus on a spot farther out in the woods as she didn't think she could look them in the eyes as they saw their brother in wolf form, in a cage. He had not been allowed to turn back yet with fear that he would be worse to deal with that way. Waiting on his two brothers, they had to deal with barking and growling. Annalise was sure she wouldn’t like the meaning if she shifted to listen.
Isaiah instantly bent down to the cage, not caring what the consequences might be as his fingers dangled right where Orson’s teeth could bite off a finger if he wanted. Isaiah hung his head in anguish over the cage, and Annalise thought it was wrong that she and Hyacinthe were witnessing this moment. Isaiah was going to break down.
Annalise looked to Tamara, who was still slouched over her tea, and wanted to yank her by her hair and pull her over to his side. Annalise had set this up; given them a chance to find something with each other and rule the pack together. She had put any selfishness aside to do what she thought was best for Isaiah. Yet, here Tamara was, squandering the chance to be the kind of mate that could get Isaiah to fall in love with her. If it wasn’t against the rules of everything good about magic to manipulate two people and their feelings for each other, Annalise was about ready to do just that. How was any of the tension between the three of them going to be solved if she kept having to come to the rescue?
“I don’t understand,” Isaiah said in a pleading tone, as if he was begging the black wolf in the cage to give him an explanation he could ever come to terms with. Roman stood stoically behind his older brother, looking a bit bewildered. Annalise wondered idly if she needed to get him some tea as well. That would be something entirely new; serving tea to two werewolves in coven territory. Other than the last alpha, who almost never came, there had never been another werewolf there in her lifetime. Not that she could remember.
To everyone’s interest and surprise, Orson did not immediately lash out at Isaiah. He whimpered instead. Annalise wasn't going to buy into anything. It could easily be manipulation. “Are you ready for this, alpha? I am assuming you would like my help in holding him while you interrogate?” Hyacinthe asked, sounding bored.
Isaiah stood up and smoothed his clothes out, sniffling back the idea of tears. If there was ever a time for him to shape up and be a strong leader, it was now. He had already shown too much weakness, and in front of another leader no less. Not that Hyacinthe would be the leader for long from the looks of Annalise. She still gave off the intimidating air that he should have as alpha. Why was it always missing? “That would be much appreciated,” he replied, looking to Roman for support. But Roman was not looking like he was going to be of any use. Isaiah was essentially on his own.
Hyacinthe nodded to Annalise, letting her do the honors. Was Hyacinthe testing her ability to not exhaust her magic too quickly, even with powerful spells? This was an important one. If Orson got lose, someone was going to die. Annalise gathered all of her concentration, removing the cage but holding him behind an invisible barrier. Well, almost invisible. If Orson tried to get through it would ripple like waves in a pool of water.
Orson quickly shifted to his human form, not trying to stay in wolf form to shy away from answering questions. He was fierce, like a rabid dog. He knew he had been caught, but he wasn't going to take it lying down. It was the first time Annalise had thought there was any resemblance between him and his noble older brothers. On the other hand, something had changed in his appearance. It was like he had ripped off some mask he had been wearing. All his good looks and smooth, funny lines were gone. There was nothing left but an angry, feral creature. Did Isaiah have any idea that side of him was underneath there all along?
Annalise held him there while Isaiah approached, making the spell ripple around Orson. “As both my brother and a member of the Olympia pack, I am going to give you a chance to explain what is going on, why you have done this, before any sentencing is decided,” Isaiah told him in an authoritative tone. Isaiah was trying his best to be the alpha and not the older brother right now. Even though he hated to think that this was all on Orson, something inside him told him that if he gave Orson an inch that he would take it and run with it.
“Oh, how merciful of you, brother,” Orson spat. “I am not going to talk because I fear retribution. I am only going to talk because I want you to know how I feel about this family before I face it,” he told them angrily. Isaiah noticed that his eyes flashed, the way they did when he was angry, and he began to shift partially into the wolf. It was why he was such trouble when he was younger. His emotions and actions were sometimes uncontrollable. Isaiah hated how his father had handled it, and he wondered if Orson’s crimes could have been prevented had their father dealt with him another way.
“You say the word family like it is a curse,” Roman said, finally stepping up and speaking. He was yet again trying to show that calm exterior when Isaiah knew for a fact his insides were roiling with confusion and hurt.
“I can’t speak for everyone, but the Young family is a curse,” Orson responded, throwing himself up against the edge of the barrier. Annalise had used enough magic already that she got knocked back by it, feeling the blow. She was still able to hold the barrier steady, but holding herself steady was something else entirely.
Isaiah reached out to steady her, placing his hand on her waist for a moment. Orson’s eyes snapped down to where his hand had landed and let out an evil laugh. Annalise felt her cheeks get hot and hoped he didn't mention anything out loud. Tamara was still looking like she had seen a ghost. She didn't need any more worry at the moment.
“I know growing up with our father wasn’t easy, Orson, especially for you, but that was just who he was. It was all he knew how to do, and we were there for you the whole time,” Roman defended, ever the peacemaker. But it was too late for that. Isaiah knew, as he looked over a man he recognized and yet didn't at the same time.
“I don’t think we need to waste any more time speculating about whose fault all of this is and whether or not our father loved any of us. We need to get on with the questioning, so we can get out of the coven’s territory. This is a burden to them, I am sure.” Isaiah spared a glance in Annalise’s direction, knowing there was more to that burden than was spoken out loud.
“Good for you, brother. It looks like you’ve finally put your alpha pants on. You’re looking more like father every day,” he insulted. Isaiah took a page out of Roman’s book and didn't react. If he knew anything, it was that he had been nothing like his father. Otherwise, the pack would have been happier with him. “And as far as talking about the family, that is exactly what needs to be discussed if you want to know why I did this.” Orson turned his head to look right at Roman, playing on his emotions. It was like he knew which of the two would be most affected by the realization he was not the brother they thought he was.
Annalise knew she had to do something to help, so she sent a slight shock into the barrier, a strike of lighting that brought Orson to his knees, panting for just a moment. Orson shook his head as he stood up. “This was exactly why the pack hates witches. They are always making themselves necessary to us. Have you noticed that yet?” Annalise shocked him again, and it took him longer to stand this time. “Fine,” he panted, glaring at Annalise like he could kill her with only his eyes. “I wanted to be alpha.” he began, causing a couple of them to groan. Of course, they already understood that by now. But there was one person that just didn't.
Isaiah’s hand slipped away from Annalise guiltily as Tamara came between them, finally able to stand on her own two feet. “Why would you want that, Orson? You never agreed with your father about anything, and you have seen how Isaiah has been struggling.”
“I wouldn’t have struggled. I know how to be strong and make them all fear me. I w
ould have easily gained the allegiance of the pack after proving that my brother was inadequate for the position. He had even said so himself. He would look bad after the witches slaughtered him and a few pack members for breaking the treaty. They would need a new leader, and I would make sure that was me. They were practically begging for me with Roman failing to solve the mystery and Isaiah protecting the most powerful witch in the coven by keeping her in his own home. As far as father, I have to respect the way he got everyone to listen and stay in line, but his treatment of his family should have been different. That is, if I could even call any of the Youngs, family, anymore. You have mostly tiptoed around me and my issues most of your lives. You have treated me like a black sheep. So, I decided I would deserve the title.”
Isaiah felt sick at his assessment of their family as well as the idea that he would allow pack members to be killed for his personal gain. Being alpha, no matter your take on it, was not worth all of that. Isaiah would know.
“How did you end up involved with the witches if you hate them so much?” Tamara asked, getting angry. Annalise knew Isaiah needed to reign her in or they would never get what they needed out of Orson, before she had to shock him to silence.
Isaiah and Annalise shared a glance. “Tamara, maybe you should start heading back and take Roman with you. I will finish this up, and we will get him back to the pack's territory as soon as I am done here,” Isaiah suggested, causing Tamara to glare at him.
“Let’s go, Roman,” she said, stomping away and yanking Roman with her.
“No, I need to stay,” Roman said calmly. “I have to hear it for myself, or I won't believe it,” he explained softly. With a huff, Tamara disappeared back into the woods on her way back to pack territory. Annalise got the feeling that Isaiah wouldn't be finding Tamara in his bed tonight.
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