Chapter 5
930 Words
Kaelani POV
I wake up to the sound of beeping.
“Ugh,” I groan, my head pounding. “What is that sound?”
“Hey, don’t get up too fast,” Liam says quickly.
“Where am I?” I ask, blinking against the light.
“You’re in your pack’s hospital,” he answers gently.
“When did we get here?” I ask, still confused.
“Yesterday,” he says softly. “You passed out after I kissed you, and you’re just now waking up.”
“Nyra,” I whisper, panic creeping in. “What happened?”
You wore yourself out, she explains. You can’t control your magic yet, so it spiraled when you panicked. And with the dark magic we were feeling, it was too much for us.
She pauses, softer. But Liam calmed you.
Liam opens his mouth to speak, but the door bursts open before he can.
“I found it,” Kaia says breathlessly. “I found the tree.”
I’m already sitting up. “Take me there. Now.”
I move to stand, but Liam grabs my arm.
“Kae, you have to wait for the doctor—and your parents,” he says firmly.
Dad, I’m awake. Can you and Mom come to the hospital? I link him.
On the way, nugget, he replies immediately.
“They’re coming,” I say. “I’m fine. But I need to get to that tree so I can figure out how to stop all of this.”
Five minutes later, my parents and Ezra walk into the room.
“Bean,” Ezra says, pulling me into a hug. “You scared us.”
“Are you okay, honey?” my mom asks, worry etched into her face.
“Yes, Mom,” I say. “I’m fine—and I’m sorry. I was overwhelmed and couldn’t stop it.”
“Kaelani,” my mom says gently, “when did you have the dream?”
I stay silent.
“A month ago,” Liam says quietly.
I glare at him.
“No, Kae,” he says, his voice cracking. “You didn’t see yourself yesterday. Your eyes were white. Your whole body was trembling. I was terrified for you.”
I grab his hand. “I’m sorry, Liam. You shouldn’t have had to go through that.”
“So,” my mom says carefully, “you had the dream a month ago. Did the altar reveal itself?”
“I just found it, Luna,” Kaia says.
My mom nods once. “Kaelani, you need to go right now. We’ll worry about Dr. Watson.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say, hugging her. I grab Kaia’s and Liam’s hands. “Let’s go. Now.”
Kaia leads us around the back of the packhouse, through the garden, and into the maze. In the very center stands a massive oak tree, its presence unmistakable.
“We are definitely going to have to hide this,” Kaia mutters.
“How do we get in?” Liam asks.
Touch it, Nyra says.
I place my hand against the bark. The tree begins to glow, and a door slowly opens.
The moment we step inside, the altar comes to life.
It’s welcoming you home, child, my grandmother’s voice says.
“Step into the circle again.”
I do—and my entire body begins to glow. My feet lift from the floor.
“Kae,” Liam says anxiously.
“No,” Kaia says quickly. “I don’t think you should touch her or go in there.”
Don’t worry, my grandmother says calmly. She is just receiving all of her power.
“Grandma?” Kaia whispers.
“Hello, my sweet child,” she replies warmly.
“How are you here?” Kaia asks.
“Kaelani brought me the moment she touched the tree,” my grandmother explains. “She must do this if she wants to stabilize her magic.”
Slowly, my body lowers back to the floor.
I open my eyes. “I feel… different.”
“Your magic stabilizes in this circle,” my grandmother says. “This is where you must practice and perfect your craft. You will need far better control for what is to come—especially if you want to save your friend.”
She disappears.
“Who is she talking about?” Kaia asks quietly.
“Kieran,” I say.
You need to hide the tree, child, my grandmother’s voice whispers in my mind.
“How do I do that?” I ask.
Step back into the circle and think of what you want. It will come to you.
I step back in, take a deep breath, and the words rise instinctively.
“Hoc quod est, aliud videtur.”
The light fades.
When we step outside, the massive oak is gone—replaced by a delicate cherry blossom tree.
“Oh my Goddess,” Kaia breathes. “This cherry blossom tree is beautiful.”
Aliza POV
A few weeks ago, I overheard my parents talking about Kaelani being a witch.
Of course she is.
She gets everything. Including Kieran.
He’s been in her face since the first day of school. What the hell is so special about her?
Kieran is mine.
I will not lose my place as his Luna.
So I paid a visit to a dark witch and put a spell on him—just enough to make sure he stayed focused on me. And far away from Kaelani.
Nobody will ever know what I did.
I will get what I want.
- Writer
