Howls and Hexes

CHAPTER 4

Rayna

Tessa and I kept drinking, and all the while, I could feel amber eyes on me. Every time I looked up, Zac was there his gaze like a tether I couldn’t cut. I tried to shake it off, but it was like something inside me was pulling toward him, magnetic and impossible to ignore. I didn’t know him, but some part of me felt like I should. Being across the room from him felt wrong, like my body wasn’t where it was supposed to be.

There was something about the way he looked—calm, possessive, curious, like he already knew me. Like I belonged to him.

And maybe that was what unsettled me the most.

I turned around again, catching him mid-stare. Tessa narrowed her eyes on me.

“Okay,” she said, drawing out the word, “you have to tell me why that guy’s been staring at you all night and why you keep turning around like you’re magnetized.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, heat rising up my cheeks.

“Come on, Rayna.” She laughed, tossing back the rest of her tequila. “You’ve been sneaking glances at him like he’s carved out of chocolate. Just admit you like him.”

I looked down at my drink, swirling it around slowly. “I don’t have experience with men, okay?”

“No kidding.” Tessa smirked. “It’s kinda cute, though. Like... feral kitten energy.”

I winced. “Great.”

Tessa grinned, her white teeth gleaming under the neon glow of the bar lights. “Why don’t you just go over there and say hi?”

I shook my head quickly. “No. I barely know how to talk to people. What would I even say?”

She tilted her head at me, intrigued. “You don’t have experience with guys, do you?”

“Yeah… um, not really. I kind of grew up weird.”

“What do you mean weird?”

“I mean, I never really had friends. My mom homeschooled me. We didn’t go out. Like… ever. It was just her and me.”

Tessa’s mouth formed a small ‘o’ as understanding dawned on her. “Ah. That explains a lot.”

I winced. “Sorry if I’m awkward. I just… I’m not used to all this.”

She nudged my shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll work on that.”

Her smile was warm, almost sisterly. I had only just met her, but something about the way she talked to me teased me made me feel seen in a way I never had before. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or just the high of being out for once,maybe I was just happy to finally have someone my age to talk to, but I was glad she’d invited me.

“Still,” she added, glancing over at Zac again. “That guy? Not your type. He looks too good to be true.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Rayna, look at you. No offense, but he’s the kind of guy who could have anyone. And guys like that don’t usually want…” She paused, her eyes drifting across my body. “They don’t go for girls like us. Unless it’s just for one night.”

Her words stung more than I wanted to admit. Deep down, a part of me had already thought about it. Why would someone like him look at someone like me? I wasn’t tall or lean or polished. I wasn’t what people expected a ‘catch’ to be.

But still… I felt something pull me toward him.

Something deeper.

I tried to push the thought away and enjoy what was left of our night out. I had my first taste of freedom, and I wasn’t going to ruin it with insecurities.

We kept drinking until the bar called for last orders. By then, I was properly drunk. Tessa handled her alcohol way better than I did. I was clinging to her arm as we stumbled outside toward the waiting cab she’d called.

Everything felt blurry and too loud. My head spun with a mix of drinks, confusion, and emotions I didn’t understand.

Tessa gave the driver our address, and I leaned my head on the cool window, laughing at something she said that probably wasn’t even funny.

We tumbled through the front door like teenagers sneaking past curfew. I kicked my shoes off while holding on to the wall, and Tessa was still giggling beside me.

That’s when Courtney appeared in the hallway.

Her scowl could’ve cut glass. “You guys are too loud. Don’t you know people are trying to sleep? It’s 3 in the freaking morning!”

Tessa rolled her eyes and gave her a once-over. “Relax. We’re just having fun.”

I tried to play peacemaker, as usual. “Sorry. We’ll try to be quieter next time.”

We both giggled again like idiots.

Courtney turned to go back to her room, muttering, “You're not the only tenants here, you know. Have some decency.”

Her tone was so condescending, I felt something snap.

In my drunken haze, I wished—half-jokingly, half-not—that she’d just hit her head on the wall or trip on the stairs and shut up for once.

Then, from the other side of the kitchen wall, we heard it.

A loud thud.

Tessa and I froze.

Another thud—heavier this time. Then silence.

Suddenly, the sound of a door creaking open echoed down the hall.

And then—

Thump-thump-thump.

A body falling down the stairs

We ran, panic sobering us up almost instantly.

Courtney lay sprawled at the bottom of the staircase. Blood pooled beneath her head. Her limbs were twisted, her eyes half-lidded.

I gasped and dropped to my knees beside her. My heart pounded as I reached for her wrist. She had a pulse, but it was faint.

Was she…? Did she…?

“I’m calling 911,” Tessa said, already dialing.

I could barely hear her over the noise in my head.

Did I do this?

I wished for this.

How could that even be possible?

People don’t just think things and make them happen. That’s not normal.

But this… this didn’t feel like a coincidence.

Not when the visions started. Not when I touched that guy—Zac—and saw something I couldn’t explain. Not when Pete said that thing at the bar about lights flickering when weird things happen.

Was something following me?

Was something inside me?

By the time the police and paramedics arrived, I felt like I’d been hollowed out and filled with ice. Daisy, our other housemate, got dragged out of bed for questioning. Tessa did most of the talking, which I was grateful for—I was still too out of it to form full sentences.

Courtney was rushed off in the ambulance.

“Well, that sucks for her,” Daisy said with a shrug as they wheeled Courtney out. “But maybe karma finally caught up with her. She’s always had that meddling energy.”

I stared at Daisy in disbelief. “She could be seriously injured.”

“She’ll survive,” she muttered and disappeared into her room.

Later, Tessa and I walked upstairs together.

“I’m gonna have such a hangover tomorrow,” I groaned.

Tessa smiled and leaned close. “Say this first thing when you wake up: ‘No headache, no twisty gut, body be clean and mind stay clear.’ I promise—it works.”

I blinked at her, unsure if she was joking or not.

“You’re serious?”

“Dead serious. Trust me, Rayna.”

I nodded slowly and entered my room. My body felt like dead weight. I collapsed onto my bed, kicked off my jeans, and passed out within seconds.

Light surrounded me.

Not sunlight. Something warmer. Brighter.

I was standing in a glowing field of wildflowers under a starlit sky. And there she was.

The woman.

She stood barefoot, long white hair cascading down her back like mine—but longer, thicker. Her skin shimmered, eyes the same stormy grey as mine, only deeper… brighter… ancient as if they held entire galaxies.

She was breathtaking. And familiar.

“Daughter,” she said softly. “Come to me.”

She didn’t have to ask twice. I walked forward, breathless, drawn to her like the moon to the sea.

“Who are you?” I whispered “Do I know you?”

“Not yet. But you are one of mine.”

I stared at her. “What does that mean?”

She smiled. “I am Ashthera.”

The name hit me like a lightning bolt. My mother had whispered stories about her once—never in detail. Just a name, wrapped in reverence and fear.

“The goddess?” I asked.

She smiled. “Yes. And you, Rayna, are my direct descendant. Your mother was one of mine too. You carry my blood. My power.”

I blinked, unsure if I should fall to my knees or run.

“You used your magic today, Rayna. You willed it. When you came into Texas, your dormant power awakened. The visions, the flickering lights, the surge you felt when you touched your mate—all real.”

“M-mate?”

“Zac.”

I shook my head. “That can’t be…”

“He is yours. As you are his. You will see.”

“But what happened to Courtney—did I really…?”

“You wished for it. You envisioned it. You opened the door, and the magic answered.”

“I didn’t mean it! I didn’t want her hurt, just… I don’t know… embarrassed.”

Ashthera nodded solemnly. “You don’t carry malice. That’s why I’m here. To guide you before the world tries to twist what you have.”

“I don’t want this. I just want to be normal.”

“You don’t get to choose. The fates already have. Your life, your power, your mate—it’s all woven into a path, and it begins now.”

I felt like I was drowning.

“I don’t even know what I’m doing,” I said quietly.

“That’s why I’ve given you a grimoire,” she said. “A book. On your desk. Start with a protection spell. Use the white candle. Say these words: ‘Ashthera, goddess of light, protect my room, my soul, my space. Let no harm enter here. So it is, so it shall be.’ Then blow the candle out. That will tell me you’ve heard.”

I nodded numbly.

“And remember,” she added, stepping closer. “No one can know you are working with me. Except your mate.”

“What about Tessa?”

“She is a witch too. But not one of mine. Be careful with her.”

“She’s my friend—my first real friend…”

Ashthera’s eyes darkened. “Not all friends are allies. Watch her.”

I opened my mouth to ask more, but the light began to fade.

“I’ll return,” she promised. “You’re special, Rayna. But be careful. Magic is a gift—and a burden.”

Then she was gone.

I woke up with the sun beaming through my window. I groaned, fully expecting to feel like I’d been hit by a truck.

But… nothing.

No headache. No nausea. No regret.

I whispered the words Tessa told me last night just in case and the last of the fog lifted from my mind.

I sat up slowly.

And then I saw it.

A Grimoire, Ashthera had said

Thick. Bound in soft leather. Sitting on my desk.

There was a note:

“Rayna—start from the beginning. This book will teach you what you need to know. But first, set your protection spell.”

Beside it, a row of colorful candles.

White. Red. Green. Blue.

My fingers trembled as I lit the white one and whispered, “Ashthera, goddess of light, protect my room, my soul, my space. Let no harm enter here. So it is, so it shall be.”

The flame flickered—then snuffed itself out.

The smoke rose lazily into the air, curling like a ribbon toward the ceiling. For a second, the room felt… different. Not just in that soft, candle-scented kind of way but charged. Like something invisible had clicked into place around me. A warmth spread through my chest, thick and steady, almost like… safety. Like a shield had been wrapped around me, tight but gentle.

And then the manual moved.

I swear, I hadn’t touched it. The pages started to shift on their own, one after the other, flipping slowly like they had a mind of their own. I froze, watching as the book settled on a single page closer to the back one I hadn’t looked at yet.

The paper was different. Older-looking. The edges slightly browned, like it had been tucked away for years. The handwriting wasn't the same neat, flowing style from the other spells. No. This ink was darker. Rusty red, almost like it had been written in blood. And it pulsed.

One bold title scrawled at the top like it had been etched in haste, or pain.

I stared at the name, something in me recoiling even though I didn’t know what it meant.

The Severing Rite.

Before I could read anything else before I could take in even one instruction the words began to disappear .

I stood there in stunned silence. “What the hell was happening”.

This wasn’t just a dream.

It was real.

I was a witch.

And my life was no longer ordinary.

I still couldn't believe this was happening to me. That I was, in fact, a witch. My mother had been one. My whole family was one, and no one had ever told me.

"Why did I only experience magic now? It turned out the fates had something to do with my life. Ashthera said I was special but I don't feel special. I mean see the way I look, why couldn't she make me look as flawless as she was, if I was her direct descendant”. I sighed .

I looked at my mother's journals. I needed answers, and there was maybe only one way to find answers. My mother's own words.