The Luna Slave of the Ruthless Alpha.

11

“Performing a locating spell isn't that simple, Logan. First, I still can't use my magic. Second, I need something from the Raven Clan, anything with a direct link to them. I also need the blood of a renegade to locate their hideouts,” Elena explained.

I nodded, my mind racing to figure out how I would get those items linked to the Raven Clan.

“You need to channel my mother's magic. Can you do that, Elena? I'll take care of the rest when you get your magic back,” I asked her.

She stared at the photo of my mother that I placed next to her gravestone. The hesitation was clear on her face; I know she wouldn't agree to this if she had another option.

“What else can I do to help you regain your magic and find what I need?” I said, trying to ease the tension.

“I can try, I need salt and candles to perform the spell,” Elena replied with noticeable hesitation.

I nodded and walked over to the cupboard in the corner of the basement. I fumbled around for the items Elena needed. I wasn't sure if my mother had left salt or candles here, but this was where she kept all her tools for magic.

A fleeting memory struck me: Lincoln and I were children, and my mother would bring us here to watch her perform what we thought were simple “tricks” or “schemes” to entertain us.

Then I accidentally discovered the truth: my mother was a witch. Lincoln, however, has always believed that she was just a renegade wolf.

Sometimes I feel guilty knowing that Lincoln is unaware of our family's secrets.

He's my brother and he has a right to know, but my mother made me swear I wouldn't tell anyone, especially him. She said Lincoln had to remain safe, and there's nothing I want more in this damn world than my brother's safety. Lincoln is the only family I have left.

“Did you find it?” Elena asked after a few minutes, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I opened the bottom drawer of the dresser and a small smile crossed my face when I saw the candles and salt.

“Yes. How much salt do you need?” I asked Elena.

“As much as possible. I also need five candles,” she replied. I immediately took five scented candles and four packets of salt. I handed them to Elena, who wasted no time.

She opened the packets and carefully drew a large circle on the floor with the salt. Inside that circle, she traced a huge star, also with the salt.

She placed the candles at each of the five points of the star and then stood in the center of the pattern. I couldn't help but shudder as I watched her kneel on the salt. “I am Elena, of the Metrova lineage. If you light these candles, it means you agree to let me channel some of your magic, Bastiana,” Elena said.

She closed her eyes slowly, as if beginning a prayer or some ritual that witches perform. A deafening silence enveloped us as I waited patiently for something to happen.

But after almost a minute, nothing happened. Elena opened her eyes and looked at me with an expression of despair. She shook her head, indicating that my mother would not allow her to channel her magic.

“Mother, I need your help,” I whispered, hoping my plea would be heard.

But, as with Elena, there was no response. I took a deep breath, slowly accepting that there was nothing more I could do

“I can't channel someone without their permission, Logan,” Elena told me. I nodded.

Just as she was about to get up, the five candles suddenly burst into an intense flame, taking us both by surprise.

“You have to start now, Elena,” I said urgently, as the candles continued to burn. The fire was enormous, and I noticed Elena beginning to sweat.

“I need another white candle and a cauldron, Logan,” Elena ordered me in a trembling voice.

I could see the mixture of nervousness and apprehension on her face as she stared at the flames at each point of the star.

Even though my mother had lit the candles, confirming her consent, Elena still doubted whether she was doing the right thing.

“White candle and a cauldron,” I repeated.

I immediately went to the closet, opened the drawer, and found the small cauldron, then took another white candle. I handed them to Elena without asking what she would use them for. Witches, I thought, undoubtedly have an affinity for candles and anything with an eerie aura.

Once Elena had the cauldron and the white candle, I watched her pull out a few strands of her own hair and place them inside the cauldron. I raised an eyebrow, watching her. Moments later, Elena stared at me, which I found very uncomfortable.

“What's wrong?” I asked, frowning.

“I need your blood. You are a direct descendant of Bastiana. The spell will work better if I have your blood,” she explained.

I shrugged, moving closer to her. I pulled my fangs out of my wolf form and bit down hard on my palm until I felt the pressure and pain, and blood began to flow.

“Here you go,” I said to Elena, pouring my blood into the cauldron where she had placed her hair.

“I'm going to start channeling your mother's magic now. Stay there and be quiet. Don't interfere with anything you're about to witness.”

I could only nod in response and slowly walked away, feeling the intense heat radiating from the candles.

Suddenly, a sudden change made me raise my eyebrows. The extremely warm atmosphere inside the basement suddenly cooled; it felt as if I had entered a freezer.

As I looked at Elena, her eyes were already closed, and she was clutching the small cauldron tightly.

Elena began to repeat her chants, and this time the tone of her voice grew louder and louder, almost as if she were begging my mother, Bastiana, to allow her to channel her power.

Shortly after, a strong, icy wind began to blow inside the basement. Despite the intensity of the gusts, the candle flames continued to burn without faltering.

After a minute of repeating the chants, Elena stopped abruptly. I frowned when I saw that her nose had started to bleed.

“Elena,” I called out softly. I didn't know what to do; I had no idea what was happening to her. I was about to go over to check on her, but I remembered her warning to stay put, no matter what.

“Damn it!” I cursed under my breath when Elena suddenly opened her eyes. I gasped when I saw that the color of her pupils had disappeared, her eyes had turned completely white, filled only with light.

After reciting her last chants in Latin, the cold wind suddenly stopped. At the same time, the burning fire of the candles went out.

Elena collapsed, dropping the bloodstained cauldron. I was cursing in my mind as I watched her lose her balance and fall unconscious to the floor. “Elena!” I called out, rushing quickly toward her to see if she was still breathing.

But I stopped short, confused. I couldn't reach her; I couldn't cross the circle I had drawn with salt.

There seemed to be an invisible wall preventing me from moving forward.

“Elena! Wake up!” I shouted, but she didn't move. I couldn't help but grimace; I was sure Maddox would lose his temper and get angry with me when he found out what had happened to his partner.

Almost a minute passed in which I could only watch her. I sighed deeply when I finally saw her slowly open her eyes

“Damn it! What happened? Were you able to channel my mother's magic?” I asked her immediately as she struggled to sit up.

“She didn't allow me to channel her magic, but she helped me undo the spell my mother cast on me,” Elena replied. I frowned as she stepped out of the huge circle.

How the hell could she so easily leave the circle that prevented me from entering? She's a witch, of course.

“You look surprised. What happened while I was unconscious?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Nothing,” I replied, shaking my head. “So my mother helped you?”

“Yes! She helped me after we consecrated her body,” Elena replied, which only increased my confusion.

“What does that mean?” I asked, my curiosity overcoming my caution.

“It's nothing, we always consecrate the body of a deceased witch so that their magic remains with them and isn't drained by witches who use dark magic,” Elena explained. I nodded, taking in the information.