a Witch's Wolf

Episode 12 - Alpha

He had planned to change, but before he made it to the locker room, Felix saw him through an open door and caught up with him in the hall. "Riley!" He was about to dive into a million questions and some funny story about the girls on the steps before school when he stopped short, his dopey grin turned to grimace. "I can smell that witch from a mile away."

"Don't." Noah said quietly, but it came with a loud Alpha command. Felix hunched forward in submission, eyes wide. Noah had never used his Alpha before. It surprised them both. Felix didn't even say anything, he wasn't sure that he could.

With a deep breath, Noah released him. He didn't even know he could do that. Whatever had happened to him in the woods, with the witch, with Willow, he wasn't sure exactly, but something had changed in him. Something had awakened a part of his wolf that he hadn't ever felt before and any threat against Willow invoked this raw power that he had never felt.

"Felix." He started slowly, trying to gauge what he should and shouldn't say. Felix just looked up at him like an injured puppy and Noah tried not to feel bad. "I'm not sure what's going on yet, and I just need to figure some things out. Can you just give me some time?" He didn't know how to explain anything when he didn't understand yet.

"That's all you had to say man." Felix tried to keep it light. Half his Happy-go-lucky self was already back in place, and slapped Noah's back before adding, "I'd better get back to class." Noah nodded and huffed out a deep breath as Felix bounced back into his class.

"Noah." Another Alpha command that couldn't be ignored.

"I'll be there right after school." Noah responded.

"NOW!" The force of it made him wince and sprint toward the door without hesitation. His uncle was already driving and headed straight toward the school when he felt another Alpha in his territory. He should have expected Noah to find his path soon enough, but he'd been trying to help him, coaching him and guiding him for years to learn how to use what he'd been born with, the right way. They met in the parking lot, close to the football field. "This is a conversation we have to have outside the link." Merick said carefully. He still hadn't released Noah and waited another few seconds before letting up. "Explain." It came with an Alpha command.

"I wish I could, Uncle, but I am not sure where to start." he rubbed the back of his head with his hand.

"Start with where you went yesterday." Merrick took a seat on a bench and motioned for Noah to sit near him.

"I needed some space alone to run and hunt. I guess I didn't realize how far I'd gone and ended up near Stone Hill House." He had no choice but to say it and knew he was in trouble, but he kept going. "I caught the scent of something different, it burned my nose." He linked the memory, just a flash before he cut it. He should have linked for help the moment he caught the scent.

"Go back." Merrick said quietly. Noah hesitated and Merrick said, "I know it's not the first time you've gone over there, go back to where you first caught it, Noah." It wasn't a request. When Noah showed him everything, from the first whiff to the final blow, he looked up waiting for punishment. Instead, he saw a look of excitement he hadn't expected. "That wasn't just a witch, Noah, I think you knew that." Noah nodded and worried he'd have to tell more. "That warlock is one of the most powerful enemies our kind has ever faced and none have been back to this place since the Stone Hill witches have held the house."

The mention of the Stone Hill witches surprised Noah. He wasn't sure if he should ask for more details or just wait and see if Merrick would say more. Unable to hide the surprise in his face, Merrick was quick to jump on the connection. "I can smell the house on you, son. Did one of the witches help you? Was it Aspen?" Merrick seemed a little wistful when he said the name.

"Ummm... " Noah trailed off and Merrick just kept talking.

"I'd be surprised if Cassia went that far into the woods, but I would never underestimate her, she's a powerful witch.

"The only one I know is Willow, from school, but I don't know if she's a witch, she just lives there with her grandmother." Noah tried not to reveal too much, but Merrick sensed a lot more than the usual wolf.

"She must be Aspen's daughter then. I promise you, she is a witch and from a powerful line. Is that who I smell?" Merrick wasn't going to use his Alpha to pry this information out of him. Noah had fought off a dangerous warlock by himself and survived. It was time to call a council meeting and unbury secrets that few beyond the elders even knew about.

"She found me." Noah said quietly. Merrick smiled at the lost look in Noah's eyes. He'd once known a Stone Hill Witch, and it almost cost him everything.

"Get back to school." Merrick said with a nod. "And get back to training."

Before he could go he had to know, "I can't stay away from her." It wasn't a question about her, but about his place in the pack and Merrick knew the feeling.

"For now, you're probably safer staying away from her, but the pack has to know either way. Danger in the forest is danger for the pack." The last part was said as the Alpha. All Noah could do was nod before he turned and ran back into the school, just in time for the bell.

He smelled her before he saw her and when she stepped out, he took her hand and felt like pieces of a puzzle all fell into place. They had lunch with Felix and a few of the wolves, spent three classes together and skipped study hall. He knew she liked the woods, but he told Felix he was driving her home, so, they both headed straight to his truck. Somehow, they made it through the whole day without any drama and talked about everyone's reactions on the ride. When he pulled into the long driveway, he realized it was the first time he'd ever driven along the windy drive that snaked up the hill to the house. When he pulled around the fountain and parked in the courtyard, he sensed the old woman standing in the doorway before he saw her.

Squeezing his hand, Willow opened the door and hopped out. "Grams." She said and pulled the woman into a hug. Noah was slower and less at ease as he climbed out and got around the truck. Obviously a witch, the old woman never took her eyes off the wolf at her door.

"This is-" Willow started to introduce him when her grandmother cut her off.

"Merrick's nephew." It wasn't a question. He nodded yes anyway.

"His name is Noah." Willow said defensively, and stepped closer to him. She was surprised at the accusatory way her grandmother was still staring at him, as if he'd done something wrong.

"Grams, he gave me a ride home." She said softly and smiled. "When did you get back? I thought you were in town for the week helping at Sarah's store.

"This morning." She said quietly and continued to hold her stare. "I felt it was time to come home." She stepped toward Noah and he almost flinched. Willow stepped in between them and narrowed her eyes.

"Grams." She had never seen her grandmother act this way, was she really so worried about ther virtue? "Noah is my friend." She said softly. Finally looking at Willow for the first time, Cassia smiled.

"There are a great many things you don't know, my dear girl." She looked over at Noah, assuming he hadn't told her his own secret, and squinted. "Are there things you think she might need to know about you Noah, son of Lucas."

Noah's mouth dropped open. He shouldn't have been surprised. He swallowed and tried to keep cool. Hearing her say his father's name was disarming. "You knew my father?" He asked softly.

"Aye." She said and took a soft breath, remembering the baby she'd once saved in the bitter burning woods. "Come in if you're ready." She turned and waved them in. "I'll put the kettle on."

Willow looked confused and embarrassed. "I have no idea what she's talking about, you don't have to come in if you don't want to. I'm so sorry, she's never been like this before." She was babbling and tried to stop. He put his hand on her face and her breath caught. She would never get used to the way he looked at her.

"There are things you need to know about me, Willow." She looked surprised and confused, and he realized there were things about herself she was about to learn too. As much as he wanted to get as far away from Stone Hill and the old witch, he couldn't leave her now, even if he tried.

"Like what?" She asked innocently and without judgment.

"Secrets." He whispered softly and coaxed her ahead of him and into the house. Before he stepped past the doorway, he linked up with Merrick and showed him the conversation. The moment he stepped inside, the link vanished.