The Witch's Contract

THE HEALERS’ SECRET

Elara woke to the bond yanking her out of bed before dawn.

Kade was already gone. His side of the black silk sheets was cold. The only proof he’d been there was the faint scent of snow and blood on the pillow.

Ten laps. That was the rule.

The grey mourning gown lay on the floor. She pulled it on without washing. The mark on her shoulder screamed when the fabric touched it. Black and red. Fang-shaped. And under it, the old silver symbol pulsed like it was awake now.

“Witch-licker,” she muttered to herself. “Let them talk.”

The training yard was already full. Fifty wolves. Today it was sixty. Word spread fast when the Alpha marked something new.

Kade stood at the center by the blood-stained post. No shirt this time. Just scars and muscle and silver eyes that found her the second she stepped onto the ice.

“Strip,” he said.

Elara obeyed. Pulled the silk to her waist. The cold hit like knives. The mark burned brighter under their stares.

“Run,” Kade ordered.

She ran.

Lap 1. The chant started. “Witch-licker. Witch-licker.”

Lap 4. Her lungs felt like glass.

Lap 7. She fell. Got up. The bond dragged her forward.

Lap 10. She collapsed at Kade’s feet, bleeding onto the snow.

Kade crouched. Wiped blood from her lip with his thumb. “Good girl,” he said so only she could hear.

Then he stood. “Three drops tonight. If she’s still alive.”

The wolves parted. Elara stayed on her knees until her blood stopped steaming.

---

Night came fast.

The healers’ wing smelled like rot and herbs. Lyra was worse. Grey had reached her chin. Her breath came in rattles. Frost on her eyelashes.

Kade was waiting inside. No guards. Just him and the small glass vial. Three drops of black-red Alpha blood.

“One minute,” he said.

Elara uncorked it with shaking hands. First drop. Lyra gasped. Second drop. The black veins pulled back. Third drop. Her chest rose. Fell. Rose again.

“Still not enough,” Elara whispered.

“No,” Kade said. He took the empty vial. “It’s the deal.”

That’s when the head healer stepped forward. Old. Human. Eyes downcast.

“Alpha,” she said. Her voice shook. “There’s... something you should see.”

She pulled back Lyra’s blanket.

Elara’s blood went cold.

Under Lyra’s ribs, glowing faint under the skin, was a symbol. Same as the one under Elara’s mark. Silver. Old magic. Bone-white and pulsing.

“What is that?” Kade growled.

The healer bowed lower. “It’s not a death curse, Alpha. Not fully. It’s a binding. Someone marked her. Years ago. As a child.”

Elara stumbled back. “No. That’s impossible.”

The healer looked at her. Then at Kade. “Only royal werewolf blood can activate it. And only a witch with old blood can break it.”

Silence.

Kade’s silver eyes cut to Elara. To her shoulder. To the silver symbol glowing under the fang mark.

“The contract,” he said slowly. “Three drops slows it. But it won’t break it.”

He stepped closer to Lyra’s bed. Touched the glowing symbol with one finger. It flared.

“Someone wanted her dead before she turned 18,” Kade said. “And they used royal blood to do it.”

Elara’s knees hit the floor. “Who? Who would do that to a child?”

Kade didn’t answer. He was staring at Elara. At the mark. At the bond between them.

“The monster in you,” he said quietly. “The wolf made of smoke and bone. It’s not yours, is it?”

Elara couldn’t breathe. The bond snapped tight. Pain. Recognition.

“No,” she whispered. “It’s ours.”

Kade’s jaw clenched. He looked at Lyra. Dying. At Elara. Marked. Then at his own hand, still glowing from touching the curse.

“Blood for blood isn’t enough anymore,” he said. “To break this, I have to give more. A lot more.”

“And what do you want in return?” Elara asked. Her voice broke.

Kade’s eyes went black. All silver gone.

“Everything, Luna. Starting tonight.”

He grabbed her wrist. Iron grip. Dragged her toward the door.

“The year just got harder,” he said over his shoulder to the healer. “Keep her alive.”

The door slammed. Locked.

Elara stumbled after him down the dark hall. The bond between them burned like fire.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

Kade didn’t look at her. “To my room. If I’m giving you my blood to save her, then the contract changes.”

His thumb brushed the mark on her shoulder. The silver symbol flared.

“No more separate beds, Elara. No more pretending this is just business.”

He stopped at his door. Pushed it open.

“From tonight, you’re not just my Luna.”

His silver eyes met hers.

“You’re my mate.”