Reject the Beast Alpha

Chapter 17: The Witch Mountain

Everyone was ready when Cresia went out of the beast’s house. All eyes were on her as she walked into their direction, as she was the only one being waited on. Thanks to her stomach, which hadn’t felt much better since she woke up.

Today was the day they would be going to Witch Mountain. While she could feel the rush of worry going through her, the werewolves around her seemed to be excited. No evidence of worry or doubt. It was as if they were going on a field trip or something. Klaire, Klyde, and his mate—whose name was Sam—would join her and Silas on this "adventure".

The Witch Mountain was the highest mountain that could only be found in their territory. No one dared to go there except for the royal blood of primordial werewolves like them, as the witches who lived there weren’t that friendly. They were dangerous and wicked by nature; the types who would not hesitate to cast a curse on someone, even if it meant killing them.

The Highest Priestess was the most powerful of all the witches in the current generation. She was the only capable creature who could help force a late-blooming werewolf to shift by doing a ritual to communicate with the Moon. Even the primordial werewolves did not know how it was possible to know that witches were one of their greatest enemies, aside from vampires and humans. But the Highest Priestess was different. Her power was beyond anyone's imagination and was dangerous. Despite that fact, the Shadow Beast Pack wasn’t afraid of her. Their pack had practiced such a win-win alliance with the Highest Priestess, which is why Silas and his pack did not mind meeting her.

"So how are we getting there?" Cresia asked, glancing between the twins.

"The trail is too rocky. We’re going to shift into our wolf forms in order to get there," Silas answered, running his fingers through her shoulder-length hair.

Cresia’s forehead creased. The last time she checked, she had no wolf. "I can’t shift, remember?"

Silas scoffed. "That’s why I will shift, and you will ride on my back."

Cresia blinked as she was taken aback. She did not expect that that was how they would go to Witch Mountain. She had never ridden a wolf’s back before, the same thing as she had never ridden any vehicle, so a big part of her was concerned that she might fall or something.

"You look so pale. Don’t fret, ginger head. We’re going to follow Silas’ wolf. In case some unforeseen circumstances happen, we’ll back you up," Klaire said as she smirked.

In the end, Cresia had no choice but to nod her head. She guessed she really had to go through this so she’d reach her awakening. Deep down, she hoped that everything would turn out well and that all their efforts would not be thrown in vain.

After a minute of planning about how to get into the Witch Mountain, Cresia watched the primordial werewolves as they shifted into their wolf forms. Klaire’s wolf form was almost the same as Silas'. The only difference was the color of their eyes—hers were misty green eyes that turned gold whenever the sun hit them. Klyde and Sam also transformed into large gray wolves... and then there was Silas, the biggest of them all, a big black wolf with angst and a killer pair of golden eyes that made her legs wobble the moment their gazes met.

Silas motioned for her to ride on him. Cresia was a bit reluctant, yet she still walked to him. She touched his black fur coat and was amazed at the softness of it. She was still admiring his coat when she heard him growl.

"Stop teasing me. Ride," Silas scowled at her.

"I’m not teasing you." Cresia rolled her eyes, and with all her might, tried to jump as high as she could, and then wrapped her arms around him to balance her weight. It took her minutes to be able to settle on his back, and she could only rub her forehead afterward.

Klaire growled, laughing a bit. "I know that look, Silas."

"Shut the f**k up!" Silas roared, which made Cresia shiver. He then jerked his head, his snout turning in her direction. "You have to wrap your arms around me so you won’t fall. Stay f*****g still or else you will fall."

"You can talk without cursing, you know," she hissed, inhaling sharply. Did he think that she was an i***t not to know that she could fall if she didn’t grip him tightly?

"Talk back again and I will throw you somewhere else," Silas warned her.

But she knew that it was all empty words. He wouldn’t throw her away because he had already committed himself to her. It was still vivid in Cresia’s memory. The way he spoke, it was like he made a pact, and it was like they were bound.

True to what Silas had said, the trail going to Witch Mountain was very rocky. The air was getting thinner as they tried to ascend, and Cresia felt her mouth running dry due to the heat. Still, she gripped Silas’ coat firmly, afraid that she’d fall and die without having the chance to shift.

The rocky road was tough to pass through. Despite the heightened abilities these werewolves had when in their wolf forms, it still took hours before they reached the top of the mountain. They arrived as the sun settled down.

"Beautiful..." Cresia whispered as she looked at how the sun was setting and could not help but smile. After all that had happened to her, she was able to watch a sunset again. It somehow made her feel that good things would be about to happen in the next few hours.

The earthy smell of the red oak trees lingered in her nostrils. She turned her body around, her eyes feasting on the red oaks in almost every corner of this stiff area of the mountain. There was nothing else that could be found there except trees and some flowers...

No houses... or even other living things! Not even witches...

"Are we on the right mountain?" Cresia frowned. "There’s no one here."

"That’s because they used magic to hide their space," Silas answered, sitting slowly so Cresia could get off him without a sweat.

"Magic? How?" she asked curiously.

Silas shifted back to his human form. Cresia’s eyes widened as he was fully naked. She immediately turned around and took off the big backpack that had all their clothes inside. She felt the others shifting back as well and they took their time getting dressed.

"Are you all done?" she asked.

Klaire laughed. "You can face us now. We’re all dressed."

Cresia spun on them, only to see Silas not wearing a shirt. His 6-pack abs were exposed, along with all the muscles on the other parts of his upper body. She gulped as something within her ached at the thought that he looked hot... but she dismissed it right away. Now was not the right time to admire someone else’s body!

When her gaze drifted to Silas’ eyes, she noticed him looking at her intently. Seconds later, he smirked and shook his head, as if in his mind he was mocking her.

"It’s already evening. What do we do now?" she asked, getting impatient.

"Easy peasy, little wolf." Silas licked his lower lip. "You’ll get to meet the dangerous witch. Just wait."

"Do you mean wait and hope for the best?" Cresia scoffed.

"Someone’s getting so impatient tonight," Klaire beamed, looping her arm around Cresia’s shoulders. "Just a friendly reminder though. The first shift is as painful as dying."

Fear struck Cresia’s chest. She experienced all kinds of pain at the hands of Colton, but that wasn’t close to dying. Would she be able to endure such extreme pain?

Her hands started to sweat. She was about to ask her whether the pain would fade soon after the shifting procedure when she felt a shift in the air. They all looked at the red oak trees. Suddenly, a blinding light appeared in its direction, and the ground started to shake a bit.

Cresia gasped as she realized that the blinding light created a golden double door, and when it swung open, three women in their 40’s went out of it. They were all dressed fiercely in long white gowns with gold accessories and long wands.

"Are they... witches?" Cresia whispered to Klaire.

Klaire nodded in response. "Yes, not your typical ugly witches. The ones here are like goddesses."

"What brings the primordial werewolves here?" The witch in the center asked, her gaze directed at Silas.

"We are here to seek help from the Highest Priestess," Silas answered in a formal tone. "My mate needs help unlocking her wolf."

The witch grinned, nodding her head. "The procedure to unlock a shifter’s wolf can’t be done for free, Alpha. What can you offer..." she paused and then looked at Cresia’s way. "...in order for your mate’s problem to be corrected?"

"Whatever the Highest Priestess asks, I will give," Silas responded confidently.

"Then you can all follow me." The witch spread her arms. "Welcome to Witch Mountain."

The witches led the way, and they followed them as they entered the double doors. Cresia’s mouth dropped. As soon as her feet stepped forward, what she saw was a different world—a paradise filled with beautiful women who you wouldn’t recognize as witches...

Is this all made of magic? Cresia asked herself in awe.

"The Highest Priestess is in her chamber and is performing a divine spell," the witch stated as they walked into what seemed to be a castle. "Try not to touch anything. All the stuff we have here is made of spells, and can be harmful to someone like you."

Cresia sucked in a breath, her eyes feasting on the odd things being displayed inside the place. They used a grand staircase, and after a few more steps, they finally reached the front door of the chamber.

"I will let the Highest Priestess know that you are here...

They waited for a few minutes. Cresia was so nervous that the anxiety started to hammer her chest. She couldn’t help but question the Highest Priestess’ ability.

What if something goes wrong?

What if, instead of unlocking her wolf, the Highest Priestess cast a spell on her?

It was the first time she’d faced witches... It wasn’t even a thing back in Ferocious Manes. Only the Shadow Beast Pack was able to make her experience such a thrill and horror.

The witch came back, wearing a smirk on her face.

"The Highest Priestess agreed to help your wolf-less mate," she told Silas. "You may all come in so the awakening ritual can be performed." The witch gazed at Cresia and offered her a smile. "Make sure your physical and mental well-being are both ready. The ritual can lead you to your death if you are weak and can’t stand the powerful force that will unlock your wolf."

She gulped and nodded.

"Here is it..." Cresia whispered.