Witch Way to an Alphas' Heart

Going for a Chat

It has been four days since then. After the first day Ophelia was certain he would give up. She very firmly did not go to visit him as her mother researched how to do a rejection. However she could not stop her curiosity, and every time a sentry went home from their shift on the South side she would just so happen to find them - it was an accident really. And then proceeded to bombard them with questions. It was a little unbecoming of her. She just couldn't help it. He apparently had sent his Beta home to run the pack but true to his word never left the area except to hunt and bathe in the nearby river.

By the third day, her mother had the answer to how to Reject. She even found out his full name as it was necessary for the rejection. Still Ophelia did not go to the outskirts, hoping he would just go away on his own. Along with the research, Esmeralda let it slip it was an extremely painful process, denying the other half of your soul. In some instances it was deadly. So she quietly believed it better to spare him of it if he just went away. Besides, he said he wouldn't accept the rejection anyway which was the only way to complete the process.

The fourth day the red head ran out of patience.

I'm just going to talk some sense into him. I definitely do not want to see him, but he can't stay here forever.

That's what she told herself. Deep down where she dare not think of, she knew that wasn't the full truth. She packed a bag of food, telling herself that she just didn't want him hungry on the way back to his pack. She picked a pretty black dress with a flowing short skirt and cute ankle boots. Tied her flowing fire mane into a high ponytail. She was looking especially cute for herself. Just felt like it.

Right.

"Going to hang out with Grace!" Ophelia called out as nonchalantly as she could before walking out the door. Lying to her mother about something so serious did not sit well, however there wasn't an alternative. Esmeralda had become uncharacteristically paranoid following the Alpha's visit. Always asking where she was going, what she was doing, worried at any moment her daughter would run off with the wolf.

That was one thing she was certain of. She was not going with him to his pack.

Keeping her face carefully neutral, the plan was to walk to Grace's as long as possible. The sun felt great, and she smiled brightly to whoever looked her way. Most of the coven used to look at her with pity until it slowly became mild disappointment and then finally irritation. She was the only non-magic witch. Was she even a witch at all? They'd mutter under their breath. How could the child of two powerful witches result in her? A dud. A failure. Worse than human since healing didn't work on her.

If her own home and kind didn't accept her, there was no possibility of Eclipse Moon welcoming her.

As she took an unexpected turn, a blur of movement caught her eye. She immediately recognized it as a newbie sentry, who all but threw himself behind a cart.

She...she has a tail on me?!

Ophelia screamed in her head, feeling immensely insulted before quickly turning into guilt. Actually her mother was right, and that irritated her. "Thom get out here, I saw you!" Her tone had more bite than she intended, her irritation with herself and her mother being directed at him. He was the most innocent one here, just doing what he was ordered to.

His shaggy brown eyes shielded his eyes but she could still see him wince as shuffled out from his pathetic hiding place. "Spirits be with you Miss Contrare." His voice was soft as fallen leaves, face downcast. "I a-apologize, I was not to be seen."

"Uh-huh. And yet you were." She snapped, crossing her arms with the pack of food in hand. She was even annoyed they sent Thom of all people. Just because she didn't have magic, did they think her other senses were worse than theirs? She wasn't f*****g blind! Ophelia sighed in frustration. "I'm going to offer a deal for you Thom, and I'm only going to offer it once. You are going to go to Grace's and stay there all day until I come pick you up. You are going to say I was there all day and it was uneventful. Or I'm going to take this straight to McMillan about how you couldn't stay out of sight for even ten minutes!" While part of her felt guilty still for threatening the poor lad, the other part felt satisfaction at his paled face. She was a weak witch who detested politics, but she knew every sentries name, and she was a very good judge of character. A timid thing like Thom? Easy to strong arm. As he got experience in the field and more confidence this tactic wouldn't work, but for now as a green horn fresh out of training he was terrified of letting down his superiors. He even gave her a spirit blessing.

After a moment, Thom nervously glanced about as he whispered again. "Where...where are you going?"

"...Underwear shopping." The red on his face rivaled a tomato. "So I don't want a man tailing me, and Grace isn't my body shape or style type. Every time I've brought her she just stands around like a doll, so I'm sparing her of it. Now are you going or not?" Another moment ticked by before he slowly nodded. He didn't look entirely convinced, but again his timid nature wouldn't allow him to press the issue.

So he bowed his head, and scurried off. Ophelia slowly let out the breath she was holding before slipping in between two buildings. Having lived her whole life here, she knew which pathways were the least frequented. She would have to be extremely stealthy now that she lost her tail. She opened her pack to pull out a black hat to cover her bright red locks as they were an immediate give away, and then slowly made her way through town.