Witch And The Wolf

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Damien

“Archie take Amelia up to her room. I’ll be up in a minute. Marcus have someone come clean this up.” I gave instructions, lifting the body and throwing it over my shoulder. I hauled it out the front door. I carried him to the edge of the tree line and dropped him. Leaving for Marcus and the others to clean up later, I turned to the mansion. Lights shone out onto the lawn and the sounds of chaos and cleaning echoed out from the open double doors. I turned back and walked inside, nodding at a group of omegas who were scrubbing blood off the floor. Climbing the stairs, I got to our room and found Archie standing outside the door.

“I left her in the bathroom with the shower running. She has blood everywhere. She didn’t say much, but I think she has to be in shock. The fire, Bailey, this…She has to be in shock…”he tapered off and I could see concern in his eyes before he walked away to go help Marcus. I entered the room, locking the door behind me, and made my way to the bathroom. She was in the shower, and I lingered by the door for a moment, watching her wash her hair. She had left her clothes in a pile near the shower door, so I scooped them up and took them to the bedroom, tossing them into the fireplace to burn. I got back to the bathroom as she stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her body, her hair already in a tight wrap on her head.

“You, okay?” I asked, leaning against the door frame as she sat at the vanity and began applying lotion to her skin. Her demeanor was calm as she smiled and nodded, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror.

“I am so sorry about Bailey. I will send some wolves out in the morning to look for her…her body. We can bury her wherever you wish.”

“No. Leave her. Leave it all. I don’t want to think about it anymore. Please, Damien, I just want to sleep.” She took her hair down and brushed it through before braiding it. She got up and came over to me, planting a kiss on my cheek before going to crawl into bed. She dropped her towel next to her side and crawled in, settling under the covers, before beckoning me to come over and crawl in with her. I did so and she settled into my arms, her head pressed to my chest, and instantly fell asleep.

My mind swirled with thoughts all night. Unanswered questions and more importantly, concern over my mate. I knew clearing the fire must have taken a lot of magic from her, and I could imagine it was draining. Her calm demeanor after killing someone was also concerning. Shortly before dawn I moved from under her, careful not to wake her, and slipped out of the room. I headed to the office down on the main floor, finding Archie in my chair looking over some documents, and Marcus asleep in a chair nearby.

“Is she okay?” Archie asked, glancing up from his work.

“She is asleep.” I reply dropping into a chair across from the desk. Archie tapping a stack of papers into order before stepping around to sit in the chair next to me. “It doesn’t make sense. To set the fire to the library, and then kill one of their own. I don’t understand.” He set his arm on the chair, resting his head in his palm and closing his eyes for a moment,

“Someone is lying.” Marcus grumbled half asleep as he repositioned himself in his chair. I nodded to myself, more questions swirling in my mind. “Okay.” I take a deep breath and blow it all out. “Let’s all take a break. Did the omegas finish cleaning?” Archie nodded, fighting his own exhaustion. “ Good. Send them all home. Close off Amelias library for the week. No more work today. I want everyone to leave and take the afternoon. You two, take the night. Everyone get some sleep. Marcus have some food brought in, give the kitchen a break as well. We can revisit this all tomorrow when everyone has had some rest and some food.” Marcus groaned as he sat up, taking out his phone to order catering for the pack house. Archie and I heading out to the hall. As we stepped out of the office, something moving from the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned my head to see Amelia standing at the top of the stairs, a long white sating night gown hugging her body, making me do a double take. Archie cleared his throat and mumbled something before leaving heading off on his own.

“You okay love?” I asked, heading up the steps to her.

“Yes. I just wanted to find you. Are you okay?” She asked, wrapping her arms around my neck. I held her close, kissing her forehead before taking her by the arm to lead her to the bedroom. I settled into a chair near the fireplace, setting her in my lap so I could hold her to me.

“I was afraid, when you went into the fire.” I said, stroking her hair as she laid her head on my shoulder. “Amelia, something isn’t making sense.?” She raised her head to look at me, furrowing her brow in confusion but waiting for me to continue. I explained to her about the video camera glitching out and how there was no evidence of Bailey escaping the window or being stabbed as she did so. Amelia took it all in quietly, no doubt considering all of the information and trying to process it herself. “Anyways I sent everyone home. We all could use some rest I think.” I finished, looking at her beautiful face. She leaned in to kiss me quickly, pulling back to smile.

“I have an idea.” She said, and I straightened up to listen. “I know a witch; she practices different magic than I do. I could ask her to come over and help.” She got up and went to grab her phone. Shooting off a text, she came back and set the phone beside the chair, sitting back on my lap. “She can speak to the dead. Maybe she can find Bailey’s spirit and tell us her side. Maybe even where her body is so we can bury it.” She snuggled into my lap, pressing soft kisses to my chin.

“I’m not sure that’s a great idea.” I respond, a rippled of desire rolling through my body as she pressed her body into mine.

“I want to know. I think it will help us move forward.” She replied, pulling my shirt from me as she peppered kisses along my chest. Her phone chimed and she stopped to check it. Typing out a response and setting it back down, she smiled at me as she moved to lower herself between my knees. “Now, let me take care of my alpha.” She smiled unbuttoning my pants, my mind going blank at her touch.

3 days later…

We stood in a circle under the deck from Amelias study. The moon shone through the trees as Amelia lit candles all around us. Her witch friend sat on the ground in the center on the circle, sigils drawn into the dirt and crystals surrounding her.

“ I need something of the deceased.” She held out her hand and Amelia handed her a scarf she had. “It was a gift I gave her when she first came here.” Amelia explained, stepping back to stand beside me, taking my hand in hers and leaning her head against my shoulder.

“You’re sure about this still?” I murmur to her. She nodded in responds; her eyes locked onto the witch in the circle.

“Let us begin!” The witch exclaimed. She began chanting Latin, touching the scarf and each crystal as she spoke each word. The wind around us began to pick up, rustling the leaves, and causing the candles to flicker. “Bailey we are here for you. Come to us! Reveal yourself!” She shouted into the wind and resuming her chant in Latin. As she finished her incantation, she took out a knife and sliced into her palm, spreading the blood along the sigil in the center of her circle, and then placed the scarf on top. She said a few more words, and the scarf burst into flames. As her chanting grew louder, the wind increased, until the flame of the scarf went out and the wind suddenly died.

“She is here” The witch spoke lowly, her eyes closed. “Bailey…what happened to you.” A pause followed, and she nodded her head slightly as if listening to someone none of us could see. “Murdered.” She whispered. “No choice” Suddenly her head snapped up, her eyes opening wide. “I went down to the basement, to talk to them. They had been my family in the woods, when we were all alone. I wanted to make sure they were doing well. It didn’t seem fair I was being treated so well and they were still in prison. The big one, Alexander grabbed me, and said if I didn’t help them get out, he would kill you. I went out to distract the guards so he could get out. He was just supposed to meet me in the library to get some money and go. I went in and he demanded more money. I said no, so he tied me to a chair and set the fire. When Marcus got there to put it out, he stabbed him and ran. I was able to get out of his ties, they weren’t tight. I was blocked from the door, so I went to the windows, to the balcony. I got down to the ground and he was there, at the nearby tree line. He grabbed me and dragged me into the woods. He stabbed me and then he burned my body by the lake. He dumped the ashes and cleaned it all up to hide it. He slept and was trying to run when the pack members found him. He still had the knife. I’m sorry Amelia. I am so sorry. I just wanted to keep you safe.” She went quiet, and the witch shifted slightly. Opening her eyes and looking around at us all. “She is gone.” Amelia stepped into the circle to help the witch up, hugging her.

“Thank you. Thank you for helping us find answers.” She smiled at her witch friend and helped her gather her crystals. As the rest of the circle dispersed, Archie put out the candles and gathered them up into the box they came from, setting the box near the witches as they spoke to one another quietly. I stood back and watched my mate speak to her, holding the woman’s hands in her own. After a bit she hugged the witch friend once more, and Archie picked up her box of candles and crystals, leading her to the driveway where the car she had been brought in waited.

Amelia and I walked to the driveway; her arm locked around mine. We stopped beside Archie, watching as the car pulled away. “Why not just use the portals?” He asked Amelia.

“Oh, she hates when I use portals. She says they make her feel weird.” She shrugged, smiling as she turned towards the house. “Still, we have closure for Bailey. I will light a candle for her to say goodbye. Then we can move forward.” She walked into the front door as I lingered with Archie for a moment.

“She was an interesting witch.” He remarked. “So, we just welcome witches now?” He asked with a hint of amusement to his voice. “What next...vampires?” He turned to follow Amelia into the house. I rolled my eyes following him. “Not even remotely.” I comment as we reached the door.

“She didn’t seem too bad though. Beautiful eyes. I don’t think I have ever seen a woman with violet eyes before.” He commented as we went in and closed the door behind us.