The Assassin's Isolated Pawn

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Rainbow

My mother’s going home ceremony was very emotional. Mary and Susan put on the waterworks like they weren’t just plotting to dethrone me days before. I held my composure as the fire took her and delivered her soul to Hecate. I stood stoic as I was elevated to high priestess and my ascension was complete. That was weeks ago, and I am still no closer to finding glory than I had been that day. The goddesses’ have even been silent. I was going about my day in the apothecary. As it was the end of the month and tomorrow would be September first, I had to get all the end of the month reports done. I was in the back of the shop when the bell rang signaling that someone was in the shop. I left my paperwork to go see did the customer needed help. As I walked up to the counter, I was greeted with the sexiest smile I’ve ever encountered. He was tall at least 6’ red hair and light skinned. His build was slim but athletic. He was wearing tan slacks and a white polo shirt and Sperry’s. He looked good, real good. I wish I could see his eyes, but they were hidden behind a pair of mirrored aviator glasses.

“Hello, miss” he said. His voice not as deep as Bishops, but it was sultry. Could a man have a sultry voice though I thought to myself. “Yes”, I replied trying to control the smile about to cross my lips “How may I help you.” “Would you have any ginger root tea or anything to help have stomach problems.” He asked. Dammit he probably had a pregnant spouse somewhere I thought to myself. “I should have some in the back” I said as I went to go get him some. I brought back the ginger root tea and my own special blend that helped with nausea I made for Cj since she’s been pregnant. Once I got close to the counter I sighed and gave myself a little shake. It’s been a while since James, and I got together maybe I need to make a call. “Here you go sir” I said in a cheery voice I handed him the ginger root tea and my own special blend for morning sickness. “Huh?” He said with his head c****d to the side looking at the baggie that said blend for morning sickness. “I’m not pregnant” he laughed. “Oh, my bad” I said. “I just thought the ginger root was for a spouse or someone that was pregnant.” I could see his eyebrow c**k from behind his glasses. “You know what they say about assuming things right?” he said lightly as he chuckled. “I needed the tea for my own stomach. I just flew in from London and unfortunately the local cuisine just doesn’t agree with me yet.” He said. “Oh,” I felt so stupid assuming that there was a pregnant woman involved. I just said “I see” slightly blushing and asked how much of the tea he wanted. “Well, if I get to see more of you than I’ll take about 8 oz that way if I need more, I can always come back by” he said. “You say that like you plan to be here for a while?” I asked with a little sass to my voice. “I actually have no clue how long I am staying in town, but the fresh air and scenery is doing wonders already.” He replied I just smiled at him as I bagged up his purchase. “I hope this helps you and your stomach” I say as he leaves. Damn the back looks just as good as the front. An ass you can bounce a quarter off of. The rest of my day was uneventful, I didn’t even call James the newcomer still giving me butterflies. The memory of his voice making my panties wet. I closed up shop not long after and went to the back of the store so that I could teleport home. I stopped trying to keep up appearances. I just teleported where I need to go to now. I even put bubbles my bug in storage on the pack lands since I don’t use her like that anymore. Once I arrived in my room in the coven house I left and went to Cj house as was our normal nowadays.

I entered the house, and everyone was already lounged about the living room eating I was handed a plate by a pregnant Nola as I made my way to sit opposite Cj and Bishop. “So how was the shop?” Cj asked me. “Same ole, same ole though a tasty treat came in for some ginger root today.” I replied “Oh, do tell?” Nola asked as she waddled her way to sit in the recliner. “Well, he was handsome from what I could make out.” “What do you mean could make out?” Juliet asked. “Well, he had glasses on.” I replied to Juliet. “In your dark and dreary ass apothecary that’s odd” Nola said. Now that she said something I didn’t think of that. “Anyway, girl other than the aviator glasses he was dressed to the nines like he just came off the runway of Paris or some GQ magazine cover.” “Oh really?” she said perking up. “Down girl down. If anyone gets a new treat it’ll be me,” I say. She sags back down with a little pout on her face. “What else?” Cj says intrigued “His voice is like honey he’s light skinned and has very long red hair.” “Wow red hair” Juliet asked, “Yes girl.” “Is he a shifter?” Bishop asked. He’s been overly protective of the pack and pack lands since both Cj and Nola are pregnant. We had a pack of rogues travel through on their way up north. they didn’t give us any problems but that doesn’t mean Bishop and Ares wasn’t there escorting them off our lands anyway. “He’s human I didn’t sense any bear or wolf on him, and he didn’t smell of witch either.” I told him. “He could have been a vampire” Thomas said. “Not with all the wards I have on the shop.” I said, “No he wasn’t a supernatural maybe a super model but definitely nothing of our world.” The topic turned to baby things as most of our conversations do nowadays since Cj’s due date is fast approaching. While the others talked around me, I let my mind wonder to the beautiful man behind the shades.

Sabre

Shit! I knew I was f.ucked the moment I went into the damn store. I had been in New Mexico for about two days and in that time, I ate a chorizo breakfast burrito and then green chili enchilada plate for lunch by the time dinner had rolled around on that second night my stomach was fighting for its life. I had to get up and get dressed and go to get some tea. Like my mother always said ginger tea does wonders. I was happily surprised that there was an honest to god apothecary in the town. The minute I walked into the store all my senses came alive, unlike bears and wolves where there is another presence in them. That is not so for owls. I am the owl, and the owl is me. So, when I stepped into the store something triggered the animal in me. Under the smell of all the dried and drying herbs was the distinct smell of rose petals with a hint of vanilla. It smelled of my mother’s flower garden, it brought back so many bittersweet memories of her of when I was younger. Before I was hardened and turned into a trained killer. Of the soft-spoken boy, whose only wish was to help his mother. I should’ve walked out right then and there. Before she came from the back of the store, but my legs wouldn’t move me away from the counter and when I saw her, I knew I was f.ucked royally. There standing in front of me trying to hide her blush was my mate. I was floored that the goddess gave me a f.ucking mate let alone mated me to a damn witch. Yes, she is a witch I noticed it the moment I seen her. Her aura screaming out at me as I used my owl sight to fully look at her. Thank the goddess that I didn’t remove my glasses when I entered the store. They say all animal shifters know their mates by smell, but witches know them by sight as in looking into the eyes of their beloved. After I recognized what she was to me I left my glasses on my face for dear life. I have no life for a mate even if I was just an ordinary owl. Especially a witch mate. How would she react to me. Would she reject me straight out then try to kill me or would she play with my heart before betraying me. She is a part of the desert moon pack as that is where the closet coven here is. They are about to go to war with the council where would her loyalty lie. I know for damn sure not with me and c.ouncilman Li. But I wanted, I wanted her badly. Her seemingly smooth as silk skin and those eyes. They drew me in not just the color but the not so innocence behind them. I wanted and longed for her like a drunk on a bender. To think I only just been in her presence for a couple of minutes. My mate my witch mate. S.hit I cursed to myself as I walked down the street after getting my tea. I know I said I’d be back, but I am totally rethinking that plan. Getting involved with her, even claiming my mate will f***k everything up. I finally entered my hotel room and started to strip naked intending to take flight over the Gilas. But first things first, taking this damn tea. I stopped stripping just short of taking off my boxers. Once I was done making and drinking the tea. I inhaled to settle my nerves time to find Nimcha. I was happy my room was on the top floor of the hotel and facing towards the back looking out towards the woods. I opened the window and quickly shifted before flying out. It felt great having the wind beneath my wings. I loved when I was in this form the freedom that it gave me was almost euphoric. I soared over the trees of the Gila national forest and passed through the packs wards unscathed. Thankfully it was night, so my coloring blended into the nights sky. I was a huge black owl with gold eyes. Unlike Nimcha, that was a big grey and white barn owl and Cin who was a teeny tiny white and black elf owl. I flew around the pack lands looking for signs of my brother. I ended up in a tree outside of the coven house looking through the windows for my mate. I felt like a damn creep looking for her, But I was like a moth, and she was a flame I couldn’t stop myself from trying to catch a glimpse of her. she wasn’t at the coven house from what I could tell and Nimcha wasn’t here at desert moon. I flew around the pack again getting a lay of the place. I hadn’t been here since the end of last year, I had relieved Cin, right before Li sent me to London. I usually just stayed around the packhouse monitoring the Alpha and Beta. But this time around I would actually take an interest in all of the pack. I notice a huge male leave a small cottage. He was easily over 6’ with a dark skin tone. When he was outside, he stopped and surveyed the area. If I didn’t know any better, I would say he was looking for me as his glaze passed over the tree I was in a couple of times. If I didn’t know better, I would say he was the alpha here, his aura strong and domineering. But I know the alpha here, she is a small cute little thing. Reminding me of my little sister so much. I need to find Nimcha and Cin they are the only family I have left, and I refuse to lose them. I took off back to the hotel knowing that I wouldn’t find too much more at the pack tonight. Once in my room I shifted back and grabbed my phone from the desk I left it at. I tried calling Nimcha again. The phone rang out until the voicemail picked up the call. I hung up the phone flinging it to the bed. Urgh! What do I do now do I stay at desert moon next to my mate and observe or do I fly to the next logical place that either Nimcha or Cin could be which would be ocean groove pack in California. I could be there within a day if I flew through the night tonight.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower ready to wash away the grime of the day thinking about my beautiful mate. Oh, Athena what have you done to me I thought as the hot water hit my back as I leaned forward and laid my head on the shower tile. “I have done nothing to you sweet boy.” I jumped startled by the voice that came out from the bathroom beside me. There looking at me was Athena, goddess of all owls. “My goddess” I said as I tried to cover my m.anhood with my hands. “You know you’re failing miserably trying to hide all of that” she said waving her hands towards my m.anhood. “What do I owe the pleasure of this visit” I asked trying to ignore that fact that I was naked as the day I was born in front of the mother goddess. “Well, I have come to answer your question about what I have done. I gave you a mate of worth.” She said. “My mate but she’s a witch.” I answered. “What does that mean?” She asked, “She might try to kill me.” I answered the goddess “She won’t” she replied, “how do you know?” I asked. At that she just stared at me with a look of duh you dummy. “Look, I am not here to influence you one way or the other as this has to be free will. but I gave you Rainbow as a mate for a reason. She is loyal and courageous and worthy of a warrior such as yourself. This union is blessed by me and Hecate the goddess of all witches. The only obstacle is you and Rainbow and y’all own free will. So, whatever you decide, is on you.” With that she disappeared as quickly as she came, leaving me even more confused than before. I turned off the shower and wrapped the towel around my waist and laid down on the bed. My mate’s name is Rainbow. As my eyes closed and sleep took over, I couldn’t help but smile as my mind wondered about the only thing that I wanted to dream of. My mate being held lovingly in my arms.