The Nighshade Chronicles: Book 1 - The Alpha Witch

Chapter 2:The Iron Awakens -Kael

Chapter 2: The Iron Awakens

I’m standing behind a woman kneeling in front of a tree of impossible scale. Its roots spread out like woven arteries, creating huts suspended above the black water, tethered directly into the massive structure. The moss-heavy limbs are so vast they seem to cover the entire land. A low, rhythmic hum begins to radiate from the trunk, and a chorus of voices, hundreds of them, begins to chant.

The words are difficult to make out, but a few pierce the haze: "Deep Heart... Land Blood… Iron of the Deep… We are one, we are we… Good Morning… One Song… We rise."

I can feel the vibration of the tree in my own heart. More than that, I can feel her heartbeat, the beautiful girl with the black, silver, and lavender braided hair. I need to reach her. I want to ask what the words mean. I need to ask why she is in my head every single morning. I want, no need to see her face, look into her eyes. The pull toward her is primal, strong enough to make my wolf whimper, urging me forward.

Every time, just before I can reach her, she starts to fade. The massive tree dissolves, the chanting dies, and I am pulled back, left standing alone until the vision is gone and I am returned to the cold stone fortress that is the Spire.

The vision is getting stronger, the image clearer. The hum is beginning to feel like a real frequency, and more of the prayer is pushing through the link. It’s comforting, but it’s terrifying. Who is she? How is she doing this?

I’m jarred awake not by the vision, but by a wolfs howl and the sharp, metallic clang of the steel drummers signaling the start of the Blackwood day, cutting through the final hum of the dream. For the warriors, that clang marks the end of early morning sparring. It means the kitchen staff is loading breakfast trays in the mess hall. For everyone else, it’s the trek to the hall for the morning meeting. For the children, school. For me, it means I missed morning sparring, again, not required, although a show of strong leadership.

But for the leaders—the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma families—it is time to assess, prepare, and command. I usually love this routine. The structure. But this dream is trapping me, pinning me to the mattress, making me unmovable and disturbingly unreachable until the girl with the striking braid calls for all to rise. That is what shakes me to my core. I couldn't move even if I wanted to.

The moment her voice fades from my mind, a new voice takes its place, sharp and demanding.

"Kaelen? Kaelen? Wake up, son."

Not now, father, I push back through the mindlink, my mental voice flat with irritation. I roll from my side to my back, already cursing the lecture I know is coming—the same one about duty, responsibility, and what is expected of the Alpha heir.

I should just tell him about the dream. About the girl. But I can already hear his response. He’d just scream "witchcraft" and go on a new rant about the injustice of living next to a Coven, about how the Supernatural Council should force them to move because "why should wolves and witches live so close?" Yadda, yadda. It’s a speech we are all forced to bear witness to anytime anything even remotely "witchy" is mentioned.

"Kael, my boy, you missed morning sparring and now you are already late for the morning meeting. I tried calling you many times. You cannot block me out when you sleep. What if the pack was in trouble? We have business, and the Betas and Gammas are waiting. It is your duty."

And there he goes. Less than sixty seconds into the day and he’s already deployed the word "Duty."

"Yes, father, I’ll be there in a few minutes." I sever the link, feeling a new weight of confusion. I couldn't block him if I tried. And I certainly didn't remember doing it, nor did I hear him calling. I know the rules: never block out the Alpha. That’s reckless, and I am many things, but I am not reckless.

Is it the dream? The memory of being "unmovable" flashes through my mind. How could a dream block a mindlink? It doesn't make sense.

I roll out of bed—confused, exhausted, and starving. I throw on some sparring clothes: a loose tank top and basketball shorts. I sprint down the hall to the elevator, hitting the button for the meeting room on the third floor.

"Kael? I think your dad is going to be rabid soon. The little spittle is already forming." It's Vada, mocking me through the private mindlink shared with Remi, our trio of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma heirs in training.

"Yeah Man, I think his eyes are turning white. Sure sign of rabies," Remi jokes. "You better get here before he turns feral and we have to take over the pack early."

"On better thought, stay where you are," Vada retorts, trying to keep the momentum. "I’m ready to lead today. My Dad looks tired, and mom really wants him to retire."

Guys, seriously? My dad going rabid? Ha, ha. I link, rolling my eyes. Man, they can give me a headache before coffee.

As the elevator door opens, Renni, Remi’s twin sister, is standing there, holding a steaming cup.

"Remi thought you might need this," she smirks. "Mom wouldn't let me take bacon. Too obvious when you're late."

"Thank you, Renni." I grab the coffee like a lifeline. "Needed. Urgent. How is it going with your new mate? Have you decided which pack you’re living with yet?"

Renni sighs, the smile fading completely. "Things are good. I am so happy. But we just can’t decide which pack to live in. His is smaller, but beautiful. I don’t want to leave everyone here. He said I could make the choice, but... how do I do that? Ask him to leave his pack, or leave mine? I feel like I lose either way."

"Renni, either way, you win. His pack is family now. We’ll form an alliance, and the one that leaves can just become an ambassador. That way, you two can just travel back and forth when needed. We can make it work."

"Seriously, Kael? You would do that for us?"

"Why not? As the future Alpha, I pledge to you as the Gamma daughter: pack is pack. Their pack keeps its autonomy, they get the protection of a larger pack, and their best warriors don't try to kill each other for power. Win-win. We are actually talking about helping Alpha Leo with his heir issue right now. Vada already has most of the details laid out."

Renni throws her arms around my neck, nearly making me drop my coffee, and kisses me on the cheek. "Thank you! Oh, I hope it works. I’m going to call Jake right now!" She turns to sprint, then freezes. "Wait... should I not tell him yet?"

"Renni, go call your mate. We already sent a draft proposal over. I wouldn't have mentioned it if it required you to keep a secret from your better half. Mates should not have secrets."

She turns and sprints out, already pulling her phone out. Mates should not have secrets. The words echo in my mind.

I turn to face the looming steel door of the conference room. I take a single deep breath, center myself, and push it open. My father is sitting at the far end of the long table. His partially shifted claws are tapping a slow, hard beat to the morning drums, mirroring the energy radiating through the mindlink.

"Morning, Father. What big hands you have," I say, stepping into the room.

"Not now, Kaelan. Not the time. You children want to broker some crazy alliance with Blood Moon, and you cannot even arrive on time? Alpha Leo will be calling in less than an hour, and we haven't even started."

"But Father... wasn't Vada here?" I move to my seat, glancing at my best friend, who is giving me an "I told you so" look.

Alpha Gideon sighs, a heavy sound that signals the end of his patience. "Yes, and?"

I force myself to remain calm. "Well... since she is the brains and can explain it... why was I needed at all?"