The Origin

The Origin Witch

---POV Esa---

The Origin Witch smiled and nodded. We weren’t super close, but I have done my best to be cordial just has she has done with me. It is working to our benefit, and we have become the first Origins in history to coexist for this long since the originals. “Now that you are all here, there is an invitation going around for all wolves in every pack. It is from your Head Pack. Your…royalty of sorts. My daughter is mated to one of the Alphas somewhere in Asia and she called to tell me all wolves are required to join. Even the ones I’m supposedly harboring like you lot are some kind of fugitives. Pssh…ridiculous.” The Origin Witch was starting to go off on one of her rants. It’s not like she hates wolves, but many supernatural beings tend to stick with their own kind, and they don’t like interference from others unless absolutely necessary.

“Cousin…please continue with the task at hand.” Abs requested while bowing a bit. The Origin Witch cleared her throat and nodded.

“Right. Well, anyway, it is a ball of sorts and all of you are to dress formally and go to the party as instructed by your species.”

I nodded once and my warriors bowed. “Not a problem. When is this ordeal? Let me guess, it is for tomorrow I presume?” Professionalism in front of The Origin Witch is required. Period.

“Yes. And you must dress accordingly.” I think she is referring to the last get together the witches had, and we showed up in jeans because we honestly didn’t know any better. I guess she will hold that over us for eternity. “Oh, and remember if you find your mates, it is fine to bring them back here. But if she finds hers, then you all must stay with her. A letter of notification will suffice. We can get whatever you need sent to you. Understood?”

“Yes, Origin.” My men bellowed. I grinned. This was the one thing that was absolute with any Origin of any species. Their warriors stick with them no matter what. Where I go, so do they. I glanced around the room and saw a couple of the Origin Witch’s Inner Circle. Basically, her “warriors.” We can call them whatever we want as long as they stay true to their purpose. Guard their respective Origin.

“Alright, then. You may leave.” She responded. I nodded and turned to my men.

“Shall we?” I asked.

“Yes, Alpha.” They really hated being all robotic and formal like this and so did I. It was annoying. I smirked and walked off with them following close behind. It was time to get ready for a ball.

………………………

I felt my feet heave my body toward my room with Abs close behind. The warriors and I shared one of the larger homes towards the end of the bungalow and she insisted on coming with us. “Come on…! Let me help you!! I even took the liberty to bring all my stuff to your room already.”

“Have you heard of the term invasion of privacy, or is that just something you don’t care about?” I asked in a mocking tone as she wrapped her arm around mine.

“Oh, come on! I know you are going to cave sooner or later. Whether it be because I’m annoying or just because you finally don’t care anymore.” I sighed, blowing a strand of hair out of my face that I left out of my ponytail.

“Fine. Okay, fine. Just please give my bleeding ears a break!” I added with a little bit of drama. She laughed and started pulling me toward the entrance of our space. It kind of reminded me of the pack house honestly. I think they had it built just like that for us. The crazy part is it was already here when we arrived two years ago. At the time, I just figured this plan has been in motion for a while up until I saw our neighbors conjure a house in literally an hour.

“Good luck with her. We will see you guys later this evening for dinner.” Jason called from the living room where most of them have already plopped down in front of the TV.

I groaned when I saw human football come across the TV, knowing I would rather be watching that than being dragged through my closet to figure out what dress appropriately means. “Thanks for the support!” I called sarcastically, now already up the first flight of stairs.

My room was the entire fifth floor. Alphas like their space. I had an office, guest room, and my room with a bathroom attached to both rooms and a guest bathroom, just in case one of the guys comes up here or I have more than one guest, which never happens. The only guest I see anywhere near my floor is Abs and she is no longer a guest. She’s more so a really annoying friend who is a little too spirited for my taste sometimes.

She pulled me into my room and plopped herself on my grey couch, overpowering the seating area in front of my bed. Sometimes I liked my space to read and draw. I kept that to myself, so the guys don’t know about it, but they respect that I use my living room alone. Even though they guard me they know I can hold my own and they respect that. “So, I was thinking makeovers are in order.”

I looked over at her slightly confused before falling into my bed and throwing my arm over my eyes. “Does that mean I have to go with you to the human city…40 miles away from here.”

She squealed and I flinched. I sniffed the area and realized she was just excited before sighing and groaning. “Oh, come on! Sometimes I wonder if you are really a girl!” I clenched my teeth and threw my pillow with great accuracy and heard it making contact with the back of her head. “Hey!! That hurt you dork!” She laughed and jumped off the couch, throwing it back at me.

“Oh okay…okay. You want to play this game…not a problem!” I grabbed one of the pillows and she squealed, grabbing another one and before I knew it feathers were everywhere, and the laughter was infectious.

You see, this is why we are friends. Abs wasn’t like this when we met in the cave. She was actually a giggling child at heart and the most interesting person to be around. She may be as old as my parents, but I don’t even see the difference. It’s probably because witches and wolves age so slow. By the end of the night, we both crashed in my bed littered with white and I honestly felt really bad for the maid.

When we woke up the next morning, I stretched and winced when I opened my eyes to the sun coming through the window. “Rise and SHINE!!” I blinked rapidly, adjusting to the loud voice box in my room. Great. She wouldn’t even let me sleep in. I walked over to my bathroom like a zombie. “Hey, don’t you –” Slamming the door in her face may have been rude, but the definition of being through with her nonsense was an understatement.

I enjoyed my bath and relaxed for a little while my wolf ears picked up the clacking of her heels pacing back and forth on the ground floor below. I tried to enjoy my peace for a little longer, but after a while, I just gave up. Her shoes were driving me crazy. I climbed out the water and stalked off to my closet that was in tatters. “ABIGALE!!” I shouted. She raided my closet. That evil little wicken!

I grabbed a pair of black jeans I could find, and a mid-drift cut T-Shirt thrown on the other side of the room. I stomped downstairs after throwing on some converse and jumped on her back. She laughed and I didn’t let go until she said, “Okay, okay! Uncle!!” I promise I’ll go clean right now!”

I jumped off and ran over to the couch. “Don’t forget the feathers!” I called after her and I could hear her groan from here. Then I heard Jason and Dawn approaching. “Yes?” I asked, leaning back on the chair. My wet hair pressing into my back and the couch.

“Esa, Abs said you guys are going to the human city, right?” I nodded and Jason continued. “Alright, we will go grab the car.” I nodded again, keeping silent and both cleared their throat before walking off to the garage. They know I’m not to most…talkative person in the world and they respect that.

“Okay, I’m ready to go!” Abs shouted in my ear, and I turned to click my tongue at her.

“I like my ear drums, you know.” She nodded. Magic must be nice. She wasn’t even gone for ten minutes, and I am sure that room is spotless. We both walked over to the SUV and climbed in the back. It was nice to know I didn’t even have to ask for security detail, but it also sucked that I needed it anyway. They were really discrete though.

“We volunteered because we are the only ones without suits.” Dawn chimed in. I looked up from my phone and nodded. My current one, not the old one. That one is now dead in a drawer with my bag full of other things I brought, but can no longer use. I guess I am a sucker for nostalgic items.

“Don’t worry about it. I figured as much. I’ll make sure we call you if there is an issue.” He smiled that goofy grin of his before looking back to the road. We have impeccable reflexes and senses, so we can all pretty much drive with our eyes closed. It’s a nice perk.

As per usual, we teleported the cars onto a back street usually unused by people and seamlessly made it into traffic toward the mall. When walking up to the main entrance after parking the car, the humans were everywhere. I did smell some wolves though and a couple witches here and there, but we all seamlessly blended in. Except for Abigale who found the ONE colored shirt in my closet and paired it with the sparkly skirt she bought me for my birthday last year, knowing I would never wear it. I chuckled at some of the looks and even a few of them looked up to stare at Dawn and Jason’s 7’2 muscular frames. They can’t be subtle unless…we can shrink them. Which is not happening. At least now you know why they call me short. Even wolf females are over 5’11. Stupid supermodels. Ugh.

“We will see you both later. Keep an eye out.” I nodded seriously toward Dawn’s request and then I heard it.

“Are those two dating those guys? Ugh, lucky!” One not so subtle human asked a bit rudely with her friend.

“Most likely not. That girl has grey hair and she’s so tiny compared to them it’s almost comical. She looks like a troll!” I flinched at that one before blowing out some air. Even though I was shorter than most wolves, I still had the figure. I was busty up top with a nice hourglass curve to the rest of me and a bubble bum. I must be one alluring troll.

I started laughing a bit. “If only they knew what a troll actually looks like.” Abs mumbled in my ear and my laugh became a bit louder than I initially thought and with their hearing, the guys joined in. She is right though. Trolls are rather…eclectic creatures.

We all walked in now completely ignoring everyone and went about our…shopping experience. I say that lightly because we were here for at least four hours. Abs made me do my nails and now I was walking around the mall in those weird flip flops that are not set up for feet. When we made it to the hair salon, she looked at the lady playing in my hair. “Showstopper…that’s what it is, but no dye please.” I’m glad she respects our way. Wolves never dye their hair. It’s out of respect for our wolf spirit. If your wolf had grey hair…so do you.

The woman nodded and went to work. It was rather refreshing to have her do my hair. I looked over and Abs was nowhere in sight, and I sighed into my chair, enjoying the quiet. However, it didn’t last for too long. “Alrighty, I want to be dazzled!” She screamed happily in her chair next to me. I’m not too sure where she went for a whole two hours, but I think she came back happier than when she left. Oh gosh, she is on her second wind.

“Miss, we are finished.” I opened my eyes and stared at myself in the mirror. What…who was I looking at? I felt my mouth drop and saw it mirrored back at me in the reflection of this silver-haired stranger. My waves bounced from root to tip, pinned to one side while the other was adorned with multiple braids designed around each other. Even some small braids cascaded with the curls of my hair. She even did my make-up. I looked over the dark grey eyeshadow with silver and gold highlights and a sharp line of eyeliner over each top lid. My contour accentuated my face and added definition in places I didn’t know existed on my rather childlike face. The highlighter was evenly placed on my cheeks and dotted over the tip of my round nose. My lips looked untouched for a moment before I realized a dash of soft pink gloss rested over my tulip lips accentuating the already rose-like color.

“How…this is…wow.” I didn’t know words at this point. Abs walked up to me and rested her dolled up face next to mine while her shiny brown hair rested in waves down her back.

“I know. This is the part where you say, ‘Thank you best friend.’” I laughed at her comment, but she was right. Props to this hair salon and props to Abigale for finding it.

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks.” I said happily before we got up to ring up our bill.

When we finally met up with the guys, it was getting late, and I didn’t even ask what Abigale picked up from this ridiculously expensive dress shop when we left the hair salon, but I know now I have to find something, in my room, that is appropriate and good enough to wear with this make up. “Well, you guys took your…holy crap!” I looked over at Dawn thinking there was something wrong and wrinkled my nose. “Esa…dude, you...clean up nice.”

I chuckled and patted his chest. “Well, I will take that as a compliment that I look nice now and I will ignore the insult that I look like crap normally.” I laughed aloud now as he tried to rewrite his words while I blissfully messed with him. We all climbed into the car after Abs put the garment bags in the back a little too carefully over the guys’ bags.

“So, what did you guys get?” Jason asked as he glanced in the rear-view mirror. Dawn continued driving to the place we conjured the last portal.

“That’s for me to know and nobody else.” Abs chimed in.

“Wait, I thought you already got something for yourself…you little sneak! You just wanted to crash at my place!” I called her out and started tickling her and she started laughing.

“Okay! Okay! That’s what I did! Sue me!” I laughed with her and stopped just long enough so she could reopen the portal. Once we made it back to the bungalow area, we started chatting and I was still in shock that make-up is this powerful.

When we got back to the house, apparently Dawn wasn’t the only one shocked by my appearance. “Hey! We haven’t even put on our dresses yet! Wait to be stunned then.” Abs pouted and they laughed at her before walking off to their perspective rooms. It was 6:00PM. It was time to get ready. “Come on. Let’s really knock ‘em dead.”

I shook my head and went along with her excitement. She walked me up to my room and closed the door before turning me away from anything reflective. “What are you doing?” I asked, slightly confused.

“I want to see your reaction as much as theirs.” She added before putting her hands over my eyes. “Close your eyes while I put on your dress.”

“I gotta take off my clothes first.”

She flinched, spun around quickly, and walked toward the living room. “Right! Okay, do that first, then I’ll put the dress on for you.”

I shrugged and pulled off my crop top and jeans, revealing my bandeau and panties. “Bra, no bra?” I had no idea what this girl got me, so I was super confused, but unlike witches, we weren’t self-conscious of much. At home, all of us walk around naked or sometimes with shorts or other easy things we can grab and do not care about all the time, because we don’t want to constantly change or destroy our clothes every time we want to shift. Even the guys aren’t phased by it. I guess that’s why wolves have mates. That’s the only way for them to look at another and actually see them sensually for longer than just a fun toy to play with. Guys and girls alike, we are completely desensitized.

“Nope. Not needed.” Abs is getting there, but she’s still a bit embarrassed by our…liberal way of living. I nodded and threw off the bandeau before closing my eyes.

“Alright, eyes are closed, and I promise I won’t peek. I’m curious, but also terrified because I let you do this on your own.” I smirked and she grumbled something under her breath while shoving my feet into some shoes. I felt my dress being pulled over my body and I will just say this. I knew it fit like a glove.

“Okay…you can look now.” She said. I opened my eyes and saw my bestie is in a royal red silky gown with a slit on the side of her leg and peek-a-boo long sleeves. She was awesome in her own right. Silver shoes included. I guess she wanted to meet up with her favorite cousin. Talia is a character and it’s even more crazy when they are together. Still my favorite girl’s night ever.

“Okay…I see you.” I laughed and she rolled her eyes before turning me around to my floor-length mirror she got from the closet. She will be putting that back later.

“How about you see yourself! I’m good…no…I’m amazing!” I looked up and down speechless at the dark black floor-length velvet dress with long lace sleeves and a plunging neckline. When I turned, I saw a slit on both sides ending just underneath my bum. When the fabric caught the light just right, a flash of sparkle emanated from the dress. I pulled up the fabric to reveal lace-covered heels that were all too comfortable to be four inches, but I knew they had to be since we were now the same height. Abs started doing her happy dance and before I knew it, we were walking down the last set of stairs and the guys were waiting on us in the foyer below.

Abs cleared her throat, and they all turned their attention to us. “Warriors, The Origin…has arrived.”