a stranger 23
624 Words
Chapter 23
Stranger POV
I stood silently on the highest branch of an ancient oak, watching the Alpha and his mate disappear deeper into the forest. They never noticed me..No one ever did…The Dark Mistress had trained us well.
I slowly climbed down from the tree, making sure my scent was hidden before making my way back to our camp several miles away.
The moment I stepped inside the abandoned church, the temperature dropped.. Candles flickered on their own. The air became thick with dark magic. She was waiting.
The Dark Witch stood before the broken stained-glass window, her long black hair flowing around her as if an unseen wind surrounded her. Her crimson eyes glowed brightly as she turned to face me.
"Report."
I immediately lowered my head. "My Mistress... I found her."
A wicked smile spread across her lips. "The White Wolf?"
"Yes."
She slowly walked toward me. "And?"
"She remembers."
The smile disappeared for only a second before returning, wider than before.
"So... Willow's memories have awakened."
"Not all of them, Mistress, but enough. She recognized your scent immediately."
The witch laughed. A cold, haunting laugh that echoed throughout the empty church. "Excellent."
She ran her fingers across an ancient stone altar.
"Every lifetime she slips away from me. Every lifetime she hides inside another human.",She closed her eyes. "But this one..."
"...this one will be different." She opened them again.
"They believe they are simply a Lycan Alpha and his Luna."
"They have no idea who they truly are."
I frowned. "Mistress... should we attack now? The Alpha's pack isn't prepared."
She slowly shook her head. "No. "Fear grows much better than blood. I want them looking over their shoulders.I want them questioning everyone around them. I want them exhausted before the real battle begins." She turned toward the shadows behind her.
"Bring me Catherine."
A figure stepped from the darkness. "As you command, Mistress."
My eyes widened. Catherine?
The woman who claimed to be Grill's ex mate? She was working for the Dark Witch? A few moments later, Catherine entered the church wearing a satisfied smile.
"You called for me?"
The Dark Witch circled her slowly. "You've done well."
"I've nearly driven a wedge between Grill and his mate," Catherine said confidently. But she's stronger than I expected.”
The witch stopped directly in front of her. "You underestimated Ava.
Never make that mistake again."
Catherine lowered her head. "My apologies."
The witch smiled cruelly. "It doesn't matter."
"Very soon"...the truth about Ava's past will come to light."
"And when it does..." "...she will have to decide." "Save her mate..."
"...or save the entire supernatural world."
Grill POV
By the time Ava and I finished our patrol, the sun was beginning to set. Everything had seemed quiet. Too quiet. Shadow hadn't relaxed once.
"We're being watched," he growled.
"I know."
I couldn't explain it, but something felt wrong. The forest itself seemed uneasy. As we approached the pack gates, Chris came running toward us.
"Alpha!"
"What is it?"
"We found something."
He held out a black cloth. "It was tied to one of the border trees."
I took it from him.
The moment my fingers touched it… A foul scent filled my nose.
Magic. Dark magic.,Ava immediately stepped beside me.
"I smell it too."
She looked toward the forest with worry in her eyes, "This isn't vampire magic."
"No," I agreed. "It isn't."
Neither of us spoke for several seconds.,Then Ava whispered words that made every hair on my body stand up.
"This...belongs to a witch."
At that exact moment… Somewhere deep within the forest.. A woman laughed. The sound echoed through the trees before disappearing into the growing darkness. And every wolf in my pack howled at once.
- Writer
