Fated Or Doomed

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Travis

Malcolm and I are so ecstatic right now. Watching our mate stand before her Elders who throw judgement and loath her over time. She was so amazing up there.

“Our prefect Luna.”

I know she had little to no hope with them. On the drive here she kept saying she can handle not having the witches support. All she needed was the pack. And even though I would love for her to be all about the pack. I know deep down she will think, what if Luminis was still a part of her life. She will still miss them.

“She’ll be heart broken if she couldn’t see Mable or Meredith again. And we would of been to blame.”

He’s right. And I wouldn’t blame her. After working so hard to not only get her family back. She works every hidden corner to keep her witch side alive. And if the Elders forbid her in doing so. I would blame myself for it. We couldn’t have that. So while Elizabeth stood there. I sent prayer after prayer to Moon Goddess to let her keep them. I beg her to talk to her Ancestors and do not allow them to take anyone else from her. Not again. Relief wash over all our faces when it came true.

Elizabeth, Meredith, and I made our way out the building. Chatting away with so many ideas we could achieve now. As we take our walk, Meredith gets a call. Her face soften and I sense Elizabeth’s worry.

“What is it?” Our mate ask.

“Umm. We should wait for aunt Mable.” Playing with her hands nervously.

“Mery just tell me. Is something wrong? Because earlier aunt Mable was being weird and cryptic. What’s going on? What aren’t you two telling us?” I lay a hand on her shoulder. She sighs to a lighting of bond spark.

Meredith look around, shifting her body. “Aunt Mable has more information to add. We’ll wait. I swear we meant to tell you sooner.”

Elizabeth’s chest tighten and I wrap my arms around her. Leaning into her ears. “Reason with them my little witch.”

She looks away hiding her anger. “Don’t take their side.” I give her a soft kiss to ease her.

Mery calls a man over. “When you see Mable tell her to meet us on the north side. And find another 2nd degree to partner up with. We need to lock down the openings more. Make the shift.” The man nod and rushes off with her demand.

She gave me a scowl look. I didn’t know I was starting. I quickly apologize. “Why did you tell that man to find another second degree? What is that?”

“Babe. He was a second degree. He’s just doing his job.” Our mate says.

Yet i’m still confuse.

I hold my hand out in defense. “Okay excuse my dumbfound. I haven’t known many witches. So this talk about degrees? I have no clue what you two are talking about.”

“Livy, you haven’t explain to him?” Mery gasped.

I completely sense something between us all. I was lost. I guess I may need to look up my witches history more. I should’ve known, my mate is a witch for Goddess sakes.

“Sorry.” She shrugs. “I didn’t think I had to.”

“Ladies?” I said a bit annoyed.

Meredith sighs. “Let’s walk and talk.” Pointing to the direction we are meant to meet Mable.

“Okay start talking?” I say after the girls whisper to themselves.

“It’s easy to explain. Covens are run like your pack. We just call our titles differently. First degrees are like your maids and omegas. They hold small jobs around the community. Second degrees are basically like your deltas. They’re like teachers, policemen and firemen. They have a very important part of the community. We have well rounded witches on second degree. Then lastly we have our most trusted members who are third degrees. They are kinda like Betas and Gammas. Highest titles, but we don’t have just two. We have a few. They’re the best of the best. They have train hard and proven their spot. Third degrees help run the coven. Making sure everything is going swell.” Mery explains.

“Okay that makes sense. And I guess the leaders, like you are call?” Letting the words prolong.

“Travis. Mery is a third degree. She’s not a High Priestess.” Elizabeth states.

“So is Mable a high..?” I was cut off when our mate stops us.

“Boys you need to understand something. Covens don’t have Alphas or Lunas. I mean we do but it’s different here. It’s not a birth right. Covens usually run as a family. Not one person is in charge. But that doesn’t mean there can’t be. It’s just a lot of hoops to go by to be a High Priestess. It took Sage a long time.” Elizabeth explains to me.

“Plus I am a bit young. I have to at least be 24 to be consider. Once you are at least a century of age is when they take you serious. Even then I’ve a long way to go before I can get approve. Not just anyone can be a High Priestess.” Meredith adds.

“But who gives these titles to who?” I ask.

“Easy. The Elders. Or mainly higher degrees.” Elizabeth say. I nod as I let this processes.

“And that’s just covens. It’s a bit different if we were a tribe.” Meredith chuckle as we begin to walk again.

“Oh yeah very different and more strict.” Our mate adds with a smirk.

“There are 5 roles at play. We have the Hunter. The name itself is explanatory. Next we have the Skinner. They are many things. They are like officers and politics in one. They take charge under the Chief and says what goes for the tribe. Including what is to eat after a killing. Than we have the Shaman. They’re founders, strong head members, and all kinds of workers on the tribe. Then we have the Chief. They are the leaders of the tribe. A tribe must have a Chief to run. This is a birth right. Not anyone can be a Chief. And besides them are tribal Elders. They’re just like ours. They just live in the tribal. They normally seat in a circle telling stories that passes on to the next generation. They don’t do much but talk and give advice.” Meredith explains the difference between covens roles and the tribal roles.

“Okay I think I understand. I just figure with how you and Mable run things here. You two or one of you would be in charge. I really thought you took over after your mother.”

Meredith shook her head. “I am suppose to. It is what mother has been preparing me for. I guess that’s why you assume. I’d already taken charge here. And after her death. I got to be more protective with my coven. I just want them to be safe. I want to fix what my mother has broken.”

I see her face going long. Elizabeth lays a hand on her sister’s shoulder. Meredith gives her a squeeze.

“One day Mery. You will be. Travis is right. You show so much potential already. You’re basically a High Priestess. When there’s information to be told. It’s you that everyone goes to. It’s just the first step.”

“Do you really think so? I don’t want to screw this up.” She said sadly.

“Watch in a few years. You’ll get the call. And the Elders will grant you the title you so worthy deserve.” Elizabeth tell her.

“Thank you guys for saying that.” Meredith creeps a sob.

After some time. We made it to the north side. We stand around for about 10 minutes before Mable approach.

Her face was strain. She tried to hide it with a smile. But we all can see through her. “Did you tell them already?” She asked Meredith.

“No. I was waiting for you.”

“Okay come on guys. What hell aren’t you telling us?” I see Elizabeth growing angry with them. I walk behind her. Bringing her body to me. I rub my hands lightly over her arms. She sighs in reliefs.

“Well go on. You said you will tell her dear.” Mable bumps Meredith.

“Ugh fine.” Both Elizabeth and I waited in clawing distances. “We have had some visitors coming close. Scaring some of the members. Especially after what happen last week.”

“They have been creeping around really. Very annoying.” Mable adds.

I feel Elizabeth’s body tense up. I hold our mate tighter. “What kind of visitors? What happen?”

By the way both Mable and Meredith glare at each other. It sent Malcolm in a frenzy. “They’re hiding something. I don’t like this man.”

“For some time now. Some wolves has been coming by our woods. We send a warning but they kept coming. We thought nothing when they don’t get close to the community anymore. But then we notice more has been trailing us.” Meredith says with a tight jaw.

“And they seem to be out more at night. We took extra precaution just in case.” Mable adds.

“Wolves?” I whisper to myself.

“What hell are wolves doing here? They don’t live near witches. And to taunt them. For what? There’s something they want.” Malcolm says.

“And what about last week? What didn’t you tell us?” Elizabeth ask. She tries to restrain her voice from raising.

“Dear.” Mable started out. “One of the young ones was out for their task. And at some point she was found hurt with cuts and bruises. She was so deep into the woods. Yet her scream was heard loud and clear. She was frighten. She said the wolf didn’t attack her. It just growl and she ran and fell.”

Elizabeth pinch the bridge of her nose. “How long?”

“It was last week dear.”

“No. How long has the wolves been circling Luminis before you decided to tell us! How long have you been letting this go.” Her voice now hitching a almost shouting tone.

Mable’s body stiffed. And Meredith’s eyes went to her feet. “It started with one wolf here and there. About a month after we sign with Black Harvest. Now there’s more we’ve been seeing.” Meredith adds.

“How the he..” I stop Elizabeth before she can tear vile words at them. We sense a high rage from her. She’s never been this angry towards them. It wasn’t suppose to be towards them today.

Needing to calm her down. I cup her face, running my thumb behind her ears. “Relax baby. Getting work up isn’t gonna solve anything.”

“It’s just a matter of time before they walk over the border. Luminis will have another wolf attack.” She claims.

“Let’s hear them out first. Talk to the guards and then we will do something.” I tell her. I had the same feeling as my mate. But she was over the edge. I had to keep my composure, for now.

“Don’t make this out to be something little Travis. This is different.” I see hurt in her eyes. I didn’t know what to say. The last attack was when she lost everything.

I cup her face and kiss her forehead. Turning our attention back to Mable and Meredith. “Tell us everything we need to know.” I demanded.

“We have walked many trails to see where they’re coming from. We set powder out before dark. Tracking them. We count about 20 different wolf tracks. They all retreat after 32 feet from the border.” Mable informs us.

“We’ve done everything we can to keep them at distance. With more guards at the walls. They stay back. We don’t have anyone going into the woods alone anymore. Almost no one goes at all.” Says Meredith.

“I believe it has to be the pack that runs over the river. There’s a pack living out on the bayou.” Mable adds in.

“Okay that’s good information. We can work with that.” Elizabeth says through gritted teeth.

“Alright and where have you been seeing them more at?” I ask.

“Here. On the north side. A straight direction to where aunt Mable says the bayou will be at.”

Elizabeth takes a deep breath before looking around. “We’ll go talk to the guards. And then Malcolm can sniff around. I want to stay up and see what they do tonight while we’re here.”

“But Livy. We were gonna have dinner. And we do need to talk about dress shopping. The third degrees are shifted here. They’ll call if they see them. Don’t stress yourself. We have it under control.”

“Besides now they’re closing in more.” Mable said under her breath.

“Of course I will stress myself. You just hid this from me. FOR MONTHS!! We’re here so much and you two are just now telling us. It didn’t have to go this far. That child could of been killed. And you..”

Again I had to stop her. “We’ll have dinner tomorrow as a family. Everyones safety comes first. Right?” Staring at our mate’s eyes that hid so many emotions right now. She was all over the place. This news really ticked her off.

“Travis?” She tugs at my shirt from behind.

I turn to face her family. Her hand burn my skin as she tries to control her anger. I don’t move, as my touch calms her down. She sighs and the pain releases.

“I know it will ease our mind if we go and investigated ourself. That’s what our treaty is for. Besides. We’re here now. We will figure this out before it gets bad.”

Our treaty was set for protection When they need us. We come through. Day or night.

“Okay. And again. We are sorry for not telling you. We thought we can handle it on our own. We still can. It’s..” Meredith sighs with a look of guilt. “I’m sorry.” And they both should be. They should’ve of just told us from the beginning.

Elizabeth was too angry to reply back. She cross her arms and lean her head into our back. I reach around and held her. Taking my hand with hers.

“Thank you ladies. We will seek the wolves for now. Carry on.” Nodding to them both.

“Be safe.” Meredith barely whispers.

“We will see you two at the house.” And then. Both began to step away.