The Venus Spell

Chapter One

     No one could remember a time without soulmates. It was inconceivable to think that anyone would go without. The Venus Spell ensured that everyone would find someone to love - someone they deserved, who would know them best, would treat them the best - and the spell prevented the couples from ever leaving each other. No one ever tested it, but every witch would warn them - if you were to leave your partner behind, willingly or unwillingly, one or both of them would die. 

 There were absolutely no recorded cases of any single person who did not someone out there for them, but for one woman - who absolutely refused to go and get a reading. 

     She provided no reason as to why she wouldn't get a reading. She just - didn't want to. As a result, it made her quite the outcast. She didn't mind, not really. She was able to live in peace deep in the woods. Both her mother and father had taught her to be self-sufficient, so she was able to create her own clothing, hunt, fish, cook, and more. 

     The cosmos, the gods, life - whatever you wanted to call it, had another plan for her though, and she was going to have to go on a difficult journey and make some difficult choices to figure out just what it was that was in store for her. 

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     The forest hadn't wielded any of its goods that day, but despite that, Briar wasn't disappointed. She had plenty of preserved meat and vegetables put back in the case she ran out of fresh food, but she had really been hoping for some fresh strawberries and maybe a rabbit or two. With a sigh, Briar left the clearing where she regularly could rely on food and turned back towards home.

     Most days she paid attention to the forest around her, all to aware of the danger it presented her - a somewhat single woman. But today, with the forest full of life and sound, she let her mind wander - thinking about the man she had waiting for her back home. While she was thinking of her mate's (though not official mate) backside while he chopped wood for her, the forest started to slowly go quiet. It wasn't until she heard the growling that she knew it was too late for her to draw her bow. 

     She whirled around just as a giant black wolf leapt from the shadows, pinning her beneath it. Warm breath caressed her face and she closed her eyes, waiting for it to attack.