THE LIGHT WAS BLINDING

The crackling sound of fire was the first thing I heard, the scent of herbs and charred wood heavy in the air.

The room was dim, the flickering orange light casting shifting shadows along stone walls carved with symbols — ancient ones, some I recognized from the very book I’d risked my life to steal.

I bolted upright, pain lancing through my shoulder.

“You’re awake.”

The voice was deep, but not unkind. A man stepped from the shadows, his face partially obscured by a hood. His scent was unfamiliar — neither part of Thane’s pack nor any of the neighboring clans. Rogue, maybe?

“Who are you?” My voice came out hoarse, raw from breathing in too much smoke.

He crossed his arms above the other. “Your saviour?"

My eyes narrowed in confusion. “Those guys didn't seem willing to take it easy on you. A thank you would be nice at this point." He said.

The air seemed to hum between us. “I know you saved me, thank you. But that won't stop me from asking who the hell are you?" I said, my voice coming out harsher than I intended it to.

“Luca," another voice echoed in the room. “I'll take it from here."

My head snapped towards the direction of the door, and my eyes fell on a woman. She had a hood on too, and it only raised my warning instincts even more.

“Yes mother," the man, named Luca, said. He cast me a calm glance, before striding out of the room.

The door closing behind him reminded me that I was alone in a room with a stranger, two actually. And they may be after my life for all I know, or the book.

The book!

"Where's the book?” I blurted out, ignoring the pain that soared through my lower stomach. "Did you take the book? Who are you? What do you want from me?” I asked all at once.

“Relax, Mira. Your wounds are not fully healed, yet." She said calmly.

My eyes widened. “How do you know my name? Who are you?" I snarled.

The pain was beginning to be unbearable, but I wasn't about to show weakness in front of this stranger. “Who are you?" I questioned yet again. I needed an answer.

“Mira, listen to me. You haven't healed, you're going to make yourself bleed to death." She said again, her voice strained but firm.

It was then my eyes fell on my stomach. My shirt was stained. I pulled it up, a gasp escaping my lips as I saw the wound.

“Shit!" The gash was bleeding profusely, the bandage totally ruined. I recognized it as the slash I had gotten from Derek.

“You can't heal because you don't have access to your wolf at the moment," the strange woman said. “Lie back, and let me take care of it."

I hesitated, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. If they are going to kill me, they wouldn't take care of me.

With a low groan, I laid back as she said, watching as the wooden ceiling spinned. “Who are you? And him too?" I asked yet again.

I expected her to pull out a first aid box or something, but instead, she began rubbing her palms together. I watched, my confusion heightening as she placed her palms a little above the injury. The concentration on her face was intense.

A blue glowing light shone from her hands, sending a cold sensation through me. What the… ?

“Stay still," she commanded.

I was already too stunned to move. Her glowing seized, but so did the pain. Without waiting for her, I ripped the bandage off, gasping in shock as I saw my body closed up.

The wound was gone.

“I would have done that earlier, but the spell needed you to be awake." She said.

My eyes darted from her to my stomach, my mind a jumbled mess. “Was… was that magic?”

"Wolves and Sorceresses aren't much different, don't you think?” At this point, she took off the hood over her head.

She looked young, but there was this elderly gaze resting in her eyes—one that told me she had seen a lot. “My name is Della," she began. “And the guy that was here is my son, Luca. I'm a sorceress, and he is a sorceror. They're many others like us here, and many others that aren't like us. We create a safe space for hybrids, accepting the rejected.”

My heart churned at the mention of the word,"rejected”. I swallowed, pulling my mind back to the situation on ground. "But I'm not a hybrid,” I said.

She smiled, one that didn't reach her eyes. "Come with me, Mira.” She said, calmly.

She began walking out of the room, and I immediately followed her, taking hurried steps to meet up with her pace. “Where are we going?"

She ignored that question as we walked through a dim lit corridor. “Why were you being chased by your pack warriors?" She asked instead.

I didn't expect the question, but it reminded me of something else. “Where's the book?" I asked, panic settling into my voice.

She seemed to notice it, casting me a glance just as similar to that of her sons. “The book is safe, Mira. I'll give it to you as soon as we get your wolf back." She explained.

My eyes lit up. “Really? Is that where we're going?"

Again, she ignored the question. “Did you steal the book?"

I clenched my fists subconsciously. “Yes!"

I expected her to ask why, but she didn't. She said nothing else. We finally reached door which she pushed open to reveal an open yard.

“Wow!" I mouthed, taking it all in.

“Stay close, Mira." Della said, as she took another turn.

We walked past the probing eyes of several people. I couldn't recognize what they were, but I noticed a vampire amongst. This place indeed has every species.

We finally came to a stop. “This is Cara. She's a hybrid wolf and witch, she'll break the spell holding back your wolf." Della said.

My eyes met the girl. She looked young, probably fifteen. I turned to Della who gave me a reassuring look.

“Why are you helping me?" I suddenly asked.

“You ask a lot of questions," was all she said.

She was trying to avoid the question, but I wasn't about to let it just go. “I need to know. That's the only way I'll be able to trust you."

“I don't really need you to trust me, Mirabel. All you need to do is trust yourself, that's more than enough." She began walking away.

How? How did she know my full name? No one knew that.

Her next words made my heart stand still.

“And as for why I'm helping you," she stopped walking and looked at me, “it's what your mother would have wanted."