The witch price

Seraphina POV

The forest swallowed me whole but I ran until my lungs burned.

Behind me, the Vale Pack was already disappearing into the darkness. I tightened my grip around the strap of my bag and kept running. The Alliance Academy was three days away and I had no horse, barely enough money to buy food but I had the Academy letter and that was all I needed.

A howl suddenly tore through the forest and I stopped as my blood ran cold, that wasn't a normal wolf.

Another howl answered from somewhere behind me, my heart slammed against my ribs, they had found me, I turned toward the darkness and three pairs of golden eyes appeared between the trees.

My father had sent them.."Seraphina!"

One of them stepped into the moonlight "Come back with us."

I backed away. "No."

"Your father ordered us to bring you home."

I reached for my mother's knife. "I won't be going back."

The three warriors exchanged glances then the biggest one smiled. "You really think you can fight us?"

I pulled the knife free. "No."

I swallowed. "But I'm willing to try."

He lunged and I ducked beneath his arm then drove my elbow into his ribs and he grunted.

I spun away just as another warrior attacked, it was three against one and I knew I couldn't win, I just needed an opening.

Soon a hand grabbed my shoulder but I twisted violently and buried my knife into his forearm, he screamed and I yanked the blade then ran. "Get her!"

I could hear them behind me and they were faster. My wolf was pushing against me, desperate to take control but I couldn't shift.

If I shifted, they would track me even more easily, so I kept running until I saw a light, flickering between the trees and it was a small cabin.

I sprinted toward it, the door was slightly open and I pushed it wide. "Please!"

I stepped inside and the door slammed shut behind me.

I spun around but nobody was there. "Hello?"

Then a voice whispered behind me. "You shouldn't have come here."

I froze and slowly turned, an old woman stood beside the fireplace. She hadn't been there a second ago, her long silver hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyes were completely black.

My instincts screamed at me to run but, I tightened my grip on my knife. "Who are you?"

She smiled. "You already know."

My stomach dropped. "A witch."

She walked toward me but I backed away. "How do you know who I am?"

"I know much more than your name."

She stopped in front of me. "You are Seraphina Vale."

My heart stopped and I stared at her, the witch reached toward my face and I stepped back.

"Don't touch me."

She laughed softly. "You have your mother's temper."

My chest tightened. "You knew my mother?"

The smile disappeared from her face. "I knew of her."

"What happened to her?"

The witch turned toward the fire. "That's not why you're here."

I followed her with my eyes. "Then why am I here?"

"Because you want to disappear."

I said nothing and she looked over her shoulder. "I can make that happen."

My heart began beating faster. "What do you mean?"

"I can change your appearance and suppress your Alpha blood even make the strongest Alpha in the kingdom believe you're an ordinary wolf."

I stared at her. "What's the price?"

Her smile returned. "There it is."

She sat down beside the fire. "You've been told your entire life that you're weak."

My jaw tightened. "And now you're running away because you want to prove everyone wrong."

"I want to become a warrior."

"No."

She shook her head. "You want to become someone they can never hurt again."

"Five years," she said.

I looked back at her. "What?"

"I'll hide your identity for five years."

"And the price?"

"Your Alpha power."

My blood ran cold. "You want my power?"

"I don't want it."

She leaned forward. "I want to borrow it."

"For five years?"

"Exactly."

"And after five years?"

"You get everything back."

I stared at her because it sounded too easy.

"What's the catch?"

The witch's eyes darkened. "There is always a catch."

A branch cracked outside and my head snapped toward the window, the warriors were close but the witch didn't even flinch. "They're coming."

I gripped my knife. "Can you stop them?"

"I can."

She smiled. "But that will cost you extra."

"How much?"

"Nothing."

I frowned. "Then what do you want?"

Her expression became serious. "I want you to remember something."

"What?"

"When your power returns, everything you buried will return with it."

My stomach tightened. "Your strength and scent."

She paused as another howl echoed outside, I looked toward the door then back at the witch.

"Do we have a deal?"

She studied me for several seconds then she held out her hand. "Five years."

I hesitated but If I did this, I would lose the one thing that proved who I was but what had that power ever done for me?

Absolutely nothing, I placed my hand in hers. "Five years."

The instant our palms touched, pain exploded through my body and I screamed.

My wolf howled inside my head and the room spun, I dropped to my knees and the witch's voice became distant. "Don't fight it."

I couldn't breathe as something was being ripped out of me, everything that had always made me feel different was disappearing.

I screamed again and I collapsed onto the wooden floor.

For several seconds, I couldn't move.

The witch crouched beside me. "It's done."

I pushed myself up and my hands were trembling. "What did you do?"

She handed me a small mirror and I looked, the girl staring back at me wasn't me.

My dark hair had turned a deep brown and my eyes were no longer the unmistakable silver of the Vale bloodline even the shape of my face seemed different.

I touched my cheek. "It's really gone."

"Your identity is hidden."

Outside, the warriors shouted. "SERAPHINA!"

I looked toward the door and the witch smiled.

"Now let's see if your family recognizes you."

The door burst open and three warriors rushed inside. I instinctively stepped back, the largest one looked around. "Where is she?"

The witch pointed toward the back door. "She ran that way."

He looked at me and his eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

My heart pounded as I lowered my head. "I'm nobody."

He studied me for another second then he turned. "Search the forest!"

They disappeared and the door slammed shut.

I remained frozen but the witch walked over and opened the back door. "Go."

I looked at her. "Why are you helping me?"

She smiled mysteriously. "Because I want to see what you become."

I stepped outside then stopped. "What happens when the five years are over?"

The witch's black eyes met mine. "You'll find out."

I stared at her, something about that answer made my stomach twist but I had no time.

I turned and disappeared into the forest.

By nightfall, I was heading toward the Alliance Academy.