Chapter Three: White Witch

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*CHAPTER 3: WHITE WITCH*

Charlotte couldn’t sleep, she turned and rolled but still couldn’t sleep.

The bed was too big. The suite was too quiet. And the two men sleeping on the couches on either side of her were too... Alpha.

Day 1 of 30.

She threw the covers off at 4 AM. Her chest still burned where the bond was. Like someone had branded her from the inside.

The bathroom door was locked. Angelo was in there. She could hear the shower.

Valentine was on the couch by the window, shirt off, bandages fresh. He wasn’t asleep. His gold eyes opened the second she moved.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked, voice rough.

Charlotte shook her head. “Can I get some air? Just to the balcony?”

Valentine stood. “I’ll come with you.”

“No. Please. Just 5 minutes. Alone.”

He studied her for a long time. Then nodded once. “Door’s unlocked. Guards are outside. Don’t try to run.”

“I won’t.”

She stepped onto the balcony. 40 floors up. The city lights stretched below her. Cars like ants. Towers glowing.

And cold.

Charlotte wrapped her arms around herself. That’s when it happened.

Her hands started to glow.

Soft white light. Like moonlight trapped under her skin. It started at her fingertips and crawled up her arms.

“What the—”

The light pulsed. Once. Twice.

And the air around her got warmer. The cold vanished. The dead flowers in the balcony planter bloomed in 3 seconds.

Charlotte gasped and stumbled back inside.

Valentine was already there.

“Show me,” he demanded.

“I don’t know what that was—”

“Show me.”

She held out her hands. The glow was gone.

But Valentine had seen it. His eyes were wide. “White magic.”

Charlotte’s blood went cold. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Angelo walked out of the bathroom, towel around his waist, hair wet. “What’s going on?”

“She’s a witch,” Valentine said. “A White Witch.”

Angelo went still. “That’s impossible. They were wiped out 50 years ago.”

“Well she’s glowing,” Valentine snapped.

Both twins stared at her.

Charlotte’s heart was pounding. If they knew, they’d kill her. Wolves and witches had been enemies for centuries.

“I’m not,” she whispered. “It was just... static. Hospital lights.”

Angelo walked to her. He grabbed her wrist. His thumb pressed to her pulse.

“Liar,” he said softly. “Your pulse is 140. And you smell like ozone. Like lightning. That’s white magic.”

Charlotte tried to pull away. “Let me go.”

He didn’t. Instead he lifted her hand to his face and inhaled.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “Brother, she’s not just a witch. She’s a healer.”

Valentine cursed. “That’s why the bond snapped so hard. That’s why my wound closed in hours instead of days.”

Charlotte yanked her hand back. “So what? You’re going to kill me now?”

“No,” Valentine said. He stepped between her and Angelo. “We’re going to protect you.”

“From who?”

“From the Council,” Angelo said. “If they find out a White Witch is bonded to the Wolfe twins, they’ll declare a hunt. Again.”

Charlotte sank to the floor. “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask to be a witch. I didn’t ask for the bond.”

Valentine crouched in front of her. “I know.”

“Then let me go.”

“We can’t.” Angelo sat next to her on the floor. “The bond won’t let us. And now that we know what you are... we won’t.”

Charlotte looked up. “Why?”

“Because,” Valentine said. “White Witches are extinct. And you’re the first one in 50 years. You’re not just our mate, Charlotte. You’re hope.”

Hope. The word felt heavy.

Angelo bumped her shoulder. “Plus, you make the bond feel less like a chain and more like... home.”

Charlotte blinked. “That’s cheesy.”

“Shut up,” Angelo said, but he was smiling.

For a moment, it was almost normal. Three people on the floor. Talking.

Then the door buzzed.

A guard’s voice: “Alphas. Council meeting in 1 hour. They want to know about the donor.”

Valentine stood immediately. “Tell them we handled it. The donor didn’t make it.”

“What?” Charlotte stood too.

“We have to lie,” Valentine said. “If the Council knows you’re alive, they’ll take you. For testing. Or worse.”

“So I have to pretend to be dead?”

“For 30 days,” Angelo said. “Just until we figure out how to break or seal the bond without starting a war.”

Charlotte laughed. It was bitter. “Day 3 and my life is already over.”

“No,” Valentine said. He came close again. This time he didn’t touch her. “Day 3 and your real life is just starting.”

He held out his hand.

Charlotte stared at it.

If she took it, she was choosing them. Choosing this mess.

If she didn’t, she’d be alone. Again.

Slowly, she put her hand in his.

His fingers closed around hers. Warm. Steady.

Angelo took her other hand.

“30 days,” Angelo said. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

Charlotte nodded. Her hands were glowing again. Just a little.

White light between three sets of fingers.

Day 3 of 30.

And for the first time in her life, Charlotte didn’t feel alone.

*To be continued...*

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