“What did you do?” Gail demanded, finding her aunt in the library.
Her aunt lowered the book and looked at her, confused. “Excuse me?”
“You cast the spell that made us all angry. You blamed the coven, but it was you, wasn’t it?”
“What?” her aunt said with a laugh. “Of course not. Why would I do such a thing?”
“That’s what I would like to know,” Gail demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.
Aunt Rose put down the book. “I did not cast that spell. I told you it was the coven. They were trying to divide us. Why would you think I’d ever do such a thing to you?”
“You’re seriously going to sit there and lie to me right in my face?” It hurt and only made her angrier
Joel hugged his mother. He couldn’t believe this was real. She was alive. She was really alive. It hadn’t yet been a month since he’d left his pack that night, but for Joel; it felt like a lifetime. His mother hugged him back with a soft laugh. “Joel, my son. I’m so happy to see you’re alright.” She pulled away and looked him over. “You are alright, aren’t you? I heard the witches had cursed you or something.”“I am,” he replied. “They did, but another one freed me. How did you survive? I swore I saw those mad wolves take you down?”“They almost did,” his mother told him and showed him her neck. Scars from fangs and claws marred the skin. “Afterward, they had assumed I was dead and moved on. Lucas found me and brought me here to the healers.”
“You’re doing well,” Aunt Rose said as they gathered up the materials they used during practice.“Thanks. I’m starting to get a hang of this,” Gail replied, picking up a blanket and folding it. Once finished, she looked around on the ground. She felt as if she was forgetting something, but she didn’t know what.“Everything okay?”Gail looked up at her aunt. “Oh, yeah. Just… I think I forgot something.”“No, we got everything,” Aunt Rose told her, then smiled. “Besides, if you forgot, then it can’t be that important.”Gail laughed. “Right?” They went back inside when she looked back behind her, sure sh
Thankfully, hiding from her aunt was easy. She remembered her aunt had insisted she go rest, so Gail could stay in her room with the excuse she was taking a nap. To be on the safe side, Gail had laid down with her back facing the door. She checked her phone, a little disappointed she had nothing from Joel, but also worried. She tried to call Elijah, but again there was one ring, then to voicemail. Did Joel’s brother have her blocked? Did Joel ask him to? Was he still feeling the effects of the spell, or perhaps, he didn’t want to talk to her now that he got what he wanted and was with his people now. She put the phone away and decided to take that nap. The training her aunt was putting her through exhausted her. A knock at the door woke her aunt. Aunt Rose walked in and smiled at her. “Hey, sweetheart, you’re still napping?”
When Gail had to fight to keep her eyes open, she pulled into a hotel. It was time for some rest. She didn’t want to get into an accident. With an alias, Gail checked in and went to her room. Not even bothering to get undressed, she fell into the bed and almost instantly was asleep. The familiar nightmare came for her again, and as the last time the wolves disappeared, replaced by the shimmery elfin woman. She looked just like the last time. Pale, straight white hair, ageless gray eyes, and dressed in a light gray dress with light radiating from her. “Please, help my children,” she pleaded, just like last time. Gail shook her head. “I can’t help them, lady. I can’t help anyone.” “You’re the only one who can,” the woman told her. “Without you. They’ll be lost forever to the madness the witches inflicte
After her breakfast, Gail got on the road again. She had a few more calls from her aunt, but she ignored those. Thoughts of Joel wouldn’t leave her during the entire drive. It shocked her that he really wanted to be with her. Whatever was between them wasn’t just some one time thing, and she couldn’t be happier. Now all of this has to end so they could be together.A snag of indecision filled her when she thought of going back. Gail wasn’t sure she wanted to live so close to her aunt or the coven. Honestly, the more distance she put between her and them, the better she was feeling. Would Joel consider coming to her when everything was over? Or was being an alpha going to force him to stay there?With a shake of her head, Gail would think about all that another day. First, Joel needed to save his people, and she needed to find a pla
Gail stared at her aunt, horrified. She was not only the one behind her parents’ death, but she tried to drain Gail too. All these years of putting her trust in her aunt, all those years of lies. She couldn’t believe it. “How could you do that to me? A child entrusted to your care, and I did trust you!”Her aunt scoffed. “Oh please. I told you it didn’t work, so it’s not like I actually drained you.”Was she serious? It didn’t work so all good? “Oh, gee! Is that all?” Her aunt must have gone insane at some point.“You don’t understand, Gail,” Aunt Rose told her. “It wasn’t fair!”In that, Gail agreed with her, but she didn’t think they referred to the same th
Joel stared at the phone as it rang. Like all the other times, it eventually went to voicemail. Unlike all the other times, Joel wouldn’t leave a message. He disconnected the call and still stared at the phone, worry gnawing at his stomach. It had been two days now. Two days with no word from Gail. Not a call, not a text, nothing. Something was wrong. “You okay, man?” Henry asked, walking up to him. “I’m worried about Gail.” “Who? Oh, yeah. The witch. What’s wrong with her?” “Yes, the witch and I don’t know what is wrong with her. She hasn’t called me in a few days now. I’m worried.” Henry chuckled. “You sound like you’re back in high school, wondering if the girl still likes you.”
“Look at the mess we have here,” Aunt Rose said as she looked around the hotel room. “You should clean it up while I refresh myself in the bathroom.”“Yes, ma’am,” Gail said in an even, unemotional tone. She turned and picked up a chair that had fallen in the scuffle with her aunt. Next, she made the bed and picked up the clothes that had fallen on the floor.Once Gail finished, she continued cleaning until her aunt returned and said, “Okay, enough of that, Gail.”Gail stopped and stood stiffly with her hands by her sides, waiting for her aunt’s next order.Aunt Rose looked over her with a speculative look. “Let’s see how far this will go. Come with me.”