Chapter 2 - Into the Cave

The cave reeked of a peculiar smell—a damp stench, a suffocating sulfuric emission, an ammonia-ish odor, and something rotten—enough to make me nauseated. Rats and bats are most likely the culprits, to some extent, and the rest comes from the chemical reactions from mineral deposits. 

I decided to search for a dryer land with better natural light. I walked for what seemed like hours, climbing, crawling, tiptoeing, and sliding into different sections of the cave. Exhaustion started to kick in when I found an opening. I walked a little further and found a plantation of aconite plants at the end of the cave, Wolfsbane.

The area of the aconite plantation is like a sandwiched shelter between rock formations with merely a six-foot gap. A pile of teak trees barricaded one side. The tree line resembles a fence aimed to conceal the cave opening. With the overgrown bushes and vines, the cave’s mouth is completely hidden. If you cross the teak trees, it will lead you to the deep forest, while the other side of the plantation is a dangerously high cliff with few trees hanging horizontally on the side. I decided to settle there. Although werewolves were not my enemies, one less danger wouldn’t hurt, I thought. With these wolfsbane plants, werewolves wouldn’t dare come near me.

I spent most of the nights near the aconite plants, but I practiced my magic inside the deep cave, where the surge of magical power was confined to its walls. I searched for food in the forest, mostly fruits, and planted some herbs and vegetables near the aconite. I guess this is what they mean by ‘those who survive are the ones who most accurately perceive their environment and successfully adapt to it.’  “Whoever said that quote was a genius because, at the end of it, we ought to do what we must to survive.

Months passed the same way. I mastered some of the spells in my mom’s grimoire and created some of my own. I created potions and poisons. I harvested some wolfsbane and mixed them with other herbs to repel wolves and other magical beings, but mostly wolves. I focused more on mastering magic to protect myself and prepare for a fight. 

“It’s boring to be alone for long,” I groaned.

One day, I was out in the woods to search for some plants and herbs for my potion. I heard a group of men talking under a tree. I hid myself using a simple concealment charm and stalked them. They’re werewolves.

“Nico, how long will we roam around the forest? We have to find a place to stay,” one of the men asked. I didn’t know who Nico was, so I kept listening. I trailed them for days.

I cast a protective spell and created an illusion, obliging them to return to that place at the same time every day. Perhaps boredom made me a gossiping witch, or perhaps I just decided I wanted to keep them as my friends from day one.

On the fifth day, I revealed myself. They were taken aback to see me after I had lifted the concealment spell. With some electricity still surging through my fingers and my eyes white as snow, those six men shifted into their wolf forms. Their fangs were out and ready to attack. 

“Hey!” I panicked.

Instinctively, with one swift move, I raised my hand in the air, lifting the wolves from the ground and allowing the vortex to swallow them. Loud growls reverberated through the trees, breaking the silence in the forest as the vortex moved in a circular motion. 

I didn’t budge. Instead, I spoke with a touch of authority and dread to capture their attention.

“I will let you go, but make no mistakes. I am not your enemy. One wrong move, and you will all turn to ashes.” 

Slowly, I heard growls turned into whimpers. When they quieted, I released my hold and dropped them on the ground with a thud. They hit the ground and tried to attack yet again. 

I repeated the process until they were limp and couldn't stand anymore. That’s how I captured their attention: my abilities and ruthlessness.

We walked for two days from the cave to find a place to stay. With the help of a little magic and Nico’s familiarity with territorial lines, we found an unclaimed territory. It was surrounded by six packs with different sizes and levels of influence in the werewolf community. We claimed the land, not officially, but a temporary shelter where we could camp. A haven. 

We built a two-bedroom cottage in the middle, with a small kitchen and living room, surrounded by six smaller huts. Since I am the youngest and only female member of the group, I got the cottage, and Nico stayed with me in the next room. They treated me well, like the witch princess that I am. Being rogues, we lacked resources and could only use the woods we found in the forest to build a cottage and huts. 

I cast a protective spell on the territory, like an umbrella, masking their wolf scent, and hid the surge of my power when I practiced magic. The spell worked in two ways: It also protected us from outsiders' enchantments. As long as we stayed inside the protective dome, we were safe.  

[End of Flashback]

We’ve got nothing to lose. No expectations, no pretenses, no biases. With the fifteen new rogues who joined us, we could already form a small pack, but we chose to be a simple rogue family instead.

Now, they are clutched in for my suicide mission.

My rogues vowed not to search for their mates, but if they meet someone they fell for and decide for a chosen mate……. Maybe we can compromise. Maybe. After all, like other species, they might want to have an heir someday. 

Mates don’t apply to witches like werewolves do. Most witches enter mutually beneficial bonds. I never thought about being mated to a werewolf. Many witches stay single for the rest of their lives, but not without children. 

Legend has it that the first girl child of a witch harnesses the strongest power in her family, so most witches wanted to give birth to a daughter. My mother told me I was a descendant of Lilith. Apparently, it was prophesied that the most powerful witch would come from Lilith’s bloodline. Yup, that’s me.

Damn, prophesy! It placed my head on the blacklist of the Phoenicia Covenant. Now I’m hiding like a fugitive. They didn’t even give me time to mourn for my mom’s death. Those bitchy witches will pay a heavy price for their treachery if they are not dead yet. I’ll make sure they suffer an agonizing end.

I was still scanning the hem of my dress, trying to find how to elaborate my vision. Nico can be scary sometimes. He was an ex-commander of an elite squad. Everybody knew him as ‘the executioner.’ Though he never tried to hurt me, he can still be scary.

“Explain!”

His demand for an explanation brings me out of my reverie.

I released a breath I never knew I was holding, “They are two alphas from different packs. I have seen their faces, but I don’t know anything else. I don’t recognize them,” I explained. Not that I know any alpha, but the vision was vague in itself.

“So there will be two packs behind our tails now, Great!” he remarked sarcastically.

Silence followed as Nico paced in our small living room. Only his footsteps and heavy breathing can be heard.

He stopped moving for a while, glancing at me, worried, “So... are you?  Wh... what are your plans?” he stammered.

“I don’t know! They are not supposed to find us; we are off the radar, remember?” I rolled my eyes.

“Well, that’s comforting!” as he folded his arms across his chest

“Seriously Nico, I don’t know what to do. I think they don’t know either!”

“What do you mean?”

“They already found each other,” I blurted. I think they don’t know that there’s me.” I pointed at myself and added, “To complete the tri-bond. "

“You mean they felt the mate bond without you in it? The two alphas?” he scrunched his forehead as if repulsed by the idea.

“Yes.” I simply say.

He laughed darkly. “Don’t worry, they could be both dead before they even have a chance to meet you.”

“Wait, what?”