Chapter 6 - The Golden Egg

Luke’s POV

I waltzed into the half-finished apartment at Giraffe Nr. 13, holding two swans in my arms. Brandon, my alpha, barely looked up before smirking.

“Who let the dog in?”

“Don’t look at me,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes at Walda. “Look at her! She did it!”

I continued, ”She also screwed us all over again, made her hocus-pocus, and bam, the elevator works now!” I let out a dry laugh.

“My legs and back are still sore, you know!” I made sure to say it loud enough so she could hear.

Walda just laughed and winked.

For someone hundreds of years old, she was way too quick-witted. “A little workout never hurt anyone. You’re in your prime stop complaining and introduce everyone already!”

“Me?” I blinked. “You want me to introduce them?”

“Yeah, you!” she said firmly.

“But you called them here,” I pointed out, still confused.

“I’m getting old here—just start already!” she said, clearly amused.

I was slowly catching on. “Oh. Well—hi, everyone! These duckies—oh—sorry, I mean swans—their names are…”

I hesitated, glancing at Walda. “Walda, what are their names again?”

“Rosalind and Edmund,” she said matter-of-factly.

“That sounds about right! Yep, Rosalind and Edmund! And, uh… this dog—this horse-dog—is… uh…” I trailed off, feeling completely lost.

“Hey, Walda, help me out here!” She was definitely messing with me and having the time of her life doing it.

“Her name is Alarica!” she called from the couch, where she’d settled into an armchair beside the unconscious blonde girl—Beatrice.

“Right! Everyone, meet Alarica—the, uh… pony-girl? Pony… dog?”

Walda just grinned. “They’ll figure it out later,” she said with a knowing wink.

I laughed awkwardly. Freakin’ witchy witch walda is in a weird mood today, out to get me!

Brandon’s POV

“Luke, what’s going on?” I looked at my dumbfounded beta, but I didn’t feel any better myself.

I raised my hand in resignation. “Walda, can you help Beatrice now?” My heart was racing, and a cold, squeezing sensation clutched at my chest.

“Welcome, Rosalind and Edmund… and pony-girl—uh, I mean, Alarica, was it?”

The dog barked in response and went straight toward the couch where Beatrice lay.

“Doggy! Bad dog!” Amanda scolded, stomping her foot. “You’re ruining the new couch! Do you know how expensive that is?” She manually moved the dog’s paws aside.

Alarica just looked at her, barked, wagged her tail, and tried to lick her face.

Luke and Walda were barely holding it together at this point.

“Amanda!” Luke called out between laughs. “Let the pony-dog work! Step aside, please!”

I raised an eyebrow. This was about to get interesting.

Amanda pouted, her freckles standing out against her flushed cheeks, her green eyes darkening with frustration.

“Brandon, say something!” she huffed.

“What can I say? Come here, Amanda.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. “Let the witch work. Luke can be her assistant.”

I smirked and stuck my tongue out at Luke, watching his temper rise.

“Wolves assisting witches now? What’s next—pulling rabbits out of hats?” Luke grumbled.

“You’d make a fine assistant, don’t worry,” Walda encouraged, clearly enjoying herself.

Luke’s expression darkened like he was plotting revenge.

I was having a blast, but it was time to get serious. “Walda, do you think you can help her?”

I glanced at Beatrice she was struggling, her breaths uneven. Amanda’s grip on my arm tightened. She didn’t like the attention I was giving Beatrice.

What was I supposed to do? It was my fault Beatrice was in this situation to begin with.

“Luke, bring me Rosalind and Edmund!” Walda commanded, ready to get to work.

Luke followed her instructions and brought forward the peculiar swans—one black, one white.

Then, under Walda’s direction, he carefully placed them on Beatrice’s chest, which was rising and falling erratically.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for what was about to happen.

I think I stared so hard my eyes nearly popped out. The two swans curved their elegant necks together, almost like they were dancing or embracing. And then, just as I was starting to process that weirdness, the white one laid a golden egg.

I rubbed my eyes. Was I seeing things? Nope. Still there.

A freakin’ golden egg.

“Uh… Walda?” I muttered, hoping for some kind of explanation.

“Ssh! Don’t disturb them!” she hissed, shutting me down.

Then, before I could question anything further, she turned to Luke. “Well? What are you waiting for, Beta? Crack the egg!”

I glanced at Luke, who looked absolutely horrified. Can’t blame him. What if he messed up and dropped it?

But after a moment of hesitation, he carefully cracked it open.

The yolk inside was golden too, shimmering like liquid sunlight. Luke hesitated again, then gently parted Beatrice’s lips and let it drip into her mouth. She swallowed it down, her throat moving slightly as she did.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about it kind of disgusting, if you asked me but if it would fix my mistake, I wasn’t about to complain.

Then Alarica, the so-called pony-dog, jumped up onto the couch and poked his nose against Beatrice’s chest.

A soft, golden light pulsed from the spot, spreading over her face. It illuminated her delicate features her golden hair, her pale skin making her look almost… radiant.

I must’ve been staring too long because Amanda nudged my shoulder—hard.

“What?” I muttered, dragging my gaze away from Beatrice.

Amanda didn’t answer right away. Her arms were crossed, her green eyes sharp as they flicked between me and the glowing girl.

“You know, an Alpha can choose just one woman,” she said after a moment, her voice a little too casual.

I raised an eyebrow. “Yes, if she’s his Moon-Blessed Luna,” I said simply.

Amanda’s jaw tightened.

Just for a second, so quick I almost missed it.

“Right,” she said, brushing an imaginary speck of dust off her sleeve. “Good thing you haven’t chosen anyone yet, then.”

She turned on her heel before I could say anything else, leaving me standing there, suddenly feeling like I’d missed something important.

Then, Beatrice’s eyes fluttered open, and everyone kept staring at the poor girl, myself included.

I think we all held our breath. Was she going to be alright?