SHILHI’S POVI threw the last mandrake into the cauldron pot as I prepared another set of potions for Alpha Zadok. Joy filled my heart at the thought of his face when he finally realised what a fool he was - A joy I planned to share with the exterminated clan of witches after I sacrificed them at the heart of the dark forest. Poor Ithra. I wondered how she would feel knowing she was but a means to an end. The pot’s content boiled under the threshing fire, and I put in the secret ingredient of the Alpha’s potion - A sealing spell. My mouth moved, and murmurs of chants filled the air. The pot grew green, and a wicked smile touched my lips.Everything was perfect. It was only a matter of time before I took my revenge and made the werewolf race pay for the evils wrought against the witches. After 12 years, everything was finally coming into place. I dished the potions into small bottles and left them on a table in the greenhouse, just beside another bottle that held the consciousnes

ITHRA Zadok’s words struck a chord within me. It was the first time I had heard about such a thing. Not only was the forest hostile to witches, but it only gave one opportunity to visit. Which meant I only had one chance to achieve my goal - one chance to get my power. I couldn’t fail. If I did, I might as well kiss my powers and clan goodbye. The only way I could be free from the Blood Hound pack was if I got hold of my powers. “What do you say? Are you willing to put the past behind you and work together?” Zadok asked. I could hear the desperation and vulnerability in his tone. He wanted me to choose him. He wanted me to help him break the curse and get the ghost orchid. I wondered how he would feel if he knew that the ghost orchid he needed to break his curse was the same way I needed to protect my clan. There was a conflict of our interests. As much as I’d love to help, I couldn’t do that to the detriment of my people. “This alliance cannot work.” I finally said, “

ITHRA“Stand back,” Zadok said in a low voice.His eyes focused on the sleeping Boar while mine remained on the book. “I need to get the book. I’ll be quiet.” I said, and without waiting for a reply, walked towards the beast with steady steps. Before I could take one step, Zadok dragged me back by the arm. “Are you stupid?!” he whisper-yelled. “Or are you trying to get yourself killed?”“Leave me alone,” I replied in a hushed tone. “It’s asleep. I’ll just get the book, and we will be off.”I made to move, and he held me back, much to my frustration. “You know what?” He said, holding his forehead in an exasperated manner. “Just stay back. I will get it myself.”It was my turn to hold him back. “What do you mean?” I asked in a hushed tone, picking offence. “I am more than capable of handling it.”“We don’t have time for this, Ithra,” Zadok said in a slightly raised voice. “I’ll quickly get it, and we will be on our way.”I didn’t hear what he was saying. My eyes widened to the size

ITHRA“Don’t be silly,” I stated, pushing my hair to the back of my ear. I took in the dark waters before me and felt my heart shrink in fear. “Yes, you are,” Zadok said, scrutinising me with his eyes. “Is there a reason why?”“I said I am alright!” My words came out harsher than intended. He raised his hands in mock surrender and said, “No need to bite. I was only making sure.” Zadok walked ahead without sparing me a glance. I could tell he was offended. I couldn’t find it within me to care. As a child, they warned against getting close to water. The only thing that could neutralise a Celts witch’s power was water - water in its large body. Thankfully, I never experienced the horror of what water could do to a Celt’s witch, seeing I didn’t have powers. But I was no stranger to what it could do to a witch. I once watched a witch get traumatised by a mere hallucination of an ocean conjured by a witch as an attempt at a joke. There, my mother placed a ban on casting such a spell

ZADOKI sat in the throne room with my parents, playing with the hourglass I stole from the witch’s lair. “Daddy, how much time do I have before I begin training to be alpha?” I asked, genuinely interested in his answer. “Oh, Zadok, eager to displace your daddy, aren’t we?” Mum said with a soft smile. “He’ll make a perfect Alpha, love. I can tell just by looking at him.” Daddy said with a proud look on his face. “Gatria said I can begin my training after getting my wolf.” I pouted, “Why can’t I begin the training now so that when I transform into my wolf, I’ll have more power to control it.” That caused my parents to burst into a fit of laughter. “Oh, Zadok, you don’t control your wolf. You partner with him.” My mom said between laughs. “But you said I can only partner with my mate,” I dropped the hourglass on the floor and looked up, “Why do I need to partner with my wolf when I have my mate?” “Oh dear, he asks a lot of questions.” Father huffs, “I’ll leave you both to it, oka