Chapter Fourteen: The Red Moon Spell

We all watched as Dayton walked into the lounge with my mother right behind him. I didn’t know if anyone else was seeing what I was seeing, but I was pretty sure that my mother looked close to death. Her eyes were sunken in, she was deathly pale and her veins were showing, but not like Mateo’s did when he died.

She looked nothing like the woman I knew.

“There’s a spell on her,” Marissa notified me.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I mean that what you’re seeing, and what everyone else is seeing are two completely different things,” she replied before showing me what she meant.

In a flash, it was like I was looking at my mother through new eyes. She was the beautiful woman that I grew up knowing, the woman I once resembled. She was nothing short of stunning, and she was definitely intimidating.

“Wait, so what I saw first is what she really looks like?” I asked Marissa.

“Pretty much,” she confirmed.

I was honestly horrified!

Despite everything that the woman had done to me, a big part of me wanted to believe that she never intended to do the things that she did - that she was forced into being a horrible mother. With the way she truly looked, I was beginning to think that perhaps my theory wasn’t so far off.

But the question would be how to prove that.

“It’s very rude to not be around to welcome your guests, Evigan,” Mateo said in a bored tone. The room was still dead silent with the exception of people’s breathing and their beating hearts.

“I was preoccupied. I apologize,” Dayton said to everyone in the room.

“If you could all join us in the foyer,” my mother said coldly. This time it was no secret that everyone could feel the coldness in her voice. Dayton seemed to squeeze her hand, and I watched her true eyes widen in fear behind the image being cast by the spell.

“Babe, he’s hurting her,” I panicked to Mateo.

“What are you talking about?” he linked back.

“Dayton! He’s hurting my mother,” I explained.

“Hold on, do you actually believe that she’s innocent?” he asked in disbelief. I realized then that they couldn’t see what we were seeing.

“Marissa, can we show them what we see?” I asked her.

“Yeah! Just grab his hand,” she responded. I reached out to grab Mateo’s hand and watched his eyes widen slightly as my own vision changed to reveal my mother’s true condition.

“Holy shit! Is that what she really looks like?” he asked.

“Yes! Now do you see my reasoning?” I asked him.

“Definitely! We have to get her out of here,” he replied.

“But how? Dayton will know,” I pointed out.

“We’ll figure it out with time, baby doll,” he said as everyone started moving off to the foyer.

My mother turned and her eyes caught mine for a brief second. Her fake image was glaring at me, but when I looked at her beneath the spell, I realized that she had tears in her eyes. Could she tell who I was?

“Juniper?” a faint voice said in my head. My eyes widened when I realized that she’s the one who had linked me.

“Mom?” I linked back, not believing that I could in the first place.

“It really is you?” she sobbed in the link. I could feel my heart breaking to pieces.

“How did you know?” I asked her curiously.

“I know my own daughter,” was all she said before her body was led out of the room by Dayton.

“Babe, she recognized me and she was crying,” I linked Mateo as we all stood in the foyer.

“We’re going to get to the bottom of this, baby doll. Don’t worry about it,” he said before closing his link as Dayton stood at the top of the stairs.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, eighteen years ago, my wife and I gave birth to a baby girl. When her thirteenth birthday came and she didn’t shift, we were devastated and we didn’t think that there would be any hope for our pack. Our daughter, bless her soul, was recently murdered by some rogues, and we were sure that there was a dark cloud over our pack. It is through the miracle of the Moon Goddess that we’re able to stand before you today and introduce to you our new heir. Ladies and gentlemen, please do me the honor of welcoming our soon to be Alpha, Royce Fallon, and his mate Faith Callahan,” Dayton announced.

As the clapping resounded throughout the foyer, pure fury seared my veins. How dare he say that I was murdered by rogues when he’s the very person who drove me off of the pack lands? How dare he lie and make it seem like he ever cared about me?

Hell, he even blessed my soul!

The blasphemy!

And what the hell miracle is he talking about if Royce has been in this pack for five years now? I couldn’t believe that it was the first time I was really seeing my father for the sleazebag and weak Alpha he is! He may have the second strongest pack in the US after us, but that ranking definitely had nothing to do with his abilities as an Alpha.

He had none.

I turned my attention to my friend and gasped when my eyesight changed to reveal her true form. She was bruised and had been beaten severely, to the point where it would take a lot to actually get her back to her natural beauty.

She looked nothing like the Faith I’d met and befriended.

Mateo, noticing my sharp intake of breath, took my hand in his and was shown the horror I was seeing. His grip on my hand tightened, but I could barely feel it with my own anger clouding the pain. The two of us needed to get a grip on our anger, or else bad things would happen.

Too late!

I realized it was too late when the windows and vases around us all shattered. The lights went out, while the flowers that were around us all burst into flames. Outside, there were loud lightning strikes. The guests around us watched in horror, but none of them panicked. It’s like they were all frozen and paralyzed by fear.

The pack members of Litmus moved swiftly to clean up and put out the fires. I hadn’t even noticed that Mateo had moved behind me and had put his arms around me, putting his hands protectively over our children.

“Calm down baby doll,” he linked, kissing my neck. At once, all the chaos around me was tuned out as I focused on him.

“I’m going to kill them,” I murmured in response.

“They’ll get their day, mi amor, but today is not it,” he purred. Even in link, that voice and term of endearment was enough to push me over the edge.

“We’re in the middle of people, babe,” I pointed out raggedly.

“Unfortunately,” he sighed, before lifting his head and instead resting it on top of mine. The lights came back on and we watched as everyone around us began to calm down.

“Well, that was strange,” Dayton released a strained chuckle, which actually had some people laughing.

“Perhaps that dark cloud is still around,” Chase said out loud. While he was being completely serious, everyone around us actually laughed as though he’d told a joke.

“Stupid people,” he muttered under his breath, making Mateo and I laugh.

“It would seem that you’re onto something, Alpha Garrix, but we do hope that isn’t the case. Welcome to my home everyone,” Royce smirked, his arms wide in gesture. I saw the slight twitch in Dayton’s eye as Royce said ‘home’.

Does someone not like their heir?

“Please continue to mingle. Dinner will be served shortly,” Royce announced.

That was Mateo and I’s cue to get the hell out of there. We weren’t leaving, but we needed to get some air, hence ending up outside. I honestly couldn’t take what had already happened, and I was ultimately appalled when I realized that what had happened wasn’t even the beginning of the worst.

“Are you okay Mrs Santiago?” Mateo asked me as he twirled my hair between his fingers.

“Not really,” I admitted. He pulled me into him and I gladly rested my head on his chest.

The night sky looked exceptionally beautiful tonight, that much I would admit. The stars were twinkling as if they knew the significance of the night. That actually led my attention to the moon.

The moon was huge and it was a full moon. For the first time since I’d shifted, I actually felt the pull of it. It was almost as though it was forcing me to submit to my inner beast.

“Is the pull of the moon always this powerful?” I asked my mate curiously. When I was met with silence, I looked up and was surprised to find his eyes completely black.

“No,” Zeus was the one to reply.

“I take it it’s affecting you?” I guessed.

“Badly! It’s pulling on my beastly side. I think they plan on doing this with all the Alphas,” he replied, barely breathing from the intensity of the pull.

I did the only thing I thought would help him then. I reached up and kissed him. I kissed him with everything that I am and have. He responded almost instantly, and I knew I had him back when the grip on my waist loosened. I hadn’t even realized that it had tightened in the first place.

Am I beginning to become THAT oblivious to pain?

Or was it pleasure in this case?

“Aaaaw, would you look at that?” Royce said from somewhere behind me. Mateo pulled apart from me, a look of pure annoyance on his face.

“Fallon,” he said coldly.

“Really? That’s how you’re going to greet a friend?” Royce chuckled, walking closer to us. It amazed me how genuine he seemed. Luckily we weren’t oblivious to his true motives.

“You did interrupt a good make out session,” Mateo shot back with an emotionless smirk.

“My bad! I do sincerely apologize to the lady. Royce Fallon,” Royce introduced himself. I turned to face him, and something flashed in his eyes.

Was that lust?

“Marissa Santiago,” I said sweetly. He grabbed my hand and laid a long kiss on it. It took Mateo’s growl for him to let go of my hand.

“Why Santiago, I had no idea you went and got hitched! Did my invite to the wedding get lost in the mail?” Royce asked sarcastically.

Mateo shrugged. “There was never an invitation to begin with.”

Royce gasped, feigning hurt with a dramatic hand to the heart. “I’m hurt!”

Mateo rolled his eyes. “And I could care less.”

“My, my, my Mrs Santiago! How do you deal with such pigheadedness?” Royce joked.

“It takes one to know one, Royce,” I pointed out. He looked surprised at my comeback.

“Quite the gem you have yourself here, Santiago. She must truly be something if she’s managed to snag the most powerful Alpha in the world,” Royce said, the animosity clear in his voice.

“She’s one of a kind,” Mateo said proudly.

“I can imagine! I see she’s even pregnant with your heir,” Royce continued, the hatred still evident in his tone.

“You seem bothered, Fallon,” Mateo blandly pointed out.

“Not so much bothered as I am jealous. Every Alpha dreams of having their own heir,” Royce said, once again sounding sincere.

“Did you ever find Juniper?” I asked, not being able to stop myself once the question was out.

Royce’s eyes narrowed into slits. “How do you know about her?”

“Besides the fact that everyone in the werewolf world knows who she is, my mate made me aware of your search. I heard she was in Argentina, so I was wondering if you ever found her,” I explained.

“No, I haven’t. Funny, the people I sent to Argentina said that they can’t find her. My intel at the airport says she’s never once crossed any of the airport cameras,” Royce commented, narrowing his eyes at Mateo.

My husband shrugged. “Don’t look at me. What would I be doing with the daughter of my enemy? I couldn’t care less what happens to her.”

“I love you Juniper Santiago,” he linked. I laughed in our link at how quickly he said that.

“Well, that does make sense,” Royce chuckled.

“So, are you ready to take over?” Mateo asked him.

“I was born ready,” he smirked.

“Where’s Jacob? I was hoping to meet him,” I asked with an innocent smile. Royce stiffened, while Mateo bit his lip to keep from laughing.

“Uh, he’s gone,” Royce replied, surprising us both. We didn’t think he’d actually tell us the truth.

“Gone? What do you mean?” I asked.

“He ran away about a week ago. He didn’t tell anyone where he was headed,” Royce explained.

Wow, he was actually telling the truth.

“Have you sent out any notices for anyone to look for him?” my mate asked.

“No. We were kind of hoping he would come back in time for the inauguration, but I guess he’s still mad at me. He didn’t happen to cross your territory, did he?” he asked us.

I offered a sad smile. “We would’ve told you if he did.”

Lies! My acting is too good!

“I figured you would. Anyway, I guess he’ll come back when he’s ready to. I actually wanted to surprise him and ask him to be my Beta,” Royce said sadly.

Screw my acting.

Royce here deserves a fucking Oscar!

“Aaaaw, you’re such a great big brother,” I cooed. Royce actually blushed.

“I’m not that great of a brother...” he trailed off.

“Come on Royce! You can’t think that. I mean, here you are, worried sick about your little brother and you want him to come back and be your Beta. Not many brothers would’ve done that after stealing the position from their brother. You’re very kind-hearted,” I told him softly, even reaching out to hold his hand.

“You are too good at this,” Mateo chuckled through our link.

“Right?” I giggled in return.

“You remind me of her,” Royce smiled as I let go of his hand. Holding it repulsed me and with my pregnancy, I can’t be antagonizing my senses like that.

“Who?” I asked.

“Juniper! You’re just as spirited and caring as she is,” he said so sincerely, I almost bought it. Thinking about the snake he really is, ruined any chance of me believing him.

“You seem very fond of her,” I commented.

“I am. Despite what her parents think, I know she’s special,” he said sternly.

“Special?” Mateo and I asked at the same time. Royce looked like he was hesitating, but he sighed.

“You won’t believe me, but she’s got powers,” he said.

“Powers? Is she a werewolf?” Mateo asked.

“Well, yes. She told me that she has her wolf, but last I checked, she hadn’t shifted yet,” he explained.

He really wasn’t lying about this.

“What powers does she have?” I asked.

“Powers of the elements. It’s the strangest thing,” Royce said as he shook his head.

“And you know where she is? Do you think she’s okay?” I feigned concern.

“That’s why I’m so set on finding her. Dayton lied when he said she was killed. He had her run off the pack territory, which is why your mate is the first person I called when I found out. I thought she may have landed on your territory,” he explained.

“It sounds like you miss her. I’m sure she’s safe,” I offered a small smile. He looked up and returned the smile.

“I guess. Anyway, tell me about you guys! Where did you meet? When did you meet? When did you get hitched?” he asked.

“This is on you, baby doll,” Mateo linked me.

“Believe it or not, this one has hidden me this entire time. We met three years ago in Spain. I was touring the country and he was visiting some family. I came back with him, and we’ve been together since. We only got married last month though,” I fabricated.

“I only wanted to protect you, mi amor,” Mateo purred. I bit my lip to keep from jumping him.

“Well, the chemistry between the two of you is as clear as day. Anyway, we should head in. Apparently dinner’s ready,” Royce smiled.

You mean your weapon of mass murder is ready.

“Let’s head in then. I heard it was going to be quite the killer dinner,” I said innocently as we turned to leave. Both my husband and I didn’t miss the way Royce tensed when I said ‘killer’.

We walked into the dining hall and there were four long tables that had been set out. Each table could seat at least forty people. I didn’t even realize that there were that many of us here until then. My eyes spotted Merlin and Mama Deo amongst the people, but when my eyesight changed, I realized that they were disguised. I looked around and, sure as day, I found Boris and my dad.

“You made it,” I linked him.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, pumpkin! Merlin is going to put the illusion up as soon as the food has been served,” Balthazar informed me.

“How exactly is the illusion going to work?” I asked.

“Well, we’re the only ones who’ll actually be seeing what’s going on. Royce, Dayton, Faith, your mother and the rest of the members of this pack will be seeing something completely different,” he explained.

“Okay, but isn’t Odessa’s spell getting to you? And how do we know they won’t pick up on the illusion?” I asked.

“It doesn’t affect me because of my sorcerer side. They won’t pick up on the spell because they’ve spelled the place for Naturalist witches, but not sorcerers. Odessa probably thinks we wouldn’t bother to interfere since it’s the werewolf world,” he replied. Well, I guess that makes sense.

“So, do we all just sit still?” I asked.

“Everyone’s free to socialize, but they’ve been warned against hinting to the spell. Royce, Dayton, Faith, your mother and the Litmus pack members are going to see the same conversations that you do, except in their illusion, people will be eating as well,” he elucidated.

“That is so cool!” I couldn’t stop myself from saying.

“I know, pumpkin,” he chuckled before the waiters and waitresses entered with the food.

I watched as the food was delivered to everyone and they managed to stay calm without giving away anything. The waitresses went around refilling everyone’s drinks, and I didn’t even want to know how everyone was managing with not drinking anything and yet still having drained glasses.

I found it pretty ironic that Mateo and I were served last and our food seemed to have a certain scent to it that the others didn’t have. We immediately knew that it was the poison. I caught Royce’s eyes and there was indecision in them. He was looking at me intently and when I raised an eyebrow at him, he got up and came by.

“Stay calm,” I linked my mate.

“I trust you, baby doll. I’m as calm as ever,” he replied. I looked to him and he really was, which was surprising.

“Mateo, may I please borrow your mate? I’d like to show her something,” Royce said.

“As long as you remember that I will rain fury upon this place if she comes back with a single scratch on her,” my husband replied.

Again, I was shocked by his nonchalance.

“I guarantee that she will return unharmed,” Royce said. I knew that I could very well take care of myself, but it didn’t mean I was entirely trusting of the situation.

“Don’t miss me too much,” I said as I turned to Mateo. He pulled my face in and lay a head-spinning kiss on me.

“Now I’ll most definitely miss you too much,” he winked.

When I got up and faced Royce, there was pure anger evident on his face, but it disappeared as soon as he saw that I was watching him. He held out his arm to me, which I took, before he led me out of the dining hall. We passed by one of the members of the pack and thanks to my extra sensitive hearing, I heard Royce mumble that the pack member was to make sure that ‘he’ eats.

It wasn’t that hard to figure out just who ‘he’ is.

Royce led me down the familiar hallway and I was surprised when we made it to the kitchen. He dragged me to the pantry and I was really curious about what he wanted from me.

“Pick anything you want to eat,” he suddenly said.

I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Pick anything you want to eat,” he repeated.

“I heard you the first time, but why? I already had a plate out there,” I argued.

“True, but since you’re the only one who’s pregnant, I figured that you’d appreciate simple food, and a variety for any cravings you might have,” he smiled.

I didn’t know whether to hug him or punch him.

“He doesn’t want you to die. He’s attached himself to you,” Star said in realization.

“So what? He spares us but kills our mate? Something doesn’t add up here,” Marissa argued.

“I agree with the both of you, but I’m really hungry and I can’t smell anything off,” I told them.

“True! Okay, just go with it,” Star replied as Royce took down some crackers from the top shelf.

“Here you go! I’ve heard salty crackers are enjoyed when one is pregnant,” he smiled.

“Not necessarily. They help with morning sickness though,” I laughed.

“Oh, right,” he blushed. I was beginning to wonder if someone else was acting as him again.

“So, what do you plan to do after you take over as Alpha?” I asked as we walked out of the kitchen with a whole lot of food. He was leading me down to another familiar place - a place I wanted nothing to do with.

My childhood bedroom.

I was surprised when we walked in and the room had completely changed. Where there were once lilac walls, there were gray walls. Where it was once princess themed, now it was darkness themed. There was an eerie feeling to it, but I remained calm.

No need to alarm anyone.

“I actually don’t know. This pack needs a lot of work, despite it being number two in the country. I just feel that I could add more to it you know?” he said as we sat on the bed.

I nodded. “I guess I understand what you’re saying.”

“Anyway, tell me about you. What’s it like being the mate to the most feared Alpha in the world?” he questioned.

I sighed contently. “I don’t see him in that way to begin with. When it comes to me, he’s the most perfect mate and husband. He’s not the big bad Alpha, but is instead my partner in life. I love him with everything I am, Royce.”

“Sounds like quite the relationship! Aren’t you attracted to the power he possesses though? A woman like you looks like they like that in a man,” he commented.

Uh... Sorry what?

“I don’t follow,” I voiced.

“Would you still be with him if he wasn’t powerful anymore?” he asked bluntly.

Ah, that makes more sense.

“Yes, I would,” I nodded, still keeping up the innocence.

“So you wouldn’t leave him for someone more powerful if that kind of person came along?” he asked. It was clear that he was hinting to what he would obviously become, should The Conversion of Souls spell work.

I decided to turn on the charm.

“Hmm, I don’t know. I guess it would depend,” I said thoughtfully.

“On?” he asked, a little too eagerly.

“Well, on how good looking this person is, if they are male, if they have no other mate, if they would love me and take care of me and if they would love my child as well,” I replied.

Looking at him, it wasn’t hard to tell that the look on his face was saying ‘I would give you the world’, which I found a bit creepy.

“Interesting,” was all he said after that.

I nudged him. “So, tell me about your mate.”

He looked baffled by my question. “Who?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Faith Callahan?”

“Oh, right!” he cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Well?” I pushed.

“I don’t know what to say really. She’s like any other Luna except you,” he responded.

“What do you mean except me?” I asked.

“I don’t know what it is about you, but you’re different. Like I said before, you remind me of Juniper, and I guess she would’ve made a brilliant Luna too, if she hadn’t left,” he commented.

“Royce, what are you saying?” I asked lowly.

“Faith isn’t my fated mate. I may have seen Juniper as a little sister when I spent time with her, but after she left, I realized that I was in love with her,” he replied sombrely.

I was speechless!

He was in love with me?

But then again, Jacob was in his body at that time. How do I know that he’s telling me the truth? Hell, why should it matter if he’s telling me the truth or not? It’s not like it’s going to change anything. I don’t trust him and I know for a fact that he’s going to be casting a spell that will change lives if he succeeds.

It will be the end of the werewolf world as we know it.

"How does Faith feel about this? Does she know?” I asked.

“Do you really think I would tell her? She and June became friends before June left. You saw how happy she is to be at my side. I can’t do that to her,” he lied.

What a load of absolute bullshit!

Faith was bruised and battered, and I’m sure as hell that she didn’t want to be in this situation, and yet this twerp had the nerve to sit here and pretend to actually care about her feelings.

“He doesn’t know that we know what she really looks like,” Star reminded me.

“Well, what would you do if June came back?” I asked.

“I’d win her heart,” he smirked.

I frowned. “Isn’t she mated?”

“It was rumored that she is, but not confirmed,” he argued.

“Okay true, but what if she really is mated?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Then I would get rid of her mate.”

“Royce!” I ‘giggled’ and playfully smacked his arm.

What I really wanted to do was bash his face in!

“What? Love makes us do crazy things,” he smiled.

This guy is officially off the rails!

“But killing her mate isn’t the way to go about it,” I scolded.

“But it’s the only way his claim on her would die,” he pointed out.

I shook my head. “That’s not right!”

“If I was the most powerful Alpha, and I killed Mateo, wouldn’t you be with me if I asked you to be my Luna?” he asked. My eyes widened, but before I could reply, Mateo nudged my link.

“I’m fake dying here,” he chuckled. I wanted to smack him for that joke.

He’s died on me before!

“Got it! I’m coming,” I replied before turning to Royce.

I looked around. “Do you hear that?”

“What?” he asked. I got up and ran to the door. I opened it and the sound of people panicking reached my ears.

“That!” I said, before running out. I could hear him running after me.

“MARISSA!” he shouted as I ran towards the dining hall.

I dramatically shoved the doors wide open and found everyone gathered in one spot. The Lunas all did well by shooting me ‘sad and pitiful’ glances. I moved into the room and the people separated. By the time I reached Mateo, I ‘screamed’.

Merlin had managed to identify what poison they were going to use, and apparently it’s the same poison that was used on him when he died, so the Mateo I was looking at now looked exactly like he did when he died.

Surprisingly, the tears came freely, and they weren’t faked. Seeing him in that state brought me back to our room the day he died. I felt all the emotions I had felt then, except this time, my children reacted as well.

The unexpected happened when I let out a piercing scream. My abdomen felt like it was on fire, and for a moment, I saw Mateo twitch. He was restraining himself from coming to my aid when he realized that the pain I was feeling was actually real.

“Baby doll, what’s happening?” he settled for linking me as the other Lunas and Royce came to my sides.

“I, I don’t know babe. It hurts,” I linked back before I was hit by another strong wave of pain.

“Your children are angry at the death of their father,” Balthazar linked me in awe. That took me by surprise. I didn’t even know they could already tell that much.

“So why am I feeling the pain?” I panted.

It was like I was feeling labor pains, but I’m not even that far into my pregnancy, despite its rapidness. I now looked like I was three and a half months pregnant at most.

“I honestly don’t know,” he admitted.

“I’m so sorry,” Royce whispered in my ear. I turned to him and he actually had tears in his eyes.

“Why?” I whispered, feigning cluelessness.

“Power,” was all he said before leaving the room.

“What was that about?” Mateo linked me.

“I’ll tell you a little lat…” I started to respond before screaming out again.

“Where’s your pack doctor?” one of the Lunas asked Dayton.

“She’ll be fine,” he waved off.

“There’s something clearly wrong with her,” my mother said, her voice still cold, but I felt her concern for me.

“Excuse me, pardon me!” I heard someone say before Hughes, the pack doctor, came into view. I was shocked that he still worked here.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Her mate was poisoned and she started screaming,” Chase explained. Only then did it dawn on me that he was actually holding me up. I must’ve been too weak to stand without even realizing it.

“Hold on! Did you just say that Mateo Santiago has been murdered?” Hughes asked.

That one question had the ability of bringing silence upon the whole room, besides my sniffing.

All eyes turned to my ‘dead’ husband as the pure disbelief settled in with everyone. The great Mateo Santiago was dead, and it hit me that no one was questioning how that came to be, even though they knew it was poisoning. I looked around the room and my eyes landed on the one person I knew would catch my drift.

“THEY DID IT!” Maya shouted. Dante seemed to catch on as well.

He held her. “Baby, calm down.”

“NO! THEY KILLED MY COUSIN, DANTE! THEY SET THIS WHOLE THING UP!” she cried.

Our heads snapped to the door as someone clapped. At first, we only saw Royce and a demonic looking woman, but they weren’t clapping. The demon woman had a statue in her arms, and I assumed it was the statue they needed for the spell. Suddenly, a blue mist formed between the two of them until a figure was looking at us. I knew who it was instantly.

I just didn’t expect what I saw.

There she stood, looking as evil as ever. She was surprisingly dressed in pure white. Her electrifyingly blue eyes shot glares at everyone in the room. Her long, golden hair was curled the whole way down. She didn’t look a day over fifty, but I knew better.

“Would you look at that? They claimed he was hard to kill, but now he’s as good as dead. I can only hope the Underworld welcomes his soul,” her icy voice cut through the air as she moved into the room. She looked like she was floating on air.

“She bought it,” Balthazar and Mateo linked me at the same time.

“Oh darling, are you the one he had chosen as his mate? I see you’re carrying his pup,” she said as she turned to me. When her eyes landed on me, something in me churned - something to do with Marissa. She reached out and suddenly had me in a chokehold.

“PUT HER DOWN!” Royce shocked everyone by shouting.

“Calm down, young pup. I’m merely admiring her. You were right about her. She truly is something special. She will make a fine Luna at your side, but are you positive you want to keep the pup as your own?” she asked him. Royce’s eyes shifted to mine and I could see the determination in them.

“I am,” he replied.

“Very well then, she shall be spared, together with her unborn spawn,” she said before gently putting me down.

Suddenly, everyone in the room started struggling, except for Royce, Dayton, the demon woman and myself. They all looked like they couldn’t move a muscle and that’s when I knew that it was almost time. Odessa turned to the windows and the doors in the dining hall, and they all flung open.

The moonlight instantly shone in and I realized then that this room had a perfect view of the full moon - the very full moon that was causing everyone to growl. Just like with Mateo, they all looked like they were fighting their inner beasts. I was surprised that Mateo hadn’t twitched yet.

“Marissa is keeping me from doing anything,” he informed me.

“Wait, won’t she get detected if she uses her magic now?” I asked.

“No, she won’t,” he and Balthazar replied before I was brought back to the situation before me by an evil laugh.

“My, my, you werewolves are a funny species,” she cackled.

“Are we doing the spell now, your Mistress?” the demon woman asked.

“Patience Saila. Good things come to those who wait,” Odessa said tauntingly. The demon woman nodded, even though the annoyance was clear as day in her eyes.

Someone isn’t too fond of their Mistress.

Odessa turned to me. “Darling, have you ever wondered what a world without multiple werewolf Alphas would be like?”

I shook my head. “I’ve never given it any thought.”

“Well, today is your lucky day. Imagine all the Alphas in this room being stripped of their powers. Imagine you, being the Alpha Female above all with Royce here at your side. Imagine the amount of power that you could possess,” she said, looking into my eyes. I could feel her compelling me, and while I could stop her, I let her for the sake of keeping things a secret.

“That does sound wonderful,” I said monotonously.

“I knew you would agree!” she smirked.

“It’s time,” Dayton announced.

“Why Dayton, I believe you are correct!” she said in glee.

Can someone say loco?

“Saila, do be a dear and place that statue in the right place. Remember that it needs to be in the correct position,” Odessa instructed.

“I know what to do,” Saila mumbled as she set the statue in place.

“Attitude, young demon!” Odessa warned.

This woman is too calm for my liking.

“Get ready, pumpkin,” Balthazar linked me.

“I’m ready,” I replied.

For the longest time, nothing happened, until Odessa started chanting. I understood exactly what she was saying since she was speaking Old Naturalist tongue.

“I call upon the power of Mother Nature to transform the moon into that of the blood of the ancestors. I call upon the rain to wash away the powers of the selected Alphas. I call upon the roots to lock away their bloodlines. I call upon the fire to burn a mark upon them, and I call upon the winds to destroy their homes.”

I was actually surprised at the simplicity of the spell. In Old Naturalist tongue it sounded pretty scary though, especially since she was using that icy tone of hers. The moon started to slowly change color. It was becoming pink, and I knew then that we had about ten minutes before the whole moon would be red.

Ten minutes before I would have to perform the reversal spell as the Alphas shifted.

I was about to walk to Royce to put on my acting, but I stumbled on my first step, which was strange since I’d been standing just fine. He rushed up to me, and the moment he touched me, I felt hot, pure rage.

Little did I know that something else was happening back home.

***

Max was sitting in the lounge watching TV with Rose. He, himself, had adopted the little girl as his niece. They were watching some cartoons and laughing for the most part, until he got a sharp pain in his heart. He clutched his chest, before a second surge hit him to the point where he couldn’t breathe.

Rose already knew what was going on. The little girl was a mystery to the Vistas pack members, but she knew very well what she was. She knew what her destiny was, and she knew everything she needed to know about what was about to happen. She knelt beside Max, who was on the floor, and took his hand in her own.

Max couldn’t believe what was happening, or even begin to describe what he was seeing. He looked into the eyes of the little girl, ignoring the bright light traveling from her to him. He could only keep his eyes locked onto hers and witness everything she knew.

“It’s almost time, Maximillan,” she whispered.

At the sound of the name, something awoken within him - something that gave a whole new meaning to his life. He could feel it searing through his veins, and he knew that something big was happening. A few minutes passed until he was hit with one last surge through the heart, making him cry out. The other members of the house came rushing in.

“What’s going on?” Alexa panicked.

“WHAT IS SHE DOING TO HIM?” Valentine shouted, running to him, only to have Anastasia stop her.

“Whatever’s happening now, needs to happen,” Anastasia told her. Her witch intuition was telling her so.

“Go! You know what you need to do,” Rose told Max. He nodded before disappearing before their very eyes.

***

“Well, what do we have ourselves here? I knew there was something off about you, but I still can’t figure out just what it is,” Odessa cocked her head to the side as I stood up. There were seven minutes left.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said calmly.

“I’m too old for you to think you can be so blasé with me, darling. I know strange when I see it. The question is, what are you?” she asked as she tapped her chin.

I raised an eyebrow. “I’m a werewolf Luna.”

“True, but also slightly untrue,” Odessa commented.

“She’s onto me,” I linked Mateo in panic.

“Stay calm, baby doll,” he soothed.

“Why do you look so afraid?” she asked, stepping closer to me. I could feel the warmer air around me being replaced by her much cooler aura.

“My mate has just been murdered, and now I’m being told I can be the ultimate Alpha Female. Excuse me for being a little terrified for my child,” I said, wrapping my arms around my belly.

“Oh darling, I won’t harm your child. I’m a woman of my word, and I’ve already given Royce here my word,” she smiled. The smile was cold and emotionless.

“You don’t have to be afraid Marissa. It’s just like we talked about,” Royce smiled, taking my hand in his. I had to keep myself from hurling.

“Now, because my curiosity just gets the better of me, you’re going to have to excuse me,” Odessa said. I didn’t understand what she meant, until I felt myself being flung towards a wall. Before I could touch the wall, I landed gracefully on my feet.

“Theory one tested,” she stated as she narrowed her eyes. Again, I had no idea what she was talking about.

“She’s about to discover who you really are!” Balthazar linked me just as a sharp icicle came at unbelievable speed towards me. Due to reflex, I flung it away from me and it hit the wall. Her eyes widened.

“Impossible!” she whispered to herself.

Four minutes left.

“It is very much possible!” Balthazar said out loud, revealing himself. Merlin, Boris and Mama Deo followed soon after.

“I should’ve known that you would try to stop me, but where did you get her from?” Odessa asked, referring to me.

“Why, she’s a direct descendent of yours of course,” Boris smirked. Odessa actually looked highly confused.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Oh mother, have you truly forgotten?” Balthazar smirked. I choked on my own spit.

MOTHER?

“How could I forget mothering you, dearest son! You’re still not answering my question,” Odessa snapped.

Three minutes left.

“Come now Odessa, you can’t really be that daft,” Merlin taunted.

“Oh my Goddess!” I whispered when I put two and two together.

“Wait for it...” Boris trailed off.

A sound to my left caught me off-guard and I realized it was my mother. The spell on her was gone, and everyone could see what she really looked like, except she was on the verge of death it seemed. I heard a gasp from my right and turned back to see tears shining in his eyes.

“Gail...” he whispered. I looked back to her, then back to him, then back to her again before my eyes widened.

“OH MY GODDESS!” I shouted.

“And a thousand points for the hybrid baby!” Boris smirked.

“Oh my Goddess is right, darling. We seem to have ourselves a situation here. No matter, everything will be fine soon enough,” Odessa waved off.

“We’re not letting you go through with this!” Mama Deo snapped at her.

“Deondrameda, always a pleasure darling, but you’re just being cute if you think you can stop me,” Odessa smiled sweetly.

“Maybe she won’t, but I will,” I said. Odessa was about to scoff, until she realized I was Marissa in her true form. Her eyes widened and became bigger than before. Her surprise was soon replaced by pure rage.

“THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! SHE SAID NOTHING ABOUT THIS!” she shrieked. The walls cracked as ice started to cover them.

Auriela!

I knew then and there that she was the ‘she’ that Odessa was talking about. As we’d already discovered, Auriela couldn’t see into our futures because of my magic. I watched the realization dawn on Boris too. I also watched the relief in his eyes.

She was still alive.

“Calm down Odessa,” Dayton pleaded. Before he could blink, an ice shard hit him in the shoulder. He screamed out in pain before quickly pulling it out.

“Don’t you EVER tell me what to do!” she said menacingly.

The calm and collected witch was long gone.

“June, say the spell now!” Max linked me.

“Max?” I said in confusion.

“NOW JUNE!” he shouted. I immediately got right to it.

“I call upon Mother Nature to set back what has been converted by an impure heart. I call upon the ancestors to undo that which has been casted by the very witch responsible for their deaths. I call upon Mother Nature to see her for the snake she truly is.”

“I call upon the power of Oddezia and cast Odessa life to the depths of the Land of Lost Souls.”

I was beyond flabbergasted to learn that Max was the one who had said the last part in perfect Old Naturalist tongue. He was standing before Odessa. His short black hair was now white, and his brown eyes were now red.

He’s a Naturalist witch.

The biggest question was HOW?