Chapter 9

CLEMENTINE

That night, I receive a text from an unknown number.

Unknown

meet me by the lake. Carmela

I jolt up on the couch in my brother’s room, my heart beating fast. Scenarios of getting caught swarm my brain. If I go out at night to the woods—especially to the lake, where I was attacked—they will know. Especially Ivan.

~“I feel we should go,” ~Helia encourages.

~“But what if he catches me out at this time?”~

~“Then he’ll punish us…if you know what I mean.” ~She giggles.

~Dammit, Helia! Get your horniness out of here,~ I scold.

I get up slowly, trying not to wake my brother and his mate, and am reminded that I have to find my own place. My mother and sister refuse to let me back, but it’s their loss. I’d rather live in the woods than go back and do their fucking chores every day.

Outside of the room, I listen at the door. My hearing and sense of smell are very good now, thanks to Helia, and I can hear my brother’s and Nikki’s hearts beating slowly, indicating that they are still asleep. I then walk through the long hallway.

As I pass Ivan’s room, I make sure that I’m being extra careful. That man is everywhere and can apparently hear anything related to me.

When I finally make it to the front door and swing it open, a cold breeze hits my face. I take a deep breath, the scent of the trees enveloping me, and quietly close the door.

I run quickly toward the woods, not wanting to spend a second beside the house. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone suddenly caught me. If you’re wondering how, well…that’s just my luck.

As I near the river, I hear a few distant growls, but Helia assures me that they’re not from any wolves in my pack. They’re probably rogues, and they’re far away.

On the riverbank, I find a figure kneeling in the water and drinking. I clear my throat to make my presence known.

Carmela looks up. “You came.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I thought you might be afraid or imprisoned.”

My eyebrows furrow. “Imprisoned?”

“After you blackmailed them, I figured they would imprison you for treason,” she explains.

~“That makes sense,”~ Helia says.

“Thank God I wasn’t,” I reply. “So, what is it that you want from me?”

Carmela stands up and walks toward me. I feel a little intimidated, but I remind myself that she is a good person…I guess.

~“You can trust her,”~ Helia assures me.

~“You say that about everyone.”~

~“No, I don’t,”~ she shrieks.

“Look,” Carmela begins, “Kalisto and I want to make peace with the werewolves. They have been hunting us for centuries, and we don’t want that anymore. We want to live a normal life.”

My heart clenches, knowing they have been living in isolation. “May I ask why they hate you?”

“I don’t know if you know Malcolm’s story…,” she starts.

I nod.

“Okay, well, he wasn’t the only one who was betrayed by the witches—the werewolves were too. At that time, the werewolves and witches had an agreement that the witches would protect the weak werewolf packs at the border, but one day, the witches’ leader, Skolipse, ordered his kind to slaughter everyone in those packs. It was tragic. And because he violated their treaty, the werewolves started their killing spree. Now it’s just a habit.”

“Oh, my God,” I say in shock. I didn’t know that that had happened, but now that I know I’m a witch, I have even more complicated feelings about the discord between the species.

“That’s why we need your help,” Carmela says.

“What could I possibly do?”

“Clementine, you might not see how powerful you are right now, but you will soon. You are a hybrid living among werewolves; you can bring peace and alliance.”

I furrow my eyebrows. “May I ask how you know that I’m a hybrid? I have not even fully transitioned to my phoenix yet.”

“Your mother knew when you were born, and she told me. You could say it was a mother’s instinct.”

“Oh, okay,” I say because that makes sense.

We talk about other things for a bit, and Carmela even teaches me a spell. Then, she asks, “So, what do you say? Will you help us?”

I sigh. “I’m not sure, Carmela.”

“Look, just think about it and contact me, okay?”

“How will I contact you?”

“Well, you could send me a text, since you have my number now, or you could just think about me. I’ll be listening.”

I want to ask how she got my number in the first place, but she smiles and leaves before I can. I let out a deep breath, then turn around and walk back to the pack house.

On the way, I think about what Carmela said. ~Could I really be the one to bring peace between the werewolves and witches? Surely, I’m not the first to try, so what makes her so sure that I’ll succeed?~

I then think about Ivan and my brother finding out that I’m a witch. The thought scares the shit out of me. ~What if they hate me?~

When I slowly enter the pack house, it’s quiet and dark. Only the light of the moon shines in the place, and I creep toward Alex’s room, grateful that no one caught me.

My heart jumps when I see my brother sitting on the couch I’ve been calling a bed all week.

“Where were you, Clementine?” he asks dangerously, his arms crossed over his chest.

I swallow hard. “I-I was taking a walk.”

“Outside? Didn’t I tell you not to go outside alone?” he yells.

I shush him, but it’s too late. Nikki wakes up.

“What’s happening?” she asks.

“Nothing,” I quickly reply, pleading silently with my brother to let it go.

“We will talk about this tomorrow,” he says.

I nod and lie down on the couch, hoping to get some sleep.

***

The next day, Alex takes me to a secluded room to talk. He doesn’t even wait for me to use the bathroom first—that’s how impatient he is.

“Now, spill.”

“Alex, I just needed to walk a little and breathe some fresh air. I don’t feel good here,” I explain.

His eyes soften. “Why? Is someone bothering you?”

“No, no one is bothering me, but Alex…don’t you see? I don’t have a home. I feel like a burden to you. I need a place of my own.” My voice cracks, making the story convincing, but I feel bad because it’s not the whole truth.

I don’t tell him about meeting up with Carmela, but what I said is true. I ~don’t~ feel okay here, and I ~do~ feel like a burden. I know Alex is my brother, but I can’t stay with him and Nikki anymore. If I’m not a burden to him, then surely, I am to Nikki. For God’s sake, every mate wants to be with their other half alone.

“Don’t say that! You are not a burden to me, Clem. You are my sissy,” he cutely says, making my heart warm.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I know, but I can’t help feeling this way, Alex.”

“Look,” he says, “I will speak with Alpha Jake and try to convince him to give you a room.”

I smile. “No, don’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Because I am the one who is going to talk to him.”

I smirk, and Alex does too.

***

On my way to Alpha Jake’s office, I hope he’s in a good mood. After the last few stunts I pulled—threatening to tell his wife about him cheating, demanding that he let Carmela go—I doubt he wants to see my face.

When I knock on his door, though, it’s Luna Helen who lets me in. She looks like she’s been crying her eyes out.

“Luna, are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” she replies, then leaves.

I watch her go for a few seconds, feeling sorry for her. It’s so sad that the Moon Goddess paired her up with such an awful person. Thank God I have the Sun Goddess. I just hope she is better at pairing.

When I enter the office, I see Alpha Jake sitting behind his desk, looking furious. “I didn’t say you could come in,” he spits, making me jump. Not that I’m scared or anything—his voice is just loud.

“I have an important matter to speak with you about, Alpha.”

“Oh, so now I’m your alpha?” he snarls, making Helia angry.

~“He is such an ass,”~ she says.

~I know.~

“What do you want?” he asks.

“I need a room to stay in.”

“Your brother already asked before, and I said ‘no.’ What part of that don’t you people understand?”

“I am one of the pack’s doctors,” I say, suddenly feeling confident.

~“Thanks, Helia~,~”~ I tell her~.~

~“You’re welcome, Clem.”~

“I deserve a place to sleep,” I continue out loud. “I have been doing everything for this pack—the least you could do is give me a place to sleep.”

Alpha Jake stands up and storms over. He takes me by the neck and pushes me against a wall.

“You ungrateful brat!” he yells, tightening the hold.

~“Help!”~ I tell Helia.

~“Just wait a bit, Clem.”~

~“Why?”~

~“Just wait.”~

Within seconds—before I faint from the lack of oxygen—the door flies open, and Ivan comes in. He grabs Alpha Jake’s hand and yanks it backward.

“Don’t lay your hand on her,” Ivan growls, making me widen my eyes. I haven’t seen him so angry since he saved me in the woods.

Alpha Jake raises his brow and says, “Is she your mate?”

My heart stops. I wait for Ivan to say something, but he doesn’t.

~Helia, what is happening?~

~“Be patient, Clem.”~

~“Tell me.”~

~“Wait.”~

After what feels like an eternity, Ivan replies, “What? Of course not.”

~“Oh…,” ~Helia says, clearly disappointed.~ “I thought…” ~

~“Sorry, Helia.”~

Suddenly, Ivan takes me by the arm and drags me out of the room. My heart feels heavy. I don’t know why his denial bothers me so much.

~Do I want him to be my mate?~

~Perhaps.~

“Where are you taking me?” I ask.

Ivan doesn’t answer, just takes me back to his room. His scent is all over the place.

“Thank you,” I say, earning a nod. “Why do you keep saving me?”

“None of your business,” he mutters.

Boldness swarms inside me, making me feel much stronger.

~“I love you, Helia.”~

~“Love you too, Clem.”~

“Actually, it is,” I say, “since I’m the one you are saving.”

Ivan throws his hands in the air. “I just think you need saving. You are too reckless for your own good. Plus, I’m the werewolf king—I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

I flinch. I don’t like the way he’s talking to me.

At that moment, the door flies open, and Ivan’s sister Galina enters. “Clementine!” she squeals as she runs to hug me.

I hug her back, smiling. “Hello, Galina.”

Soon after, Katina enters, but her eyes are angry when they land on me. “I heard about what you did with that witch,” she spits, advancing toward me. “You let her out.”

Galina and Ivan hold their sister back. “Calm down, Katina!” Galina shouts.

“Why?” Katina asks. “Why did you do it?”

“I have my reasons.”

“She is a witch!” she yells. “What good reason could you have to save her life? To set her free?”

I remain silent. I don’t want to fight with her, especially since she’s Ivan’s sister.

“Answer me!”

“ENOUGH!” Ivan yells. Seething, he points to his sister. “Get the fuck out.”

Katina momentarily looks taken aback, then she stomps her foot and leaves.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble when she’s gone.

Galina smiles. “Don’t apologize. We understand why you did it.”

“Why?”

“Well, you’re a doctor. You care for everyone.”

I suddenly feel so guilty.

I’m not who they think I am.

I am a witch.