TALE OF ELARA

TALE OF ELARA
Celine’s pov

I stared at my reflection in Kael’s chamber. I was dressed and prepared for my meeting with Kaida; the guards had reported that she was available.

She had finally returned from her supposed travel.

“Only she has the power I seek,” I murmured.

The door creaked open as Kael walked in.

“Ready?” he asked, stepping closer.

“Yes,” I answered as our gazes met.

He was already dressed in a T-shirt and jeans.

“Shall we?” he asked, extending his arm. I slipped my hand into his and together we walked out of the chamber.

We got outside as he opened the car door open and I slid in.

He began speaking to one of his guards. I followed their gaze and saw another SUV behind us.

He entered, and the car started as we zoomed off. I noticed the other car trailing us.

The car pulled to a stop. We got down and continued on foot. I turned back, surprised to see about nine guards behind us.

We walked until we got to the river and went further. We finally arrived at her hut. I saw the bell, just as the guards had explained earlier.

“We’re here,” Kael whispered to me.

“Kaida! Kaida! Kaida!” Kael called, sounding more like a chant, then he headed forward.

Kael went in first. I’m about to do this but I don’t want him with me. I went in as two guards followed behind me.

Inside was dark.

“Kaida! Kaida! Kaida!” Kael called again, and immediately, the lights turned on.

A woman walked in from the other end.

“Greetings, Alpha and Luna,” she said with a bow.

“Kaida, welcome back,” Kael answered.

“Yes, Alpha,” she said.

I stared at her. She seemed quite different from what I imagined. I expected an old witch, though she had the body of an old woman but the face of a teenager.

“Glad you’re back. How was your journey?” I asked.

She stared at me. Her eyes turned completely green, then she tilted her neck slightly, still staring into my eyes.

“May I have a word with the Luna? Alone?” Kaida asked.

Kael stared at me, and I nodded to him.

“I’ll be outside,” he muttered before leaving, as the guards followed him out.

As they stepped out, a door appeared at the entrance of the hut.

“Now tell me what your next plans are. Do you intend to continue with your revenge, your father’s death?” Kaida said as her eyes went back to normal.

She waved a hand, and two wooden chairs appeared. We sat down.

I took a deep breath. She had seen it all; I didn’t need to lie.

“How do you know about my father’s… death?” I asked.

Her lips curled into a smile, then she burst into laughter.

“It’s clearly written all over you,” she answered.

“Hell no. You could see that because you’re no ordinary woman, and that’s the reason I’m desperate to see you. What really happened to my father? Is that beast a wolf from this pack?” I asked her.

“And what if I told you it’s from this pack? Will you have your revenge and destroy the destiny that awaits you?” she asked.

Those questions made me even more confused.

“What destiny?” I asked.

“Celine Moretti, daughter of Marco. We’ve been expecting your visit,” she said, then burst into another round of laughter.

“Please make it all make sense. I’m lost,” I said to her.

“Celine, I’m willing to guide you through, if only you’re ready,” she said.

My stomach twisted. I didn’t understand what she was talking about… but I needed to listen to her.

I exhaled deeply.

“I’m ready,” I answered.

“Good. Before I move on, there’s a story you need to know first,” she said as her eyes turned green again.

“I see you don’t know yourself yet,” she said.

Myself? How can she say that? Is she even a real witch?

“I know myself. I’m Celine Moretti, a mafia Donna,” I replied.

“Of course,” she chuckled again.

What’s it with all this laughter? Let me just ask her what I intended to ask.

“What really killed my father?” I asked.

Instead of answering, she began laughing even more. This made my blood boil, but I couldn’t do anything except plead with her.

“Tell me…” I said calmly.

“I want to, but it seems you aren’t ready. Or are you ready?” she asked, still laughing.

“Of course I am!” I shouted, louder than I intended and she suddenly stopped laughing.

“Centuries ago, humans and werewolves coexisted in peace and harmony. They saw themselves as equals, to the point where they got married to each other and bore children…”

“Children? Like human children?” I cut in, confused.

So humans and werewolves once lived in peace?

“You should wait and hear me out before cutting in. I’ll explain it all to you,” she said, nodding her head.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized.

“It’s okay. Like I said before you interrupted, they bore children: human babies, pups (werewolves), and hybrids, the combination of both human and werewolf,” she explained.

I nodded in understanding, urging her to continue.

“Unfortunately, the peace was shattered when humans began attacking and killing werewolves.

The werewolves tried for a long time to settle whatever had triggered the humans’ wrath, but the humans continued the killings. They killed not just wolves but human spouses, their hybrid children and even pups still nursing at their mothers’ sides”.

“With this, the werewolves began retaliating; they killed humans too, burned villages and tore down cities,” she explained.

“It was a huge war that claimed many lives. When it was over they vowed never to live together again…” she paused.

I widened my eyes as I imagined how brutal the war must have been.

“Please, go on,” I urged.

“It continued this way. Years later, a powerful she-wolf named Elara fell in love with a human.”

What a coincidence; she bears my mother’s name.

“She disguised herself into the human land each time she wanted to be with him. She tried bringing peace back between their worlds, but it was futile. She later discovered she was pregnant for the human.”