Chapter 154 A WITCH’S BARGAIN
Edeline
A surge of anger mixed with concern rose within me. "How did you manage to escape?!" I demanded, my voice sharp and filled with frustration.
Anita gave me an exasperated look. "Could you please lower your voice?" she said, her tone calm but with a hint of reproach. "The guards might hear you, and you could get into trouble," she added casually, pushing off from the wall and taking a few cautious steps toward me.
I was on high alert, my wolf instincts kicking in. My claws and teeth were ready for action. I warned her in a low, rumbling growl, "Stay back, witch!" The sound of my warning caught Anita's attention. She paused, her expression puzzled at first, then a wide smile slowly spread across her face. She took a deep breath, sensing something in the air.
“Take it easy,” she said, her voice taking on a teasing edge. “I’m up for a chat. Your buddy over there... Darius! He’s really suffering. Getting rid of poison like red lockheed is brutal. It can be deadly.” Her expression was a blank mask, but her honesty was apparent.
I glanced over at Darius, who was now leaning against the wall, sweat trickling down his pale skin. Redirecting my attention back to Anita, who watched me with cautious eyes, I couldn’t help but curl my lip in a snarl. My anger toward her was growing stronger by the minute.
“So, can you tell me how to help him?” I demanded.
Anita’s lips curled into a small, calculating smile. “I might,” she said, her tone suggesting she had something up her sleeve. “But let’s make a deal. You leave here and never come back. Choose Tatiana over your current partner. Just let her be happy.” She pursed her lips, her eyes locked onto mine with a challenging gaze.
I gave her a skeptical look, my disdain palpable. “Haven’t you heard? My brother Nixx is going to be the next Alpha, no question about it. Definitely not Percival. Nixx is William’s eldest child. I told my mom I don’t make deals with the devil,” I said, my voice dripping with contempt.
Anita’s face twisted into a frown, her stunning features showing a hint of surprise. “Nixx?” she echoed, her curiosity piqued. “Who is Tatiana’s partner? He sounds quite the Alpha,” she mused, casually pushing her black hair behind her shoulder. “Well...” she chuckled, a breathy laugh escaping her. “This definitely shakes things up.” A smirk played at her lips, a rare sight for someone who usually wore a more serious expression.
She seemed to be plotting something, her demeanor shifting as I watched her closely. Anita reached into her pocket and pulled out two small bags. Her lips pressed thoughtfully against her bottom lip as she looked up at me, lost in contemplation. After a moment, she straightened up, standing tall with newfound confidence. “I have another proposition for you,” she said, her voice steady. “I can lend a hand to Darius. But first, I need a favor from you.”
I raised an eyebrow and gave her a disapproving look. “Alternatively, I could inform Healer Daisy about his condition. She can provide the necessary assistance without your involvement,” I countered, maintaining a stern expression.
Anita let out a hearty laugh, shaking her head with amusement. “Oh, no, dear. I don’t think so. Do you understand? Daisy enjoys working with the Moon’s gifts. I deal with darkness. She wouldn’t even know where to start with fixing the poor boy. He’s in really bad shape right now, and I actually have the antidote with me.” She casually raised her hand, revealing a bag of herbs.
I moved closer to her, a smirk forming on my face. “So, what’s your deal, witch?”
Anita’s demeanor suddenly became more intense as she took a few steps toward me, closing the distance. She stood right in front of me, her expression serious. “I really want Tatiana to be happy,” she said, her voice sincere. “Feel free to have your own opinions about me, but I’ve been carrying this guilt for years, Edeline.” Her eyes softened, showing a hint of relief.
“So, there was this one time when my sister...” She paused, her gaze distant. “Tatiana’s mother... I couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy towards her. I wanted to become a Luna, but I was consumed by dark powers. When Conor first met Cilla, he saw her as weak. He didn’t want to mark her until she became a warrior through training. She became really strong, but what Tatiana said about the letter she left was actually true. Cilla was upset. Conor was overwhelmed by the women in his chambers. I was one of them. I wanted her place so badly. I tried everything to conceive, but I was unable to have children. I was a seer and healer, dabbling with dark powers... and I would never have kids.” Her voice trailed off, lost in the weight of her memories while I remained frozen, absorbing her words.
“By the way, Cilla found out about our little fling...” Anita’s voice carried a note of bitterness. “She was deeply involved in training with Ben, which made her quite unhappy. Feeling overwhelmed by her own sadness, she started seeing Ben on the side. He showed her affection. They had a little surprise during her heat, and she got flustered. Even though she didn’t really like her partner, she decided to charm Conor so he wouldn’t suspect anything. Conor ended up completing her heat with her. When they found out she was pregnant, Conor decided to leave me and the other women on our own for a while.”
I could see the shadows of her past reflected in her eyes, a hint of similarity to my own mother’s struggles.
“When Tatiana was born, I felt a surge of jealousy,” Anita began, her voice trembling slightly as she recounted her past. “I hooked up with Conor again, just like he did with other girls. I wanted to get pregnant and have his mark to become Luna. I wasn’t really into him, but I was desperate for his approval.”