Chapter 16: The Ice-crystal pack(2)
LUANA'S POV
The pups were brought before us in the general hall we had been taken to. There were guards on every corner, glaring at us.
“If anything goes wrong, you won't have to worry about going home, because you'll be food for my pack,” Alpha Raffaele said, his golden eyes fixated on us like a hawk.
I walked over to where the children lay. Thankfully, the poison hadn't spread through their entire bodies.
“Rimuovi e guarisci.”
I raised my hands above them and began to remove the poison. Their bodies glowed a light blue as it was drawn out.
Finally, it was done. The pups opened their eyes and sat up.
“Lilia! Lyra! Oh, my babies!”
A young woman rushed forward and swooped the children into her arms. She must be their mother—and the Luna of the pack.
“A golden witch. Ha! I never thought I'd live to see one.”
An elderly woman—probably in her late forties—stepped forward, approaching me. I could tell she was a witch.
“You've come a long way, child, and more adventures await you. The power you carry is immense. You must never let it get out of control, or it will lead to destruction.”
I had never heard this before—my powers getting out of control?
“Is she that powerful, Dahlia?” the Alpha asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Golden witches are very rare and powerful, which is why she was able to remove the poison while I couldn't.”
He nodded.
“Thank you for saving my children.”
“You're welcome, Your Majesty. Now, please, will you hear what we have to say?”
He hesitated, still glaring at Ric.
“Darling… please hear them out. She did save your children,” the mother of the pups spoke.
He thought for a moment, then turned his back on us.
“Follow me,” he said.
\~~~~~~~~
“Why should we trust your kind? Have you forgotten what the prophecy says?” Xaden, the Alpha’s beta, asked.
“Because I can wipe the existence of wolfsbane from the world,” Ric replied.
Xaden looked surprised. “Can you really do that?”
“Yes, I can.”
Xavier paced around the room.
“You have our word. We have no intention of letting the prophecy come to pass,” Harry said.
“Are you willing to go against your own people?” the Alpha asked, his dark hair rustling in the wind from the open window where he stood.
“Yes, I am,” Ric replied.
The two kings stared at each other, neither showing emotion, but understanding brewing between them.
“Alright, Demon King. Let’s see what you can do.”
He took a seat and crossed his legs, giving a nod to Xavier. Xavier left, only to return with Dahlia.
“I'll have her perform a location spell once you remove that plant from the face of the earth.”
“Already done,” Ric said.
Everyone was shocked.
Dahlia bent down and drew a circle on the floor with her fingers. The circle turned gold and began to pulsate.
“He’s telling the truth. I can't find a single trace of wolfsbane,” Dahlia said.
Harry turned to the Alpha.
“You can see we are telling the truth. Please, as the Head Alpha, we need you to inform the other packs that we mean no harm. We also wish to form an alliance with you.”
Xaden looked at the Alpha. Their eyes met—I was sure they were communicating through telepathy.
“I still don't trust you personally, Demon King, but you have my word. None of the werewolves will attack or harm you in any way. You have the pack’s support.”
Stefano let out a joyful cry.
Harry smiled.
I breathed out in relief.
“Thank you all for helping us,” Alpha Raffaele said.
Then he turned to me.
“It’s rare to see a witch helping a demon. You know what his kind did to your people, right?”
The contents of the book I read came flooding back to me.
“Yes, I do,” I answered.
“Then why do you still help them?”
“It’s… complicated,” I said.
“She’s bound to him,” Dahlia said, walking toward me and gently grabbing my arm. “The mark on her inner arm is a manifestation of a binding spell. She’s cursed to do his bidding.”
The Alpha’s eyes widened.
“How cruel,” he growled.
I could feel the tension in the air grow heavier.
“He’ll release me from the bond once I’m done helping him.”
“And you trust him?” Alpha Raffaele asked, raising a brow.
I think I can trust him. He’s making an effort to change.
“Yes… I do.”
The Alpha inhaled.
“Very well. You are welcome to stay with us for today.
Arrangements will be made. Tomorrow, you may leave.”
“We accept your hospitality, sire,” Harry said, bowing.
The Alpha nodded, took one last look at Ric, and left.
\~~~~~~~~~
“Hey… are you alright?” I asked softly as I stepped into Ric’s room.
For the past few days, I had been giving him space after the pool incident. I was confused, I certainly didn't hate him anymore, but I wasn't sure if I liked him either.
We had agreed to be friends. Just friends.
What happened at the pool… we blamed it on getting caught up in the moment.
And when I’m finally free from the binding spell, we’ll go back to who we used to be.
Strangers.
“Not really,” he said.
He didn’t turn to look at me.
He stood by the window, his back facing me, the wind slipping through the curtains and brushing against his dark hair.
“The Alpha thinks I’m a monster,” he continued, his voice calm—too calm. “And he’s not wrong.”
Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten.
“Well… then prove him wrong,” I said, taking a step closer. “You’re already trying. That counts for something. Just don’t go back on your word.”
Silence.
Then slowly… he laughed.
Soft. Low. Bitter.
“You shouldn't trust people easily Luana, especially a demon”.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Was he thinking of going back on the deal with the werewolves?
He turned.
And for a second… I couldn’t breathe.
His eyes… They were glowing red. The same shade they were when he was in his primal form