The Real Enemy

The Real Enemy
Elara's POV

Pain shot through my head like lightning as Sabrina's magic slammed into me.
I hit the wall hard, my vision going fuzzy as purple light danced around Sabrina's fingers. She wasn't even trying to hide what she was anymore - her eyes glowed with witch magic, and shadows moved around her like living things.
"You shouldn't have been listening, little omega," she said, walking toward me slowly. "Now I'll have to speed up my plans."
I tried to run, but my legs felt like they were made of stone. Whatever spell she'd put on me earlier was getting stronger, making it hard to think clearly.
"Don't fight it," Sabrina said sweetly. "The magic will hurt less if you just give in."
But I wasn't going to give up. Not when Alaric's life was in danger. Not when she wanted to use me to hurt innocent people.
I took a deep breath and did something I'd never tried before. I reached for that warm feeling inside me - the one that had been getting stronger since I came to the Royal Kingdom. The feeling that told me I was more than just an omega.
Light burst from my hands, bright silver light that made Sabrina stumble backward with a hiss.
"Impossible," she snarled. "The curse should be stopping your power!"
I didn't wait to hear more. I ran as fast as I could, my bare feet slapping against the cold floor. Behind me, I could hear Sabrina screaming, but I didn't look back.
I burst into the spare room where Alaric was sleeping. "Alaric! Wake up! We're in danger!"
His eyes snapped open instantly, and he was on his feet before I could blink. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
"Sabrina," I gasped, trying to catch my breath. "She's not what we thought. She's a witch, and she's working with other witches, and they want to control me, and-"
"Slow down," Alaric said gently, putting his hands on my shoulders. "Tell me everything."
So I did. I told him about the voices I'd heard, about the mirror and the old woman, about Sabrina's plan to turn me into a weapon. With every word, Alaric's face got darker and more angry.
"Those witches," he said when I finished. His voice was quiet, but I could hear the anger underneath. "I should have known."
"Known what?"
Alaric sat down heavily on the bed, running his hands through his hair. "Elara, there's something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you before."
My heart started racing again. "What is it?"
"Those witches Sabrina was talking to - they're likely the same ones who cursed you as a baby."
I felt like someone had hit me in the stomach. "What do you mean, cursed me as a baby?"
"You were born a Luna Priestess," Alaric explained. "One of the most powerful types of werewolves that exist. But when you were just a few days old, a group of dark witches put a curse on you to hide your true nature."
"But why? Why would they do that to a baby?"
"Because they were afraid of what you would become," he said. "Luna Priestesses have the power to destroy dark magic totally. If you had grown up knowing what you were, you would have been their biggest enemy."
I sank down onto the chair, my mind spinning. "So they made me think I was an omega instead?"
"The curse was supposed to keep your power hidden forever," Alaric nodded. "But spells like that don't last forever, especially when the person gets older and stronger. They must have sensed your power starting to return and sent Sabrina to find you."
"That's why she came to our pack," I whispered. "Not to be with Kaiden, but to get close to me."
"Exactly. And now that your power is rising, they want to control it before you learn how to use it properly."
I thought about the silver light that had come from my hands when I fought Sabrina. "Is that what happened earlier? When I made that light?"
"Yes," Alaric said, and for the first time since I'd known him, he looked worried. "Your true power is starting to break through the curse. But Elara, if they get hold of you before you're fully awakened..."
"They'll be able to use my power to hurt people," I ended.
"Not just hurt people. They'll be able to control every werewolf pack in existence. Luna Priestess power is that strong."
I felt sick. All this time, I'd thought I was nothing special. Just a rejected omega who got lucky when Alaric saved me. But now I found out I was some kind of super-powerful monster that evil witches wanted to control.
"What about the sick wolves?" I asked suddenly. "Sabrina said something about the pack getting weaker."
Alaric's eyes widened. "The curse on the pack - it's not just to make Kaiden weak. It's to make everyone here weak so they can't guard you when the witches come."
"They're coming here?"
"They have to. Now that your power is awakening, they'll want to finish their spell as quickly as possible." Alaric stood up and started moving. "We need to get you out of here. Back to my land where you'll be safe."
"What about everyone else? What about Kaiden and the other pack members?"
"Elara, I know you want to help them, but-"
A loud crash came from somewhere in the pack house, followed by screaming. We both froze.
"They're here," Alaric said sadly. "The witches are here."
Another crash, closer this time. Then I heard Sabrina's voice, but it sounded different now - older and more powerful.
"Come out, come out, little priestess," she called in a sing-song voice that made my skin crawl. "It's time to fulfill your destiny."
Alaric grabbed his sword and positioned himself between me and the door. "Stay behind me. Whatever happens, don't let them touch you."
But even as he said it, I could hear more voices joining Sabrina's. How many witches were there? And how were we going to fight them all?
The door to our room suddenly burst open, but it wasn't Sabrina who walked in.
It was Kaiden, and his eyes were sparkling with the same purple light as Sabrina's had been.
"Hello, Elara," he said in a voice that wasn't quite his own. "The coven would like to have a word with you."
Behind him, I could see other pack members walking down the hallway, all with the same bright eyes. The witches weren't just here to take me.
They had already taken control of everyone else.