Chapter 61 - Decay

The silence in the room was suffocating. It felt like the air had gotten thicker as I struggled to breathe. The look in Blake’s eyes made my guts clench.

How was this even possible?!

“Bla-... Blake, babe, I don’t know.” I stuttered.

Blake’s arms loosened around me, making my heart sink. Did he really think I would cheat on him?!

Blake moved across the room in a flash, grabbing Max by the neck and pinning him to the wall.

“What did you do?!” Blake growled loudly. His voice was laced with so much venom; it raised goosebumps all over my body.

Max gagged and clawed on Blake’s hands, trying to loosen his hands.

Nate and Rocky ran towards the brothers. Rocky grabbed Blake, trying to pull him away while Nate tried to loosen Blake’s fingers.

“Blake, stop it! He’s just as sterile as you are.” Nate yelled at his son.

“I don’t care! I know he has got something to do with this. It’s got his name written all over it,” Blake growled. He started to shake viciously.

“Wh-... I -... Sto-... Stop” Max pushed against Blake’s grasp.

“Blake, let him go! You’re going to kill him!” Sue yelled. She was standing at the foot of the bed.

I was shaking from fear.

*Had Max really done something?! I had always known the difference between him and Blake. Besides, Nate just said Max was sterile too. So how was this pregnancy possible?!*

“Blake! STOP NOW!” Dwayne growled as he walked into the room. I hadn’t noticed him leave the room.

Dwayne walked over to the boys, and with one push, he separated them.

*Fuck! Dwayne was strong?!*

“You two should be ashamed of yourselves. Is this how brothers act?! I know you both have your issues, but right now isn’t the time to be fighting. It’s about finding out how this has happened. Now, you two either behave, or I will kick you out.” Dwayne huffed and straightened his jacket.

Nate was holding on to Max, and Rocky had a firm grasp on Blake’s arms.

Once they had settled down, Dwayne walked over to me and sat on the chair next to the bed.

“I know this is all very overwhelming, Rosalie. Especially after the week you’ve had. However, we do need to figure out how this has happened. I have called for the coven. If there is some kind of magic involved, they will find it.” I could see a hint of uncertainty in Dwayne’s eyes too.

*Did they all think I cheated?!*

“I didn’t cheat on Blake. I would never. I love him. I love him so much that I can tell the difference between him and Max. I didn’t betray his love,” I blurted out in one breathe.

*I didn’t even know why I had to defend myself.*

“Oh, sweetheart, no one doubts your commitment to Blake. We are just shocked with this news.” Sue walked over and gave me a side hug.

“I’m sure there is a logical explanation. But, for now, sit tight. No one leaves the room until the coven gets here—especially you, Max. As much as I understand you have good intentions for Rosy, you are the only one that will benefit from this. So, you have one last chance to fess up because if the coven finds even the smallest evidence, you are involved. I will not stop Blake from ripping you apart.” Dwayne looked over his shoulder towards his grandson, who was rubbing his neck. Bright red marks were running along his neck, where Blake’s hands had a tight grasp.

“I didn’t do shit! I want to destroy Blake, not Rosy. I haven’t been near her with my dick or my magic,” Max spat.

I couldn’t even look at Max. The thought of him using his looks to sleep with me made me sick.

I looked down at my fingers and held my breath, trying to hold back my tears.

A pair of warm hands wrapped around my shoulders, giving them a little squeeze.

I looked up to find Blake standing behind me. His eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t decipher.

“I’m sorry, Angel. For a second there, I doubted you. I’m an asshole for even thinking that you would cheat on me. I’m so sorry,” Blake whispered as he hung his head.

I grabbed him and pulled him close, hugging him tightly.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, I swear.” I sobbed as I pressed my face against Blake’s stomach.

Blake hugged me back and rubbed my back.

“Maybe we can help,” came a thick, raspy voice echoed through the room.

I turned around, wiping the tears off my face.

There, at the doorway, stood six people. Three females and three males.

They were all dressed differently, either in a suit, casual jeans, and a t-shirt or in something that came out of a witch show. They were all different ages too. The youngest looked like he was the same age as Blake.

“We’ve been told the King needed our assistance. So we came as fast as we could.” Finally, the guy in the middle spoke. He looked like he was as old as Dwayne.

“Warlock Klaus. Thank you for coming at my request.” Dwayne walked over to them and shook Klaus’s hand.

“Of course, Alpha Dwayne. It’s our duty. May I ask why he is here?” Klaus pointed in Max’s direction. His eyes stayed fixed in Dwayne.

“Unfortunately, there is a possibility he is the reason for the issue we are having,” Dwayne grumbled and rolled his eyes.

Max really was testing everyone’s patience now.

“Sounds accurate. Max has been the reason for many of the problems we’ve had.” Klaus sounded bitter.

I looked over at Max. He was casually leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone. He didn’t seem phased at all by Klaus’s question or Dwayne’s answer.

I thought Max had said his training to be a warlock was consensual by all parties. Did he lie?!

“This is our Luna?” Klaus spoke as he looked in my direction.

“Yes, she is. A Doctors report is saying she’s pregnant. However, she and Blake haven’t finished their mating. Therefore, Blake is still sterile. We know Rosy hasn’t done anything wrong, but we want to know how this is possible,” Dwayne explained as they walked towards me.

They all stopped in front of the bed and looked at me.

“Luna, my name is Klaus. I am the Head of the Coven. You understand what that is?” he bowed a little and smiled at me.

“Group of witches?” I replied. Blake has used that term earlier when we were talking about the curse.

“Correct. This is Sara, Mia, Kendyl, Elijah, and Benji. We are all descendants of the original Salem Witches. Each of us has a unique ability, and together, we can be very dangerous.” Klaus snickered the last part.

I had read about the original Salem witches and the Salem witch trials when I was in high school. It was part of a history project I did.

“Sara,” Klaus commanded.

Sara nodded and walked over to me, sitting on the edge of the bed near my feet.

“Is it okay if I feel your stomach?” she asked, extending her hands.

I looked up at Blake. He nodded, and I started to lift my shirt.

“Lay back down, Luna,” she commanded, and I leaned back until my back hit the bed.

Sara put her hands on my lower stomach and closed her eyes. I watched as her lips moved. She looked like she was talking to herself.

“What’s she doing?” I whispered up at Blake.

“She’s just trying to find an aura. Sara can channel other people’s aura through her. If there is a baby, she will find a second aura inside you.” Blake whispered back.

He was holding my hand, drawing circles on the back with his thumb.

“There’s nothing,” she finally spoke, opening her eyes and looking at me.

“She’s not pregnant.”

Relief washed over me. Behind me, I felt Blake relax as he let go of the breath I knew he was holding on to.

“Then why does the report say she’s pregnant?” Nate questioned.

All eyes turned towards the doctor, who was still in the room.

He looked confused and flustered under the questioning glares he was getting.

The doctor opened the file in his hand and started shuffling some papers.

“Th-... the report says-... it says positive,” he stuttered.

“Are you sure about that doctor?” The guy Klaus introduced as Elijah spoke.

He took a couple of steps forward and raised his hand. Just like Sara, his lips moved too.

“The doctor has a darkness hovering,” he revealed.

“Can you lift it?” Klaus asked, turning more towards the doctor.

Elijah nodded before raising both hands.

There was a slight breeze in the room, and the furniture started to shake gently. This time, Elijah spoke louder. He was saying the exact words over and over again, chanting.

The breeze picked up, and the air got thicker. The atmosphere felt like the beginning of a storm.

The doctor’s eyes rolled back, and he fell to the floor, spasming like he was having a fit. Elijah’s chanting got louder and faster. It was starting to scare me a little.

The papers in his hands flew across the room and scattered all over the floor. Sue walked over and picked them up, examining them.

“The report says negative.” she read out loud.

*What?! What the hell was going on?! Why did the doctor say positive?*

Elijah’s chanting slowed, and the breeze settled, everything suddenly calm.

On the floor, the doctor had stopped spasming. His limb body just lay on the floor.

It felt like hours had gone by before the doctor started to twitch. The doc gasped loudly and coughed, trying to sit up.

“That should do it,” Elijah commented before turning and calmly walking away.

Rocky helped the doctor stand up and handed him a glass of water.

“How are you feeling now, doctor?” Klaus snickered.

“I feel fine. What happened?!” The doctor looked around, confusion still lingering on his face.

Sue walked up to him and handed him the reports.

“Could you please read the pregnancy report for us?” She asked.

The doctor nodded and read the sheet of paper before clearing his throat.

“It says the test is negative.”

I couldn’t explain how happy I was. Even though I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, I needed everyone to believe me.

“The dark magic I just lifted originated here in the hospital. There’s only one warlock here at the hospital that could have done it,” Elijah advised.

Everyone immediately turned towards Max. However, the wall he was leaning against was empty.

*He was gone*

This time, I was filled with betrayal. He lied to me. He lied about not wanting to hurt me, about wanting to be my friend, about wanting to protect me.

Blake was right all along. Max was untrustworthy. He only cared about himself.

I cursed myself for ever offering to be his friend, for ever thinking there was some good in him.

“There is another problem.” Elijah interrupted my thoughts.

“Benji, do you feel it?” Elijah asked his coven member.

Benji nodded and looked directly at me.

“It’s coming from her, isn’t it?” He observed.

“What’s coming from her?” Klaus asked.

The man exchanged a look but stayed quiet.

“Spit it out! What’s going on with my mate?!” Blake suddenly barked, making me jump.

The coven took a step back and slightly bowed.

“Boys, what’s going on?” Klaus commanded.

“There’s more dark magic hovering. This time it’s hovering over Luna. It’s easy to miss it if other spells are present, but since I’ve just lifted a spell, Luna’s darkness has shown itself” Elijah kept his voice steady, but I could hear the slight irritation.

“This darkness, it’s not the kind someone like Max could come up with. It’s debatable, but we call it a suppressant. It’s a unique spell, and with how powerful its energy is, someone very powerful and ancient cast it. All I can say is whoever cast the spell; they were trying to make sure the secrets your mate is hosting stays concealed,” Benji explained.

“What?! So you’re saying that there’s something in me that’s being suppressed?! Why?! Oh my god, is it the curse?!” I exclaimed, looking up at Blake.

Were Morris’s claims true?! Was I cursed?!

“It’s not a curse. It’s definitely a suppressant. A curse would radiant a different energy than what’s coming off you, Luna. Are you fully human? Do you have any connections to the supernatural world?” The girl Klaus pointed out as Kendyl asked.

“She’s half-werewolf. Her father, Richard Waltz, is the son of Alpha Morris Waltz. Rosy was conceived outside his mating. His mate Theresa and son Rocky are here” Blake pointed towards the mother and son.

“Morris turned up at the son’s funeral claiming Rosy’s existence had triggered a curse that was placed on the Waltz generations ago. If you can’t sense a curse, then where is this suppressant coming from?”

“We will have to do some research, King Cooper. But there is definitely some dark magic inside the Luna. In my experience, such suppressants are a ticking time bomb. Once the spell has outlived its lifespan, it starts to decay. By that, I mean decay of the host body. That’s when the problems start,” Klaus explained.

*My body will start to decay?! What the fuck?! They were joking, right?!*

“That explains why the dark magic has started to show. The spell has outlived its lifespan. Times up,” Elijah gulped.

*Oh lord?! Was I going to die?!*