Chapter 16 ~The Shaman's Prophecy~
Fiona's POV
Yara sat at the edge of my bed as I recounted what I saw yesterday.
“So what you're saying is that a Lycan cursed him at birth?” Yara's eyebrows shot up.
“Yes, well, if I were to judge from what I saw in the trance.”
“And you said your wolf told you that you've unlocked some abilities. Maybe that's one of them.” Her eyes went unfocused in thought. “You probably were able to connect with him using the emotional empathy ability.”
She was right. “It was as if I was connecting deeply with him, and in the trance, his wolf was dying slowly from the curse. I don't know what this means.”
“Me too. But I'll speak with the shaman and see if I can get some books to explain it.”
“Thank you.” I said to Yara, meaning it.
In the past couple of days of my stay in Silvereign pack, I had somewhat formed a sisterly bond with Yara. We did most things together, and I discovered she was really cool, quite different from Cassia.
“So, I've been meaning to ask you something.” I spoke to her.
“Sure thing, Luna. What's the problem?”
“You know I go to Northvale High and recently I've been feeling very lonely. I was thinking if you could transfer from Evercrest…” I said, unsurely.
Yara laughed, her curly hair bouncing as she did. “Really? That's… I don't know what to say. I'll think about it, I guess.”
“I'd really appreciate it if you do.” I said, honestly.
Yara looked at the clock. “It's time for the council meeting.”
Oh shit, I almost forgot about that. “Do I really have to go?” I groaned. I don't know if I had it in me to deal with those crazy people.
“Come on, you're Luna," Yara had a 'what the fuck are you talking about?' look.
I guess there was no coming out of this.
(Xander's POV)
“I think there's something you should know.”
I had sent some spies on a mission to various packs to get information on any potential threat to Silvereign. This was actually Calvin's idea.
Apparently a few of them had returned from Ashridge packhouse the previous day with reports.
Calvin invited me to his house because there was something he thought I should know.
“Okay, I'm listening.”
“Luna was previously Alpha Beckett's mate whom he rejected.”
I didn't know this. “Really?”
“Yes, but that's not even the point. For some reason, he thinks he owns her…”
I scoffed, my anger rising.
“He sent a warning to return Luna, and the spies confirmed he has plans to come get her himself if we don't return her.”
“Return her, how? Is Fiona a commodity to be discarded and purchased at will?” This Beckett definitely is seriously delusional.
Calvin looked deep in thought.
“I'm planning to deploy more spies to their pack so that we can get firsthand information of their plans.”
That's a good idea, it would give us the upper hand. “Do that. Not only in Ashridge, but other packs as well.”
Calvin nodded. “Another thing we have to discuss is you.”
Me? “What about me?”
“The curse. I think we should see the new shaman. We have about an hour before the council meeting.”
“New shaman? What do you mean ‘new shaman’?” I was confused.
Calvin had an ‘are you kidding me?’ look. “The old shaman died, so we had to bring in a new one.”
I remembered the old man; he was the one who revealed the curse to me and told me my wolf was dying. I can't believe he's dead. “He's dead?”
“Yea… Who do y- why do you think he wasn't there during your bonding ceremony?” Calvin had a stupefied look.
I shrugged.
As we approach the shaman's house, the smell of incense and old spice hits my nose.
I cough a bit.
Calvin turns to look at me. “Sorry.”
This space was a quiet, secluded wing of the packhouse.
He rang the bell twice before the door opened and the shaman came out.
“Oh… Alpha Xander, Beta.. it's a pleasure having you here.” He opened his door wide. “Please, come in.”
I mindlink Calvin as we walk in. This place gives me the creeps.
Xander… everywhere gives you the creeps.
Soon we were settled down. The shaman sat on the floor.
The space had dim lighting, illuminated by warm yellow candles.
My eyes roved around on their own accord, observing the talisman and jars of herbs lined on the walls.
There were vials of potion and old scrolls and spell books on the shelves.
I spoke first as soon as we settled. “I came here for..”
“The curse.” The shaman cut me off, his eyes boring deeply into mine.
“Ye… yes.” I stutter, taken aback.
He continued. “You were cursed by a Lycan and your wolf has been dying ever since, but the mating bond has strengthened you a bit.”
“Yes, but I need to find out if I'm okay.”
The shaman nodded and moved into a ring made of ashes and salt. He sat cross-legged in the middle.
Candles flickered around the edges of the circle.
He glanced at me for a while. “My protective ring. It helps me channel magic safely.”
He explained.
This was the last thing he said before he entered a trance. His gaze blanked out, all white, like he was possessed.
We watched in curiosity for some minutes until he came to.
He looked alarmed, like he'd just seen something terrible.
Calvin stood up. “What's it? What did you see?”
“The Alpha was dead.”
“What do you mean?”
He looked calm by now. “Well… I saw Alpha Xander dead.”
I turned cold immediately. What the hell did this mean? “Is there a remedy?”
Calvin looked more alarmed than me. “Go back into the trance and see if there's something we can do to avert it.”
His eyes rolled back again as he spoke. “The mating bond is the remedy. Your life is in the hands of Luna.”
This was what he said before he returned.
I was even more confused. “What does this mean?”
He shrugged. “That's the only thing I'm allowed to reveal.”
I looked at Calvin. He shook his head.
“That's not all…there's something else.” The shaman glared at us.
“What?”
It was a long time before he spoke. His eyes carried the weight of a big news.
“A war is coming soon. A war big enough to break the Silvereign pack.”