Twenty five

I took a deep breath as I entered the office building. It felt like everyone was avoiding me. The secretary, who used to be friendly and offer me coffee every morning, now seemed like my arch enemy. The only person who still treated me normally was Tyler. I didn't understand what was going on, but I didn't want to ask and risk sounding childish. So, I kept quiet and tried to focus on my work.

But one day, everything came to a head. I got into a fight with one of the girls at the office who had always been jealous of my relationship with Tyler. Despite my attempts to convince her that there was nothing between Tyler and me, she wouldn't believe me. While I was in the bathroom, she smudged lipstick nastily on my bag. When I came out and discovered what she had done, we were alone in the room. I confronted her, and in a fit of rage, she shoved me roughly, calling me a witch.

Anger surged through me, and I charged at her. It was in that moment that she morphed into a wolf, exposing me to her true nature. Terrified and without knowing what to do, I unleashed a burst of fire, and she burned to death on the spot. I stood there, stunned and confused, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Another worker walked in, saw the lifeless, half-burnt woman, and immediately rushed out to call the others.

Soon, chaos ensued as people started calling me a witch and hurling all sorts of names at me. I was having a breakdown, feeling scared, confused, and overwhelmed by everything. Tears streamed down my face, and if it weren't for Lucian swooping in, wrapping his jacket around me, and guiding me to his car, I don't know what I would have done.

As we drove away from the office, questions filled my mind. Why was everyone treating me this way? I thought I had done nothing wrong, but clearly, they saw me as a danger. I wondered what would happen to me now that I had revealed my abilities. Would they try to kill me? Imprison me? Or worse, would they experiment on me?

Lucian drove with a worried expression, stealing glances at me from time to time. Finally, he spoke up, his voice laced with concern. "We need to talk, Ruby. There are some things you need to know."

I looked at him, my voice trembling as I asked, "What things?"

Lucian took a deep breath, preparing himself. "Ruby, you're not what you think you are. And now that the council knows, they will be after you."

Shock washed over me as I stared at Lucian in disbelief. "What do you mean?" I managed to utter, feeling scared and utterly confused.

Lucian sighed, searching for the right words. "You're not entirely human, Ruby. You're a witch, and a powerful one at that. The council believes that the mixing of witches and werewolves should never happen, and they will do everything in their power to get rid of you."

My heart sank, and a feeling of isolation consumed me. I had no idea I was a witch, let alone what to do now that I knew. "What am I supposed to do?" I asked, my voice filled with a mix of fear and overwhelming emotions.

Lucian looked at me with a deep, unwavering gaze. "We need to find a way to protect you. But first, we need to get you out of here."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. I was scared and alone, unsure of what the future held for me. However, I trusted Lucian

and knew that I had to rely on him. As we drove away, my mind raced with thoughts of what was to come.

Lucian sped out of the parking lot, heading towards a safe place where we could talk. I remained silent throughout the drive, tears streaming down my face as I tried to process the shocking turn my life had taken. I had never felt so alone and scared before.

After a few minutes, Lucian pulled into an abandoned parking lot and turned off the engine. He turned to face me, his expression grave.

"Ruby," he began, his voice gentle yet serious, "I need you to listen to me carefully."

Sniffling, I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Taking a deep breath, Lucian continued, "The truth is, Ruby, you're not entirely human. You're a witch."

My eyes widened in shock as I stared at Lucian. "A witch?" I repeated, barely above a whisper.

Lucian nodded, his gaze steady. "Yes, and not just any witch. You come from a powerful bloodline, one that has been hunted by werewolves for centuries."

My mind spun as I tried to comprehend this newfound information. I had always sensed that I was different, but I never expected to discover that I was a witch. And now, to learn that I belonged to a bloodline targeted by werewolves—it was almost too much to bear.

"But why?" I managed to ask, my voice barely audible.

Lucian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's a long story, Ruby. But essentially, werewolves and witches have been at odds for centuries. It's a deeply ingrained animosity."

Slowly, I nodded, still struggling to process everything. "So, that's why the council wants me gone," I murmured, my voice tinged with a mix of fear and realization.

Lucian nodded somberly. "Yes, they see you as a threat, Ruby. And unfortunately, they're not the only ones."

Confusion furrowed my brow as I looked at Lucian. "What do you mean?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.

Lucian hesitated for a moment before speaking. "There are other werewolf packs out there who would stop at nothing to get their hands on a witch like you. They see it as an opportunity to gain power and control."

Horror surged through me, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. "So, I'm in danger?" I whispered, the weight of the situation sinking in.

Lucian nodded, his voice firm. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. And that's why we need to get you out of here, now."

I stared at him, my heart pounding with fear. I had never imagined that my life could be in danger like this. And now, I felt completely lost.

"What do I do?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Reaching over, Lucian took my hand in his, his touch providing a small measure of reassurance. "Don't worry, Ruby. I'll protect you. We'll find a way to keep you safe, no matter what."

I looked into his eyes, gratitude filling me as I clung to his words. I had never felt so scared and alone in my life, but somehow, with Lucian by my side, I believed that everything would be okay.

Just then, the sound of tires screeching outside broke the silence. Lucian's expression turned serious as he reached for his gun.

"Stay here," he commanded, his voice low. "I'll be back in a minute."

Nodding, my

heart racing, I watched him get out of the car and vanish into the darkness. Uncertainty gnawed at me, but I couldn't just sit there and wait.

Driven by a mixture of fear and determination, I opened the car door and stepped out into the chilly night air. The darkness enveloped me as I surveyed my surroundings, trying to make sense of the situation. Faint footsteps echoed in the distance, urging me to proceed with caution.

As I cautiously moved towards the sound, Lucian emerged from the shadows, his gun ready in his hand.

"Lucian!" I called out, relief flooding through me at the sight of him.

He turned to face me, his expression tense. "Ruby, what are you doing out here? It's not safe."

"I know, but I can't just sit here and do nothing," I replied, my voice filled with determination.

Understanding my frustration, Lucian nodded. "Okay, but you need to stay close to me, understand?"

I nodded, and together we advanced towards the source of the noise. As we drew nearer, I discerned a group of people standing in the darkness, their features obscured.

"What's happening?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"I'm not sure," Lucian replied, his grip on his gun tightening. "But we need to be prepared for anything."

Approaching the group, I could now discern that they were werewolves. A chill ran down my spine, realizing that they weren't here for a friendly encounter.

One of the werewolves stepped forward, his eyes fixed on me. "Well, well, well," he sneered, his voice low and menacing. "What do we have here?"

Lucian stepped forward, his gun aimed at the werewolf's head. "Back off," he warned.

The werewolf laughed mockingly. "You think that puny gun is going to stop us? We have more men and firepower than you can imagine."

Fear surged within me as I realized we were outnumbered and outgunned. But I refused to back down.

"We're not afraid of you," I stated, my voice strong and unwavering.

The werewolf's sneer deepened. "You should be. You're a witch, and you possess something we desire."

Glancing at Lucian for guidance, I found myself at a loss. Trapped and surrounded, I knew that we couldn't fight our way out of this situation.

Suddenly, a peculiar sensation stirred within me, an electric surge of energy. Without thinking, I raised my hand, and a ball of fire materialized in my palm.

The werewolves recoiled, their eyes widening in fear. I felt an overwhelming power coursing through me as I faced them, ready for whatever came next.

But then, in an instant, everything went black.