Chapter 23: 23. WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU MESS WITH A PRINCESS AND A LUNA

JAYDA

I twisted the door knob open and entered my house. All I wanted to do was to get some rest. As soon as I shut the door behind me, the sight that unfolded before me made my eyes widen.

The house was in an unruly state, shattered glass littered all over the floor which I assumed was the remnants of my mirror.

My clothes were torn and sprawled all over the place, the walls had streaks of red paint. I walked over to the bathroom and opened the door, the pipes were broken and water was logged everywhere.

The rug was soaked, I raised my head and took in the view of my broken racks. Who could have done something so obnoxious.

“Stay in your lane” were the words etched onto the door, most likely scratched onto the surface with a sharp object.

“Cassandra” I muttered to myself. My house was a mess, I had no idea how to or where to start from.

Feathers from my pillow were scattered everywhere foam from my mattress exposed. The psychopath broke almost everything in her sight.

I spun around, yanking the door open. Cassandra had tried some stupid things before, but invading my private space and turning it into an eyesore had broken the camel's back.

Cassandra was the only one in this pack crazy enough to do something like this, coupled with the fact that she hated me. She was practically the only enemy I had in this place.

I banged the door shut behind me and stormed off to her house. I quickened my pace as my anger intensified.

If she thinks she's crazy, she's about to meet the real meaning of crazy. I've had enough of her shenanigans.

It wasn't long before I arrived at her place. With a sharp grunt, I drove my foot into the door, making it shudder as the hinges gave way.

A loud thud reverberated as the door fell flat. Cassandra instantly flinched, a gasp escaping from her lips as she stared at me.

Her eyes widened in pure horror as she fixed her gaze on me. "What the fuck?!" She yelled at me.

“You bitch!’ I shrieked, lunging forward at her.

She jumped, but she wasn't fast enough, my fists had already connected with her cheeks. A soft crunch met my ears and I felt relieved.

God knows how long I've wanted to punch the daylights out of Cassandra. She winced in pain as the force of my blow sent her crashing into her night stand.

She jumped on her feet, cursing under her breath as she returned the blow. I felt a sharp pain radiate around my lower jaw.

I narrowed my eyes and zeroed in on her, I extended my claws and took a quick swing, she managed to dodge the attack by stepping aside, my claws missing its mark by mere inches.

But I countered by pulling my elbows back, ramming them into her sides. The impact moved her sideways with a grunt.

She grabbed a chair, raising it above her head to slam it against my back, but I was quicker. I dove into her, my shoulders slamming into her torso.

We toppled over to the ground and then began to tumble. We grappled with each other for a while until I was on top.

I swung my claws at her, digging into her flesh and leaving marks all over her skin.

“I'm sick and tired of you!” I delivered yet again another blow. “I'm tired of your dirty tricks!” I added, feeling short of breath.”

She tried to evade my hits, attempting to shield her face with her hands.

I was blinded by my pent up rage as I continued my onslaught on her. “You tried to kill me, you poisoned Daemon's sister mind against me, you're always trying to make me look bad but I ignored it all, but this?” I yelled, using all the force I could muster to pummel her.

She finally managed to kick me, sending me backwards. Her claws grazed the skin on my shoulders, making me grunt in pain as she rose to her feet.

She tried to rest her weight on the table, using it as a support but I quickly swept her feet off the ground with a well calculated kick to the calfs.

She dropped with a thud, the air in her lungs forcefully expelled as she let out a short breath. “You're going to regret messing with me” I said through gritted teeth as I grabbed her by the neck and launched her forward.

She crashed against her table, toppling over the items she'd arranged on it. Her back hit the mirror and then a big crack formed on it.

She sought the table in search of a solid object and wrapped her hands around a jar. She hurled it towards me but luckily I swerved away from its trajectory.

It shattered against the wall behind me. I looked up at her, my chest heaving as the metallic tang of blood kissed my tongue.

I wiped the excess blood oozing from my busted lip off with my sleeves.

“You evil witch, you think I fo not know what you did with my mate?” she croaked, coughing blood. She was covered in scars and was evidently weak. Bruises adorned her face, leaking with blood.

“Takes one to know one” I spat, slowly backing away. She could barely move and as much as I wanted to make sure I broke all her bones and ripped out her throat, I couldn't.

I couldn't take a life just like that, more importantly, I couldn't kill the Luna.

I turned around and exited her house, shutting the door behind me. So long as she stopped the bleeding and got some rest, she should be fine.

It was already nearing evening, even though the sun was still out. Right now, I need to rest, I would worry about cleaning up later.

I was still trudging home when I heard something. I froze, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. It was a scream, a masculine one.

I whipped my head sideways as another scream emanated from that direction.

“Ignore it” Dove, my wolf said.

I had to hold back the urge to roll my eyes, “You're always quiet when I actually need your help”

“Might be a trap" She added.

“Or might be someone in danger” I replied

“Suit yourself” Dove declared with a sassy finality in her tone.

Ignoring her warning, I approached the sound. It sounded like somebody was in danger and I couldn't just ignore it.

I parted the thicket with my hands, peering at the scenery before me. My breath hitched.

“The elders” I whispered. The four elders of the Alpha’s council were cornered. Pure terror etched into their expression.

I followed their gaze and it landed on a creature, one unlike anything I've ever seen before.

It was a scorpion, an abnormally large one. It stood almost at the same height with the elders, its barb raised above their heads, ready to strike.

This must be what had been attacking people and causing this strange illness. I suddenly remembered the scroll Daemon handed to me when he summoned me to his throne room, it had depictions of a scorpion, a strange one.

Something about its presence made my hairs rise, I picked on a faint humming sound. I took in a deep slow breath, I could sense the dark energy hovering over it. The dark cloud spreading through its being as it posed to sting.

It was a mind control spell, it was being manipulated by someone, a witch. I quickly raised my head, my senses heightened.

“Help us!” one of the elders screamed, his tone laced with desperation as his eyes met with mine.

I swallowed, unsure of what to do, they were petrified and the scorpion was about to strike.

My heart was racing, I could feel sweat precipitating on my forehead. There was nothing I could do, unless…

No. I couldn't use magic.

“You let the boy die, are you going to let them die too?” Dove sounded in my head.

The beast was about to deliver the fatal blow when I sprang out of the thicket

The familiar warmth of magic spread beneath my palms as I mumbled a spell. My whispers, carried by the wind materialized into a magical flare of energy which I directed with coordinated hand movements towards the scorpion.

It immediately froze, remaining immobile on the spot. It was a freeze spell, the quickest way I could think of stopping it. They blinked, looking between me and the creature.

“Witch!” A feminine voice screeched.

The other three took to their heels and while she slowly backed away.

“Wait, it's not what you-” as I tried to approach, she flinched and bolted along with the others.

I sighed.

“They fear what they do not understand” Dove's voice rang.

The freeze spell would soon wear off so I had to act fast. I extended my hands, harnessing the magic energy coursing through my veins.

With another spell, I caused the scorpion to hit the nearest tree, making it's body break, I tossed back into the woods hoping my final blow had killed it.

I left the scene and turned around, now I had to face my second problem, the elders and the fact that they saw me use my powers.