Saying today was the longest day of my life wouldn't be wrong. The clock was ticking so slowly, like someone had frozen time. There was no sign of the Oracle, witches, or any suspicious thing. It all felt so normal.
I had not slept the whole night, thinking about every scenario, playing every outcome of our meeting tonight. The talisman had already stopped working, which only added fuel to the fire. I haven't talked about it to anybody. Not even Diana.
Today was the blood moon, and all of us were getting anxious. Nobody showed it on their faces, but I could feel it through the link. I could feel my powers weakened, but surprisingly it was much less compared to the other she-wolves of our pack.
"Okay, pack, line up," I commanded in the alpha voice. All the warriors assembled in three rows. One with the betas and omegas of our packs, one consisted of the she-wolves, and the other was comprised of trainees.
August walked beside me and stood straight before the warriors.
"Today, we will concentrate on one-to-one combat," he said, and I swear I saw a ghost of a smile on his face. He was the best man in the room when we talked about one-to-one combat, both in hands and in wolf form.
I mirrored his smile and moved aside to give him more space. He enjoyed being in the spotlight.
"Now, anyone who wants to volunteer?" August asked arrogantly. After a momentary silence, Asher walked from the crowd. He looked behind me. I matched his line only to see the ocean blue eyes of my mate. He was seeking approval. Reed nodded slightly.
Asher stood straight, giving nothing away, flexing his arms and warming up. Both stood silently, trying to gauge each other's first move. I had not seen Asher fight, but I could already tell he was one of the best warriors of Reed’s. But August had the alpha blood. I would still bet on my brother.
I closed the door behind me and entered my bedroom. I quickly peeled off my clothes. I needed a good hot shower. With that, I entered the bathroom and turned the shower on. Immediately my muscles relaxed with the contact of the hot water. It was much needed. After half an hour, I left the bathroom unwillingly.
I wrapped the towel over my body and exited the bathroom. Surprisingly, the lights were switched off. I don't remember turning them off. I switched the lights on, and there it was. Another letter was beautifully placed in the middle of my bed. Fuck, they have to stop doing this. It was getting creepy now.
Why does all this have to be so dramatic, my wolf scowled. Before I opened the letter, I poured some water into a glass and put it alongside my bed. By now, I knew the letter would probably catch fire after I finished reading it, so why not prepare for it. I don't want my room messier than it already was.
I shook my head and opened the letter anyway.
Esma,
We are pretty similar in some ways or another. Ms. Rockwood or wannabe Mrs. Xander. I have a little riddle for you:
When the sun sets and the moon shines eight times brighter, the leaves sing to the beast.
Ask the winds where to find me.
Solve it, and you will know where to find me. I am seriously hoping you won't disappoint me.
Hecate.
As soon I finished reading the letter, I put it inside the glass before it caught fire. Smart me.
It was fifteen past seven. I stared at the letter for some time before wearing some clothes and sprinting outside the house in the direction of the forest, ensuring nobody had seen me or followed me. I knew exactly where to find her.
I transformed back into my human form when reaching the desired place and wore the clothes. I checked my phone; I still had five minutes.
"When the sun sets and the moon shines eight times brighter."
It was the only place from where we could watch the sunset. I was on the top hill of the forest. I usually came here when I was young. I was not surprised that Hecate knew it was one of my favorite hangout spots at one time.
Suddenly the wind changed, growing more frequent and stronger. The earth beneath my feet shook, and I checked the time on my phone. The screen brightened and showed eight. "The moon shines eight times brighter". I am pretty sure I have reached the right place.
Everything stopped. An ear-deafening silence stretched in the forest. My wolf was more anxious, trying to look for the danger.
Suddenly, out of the blue, five hooded figures emerged and started walking towards me. They were guarded under their cloaks and slowly walking in my direction. They had a very dangerous aura leaking from their bodies. All of them looked the same, merely of the same height, same posture, like evil sisters of Satan or something. My wolf was on the surface. I was scared but tried my best not to show it on the surface.
The blood moon had already weakened me. My strength and senses were already deteriorating. I had to keep my guard up, or it would be my last day.
They stopped a few feet apart, and one of them walked towards me. She stood before me and lifted her cloak to reveal herself to be a young girl no more than my age. Her eyes were a beautiful contrast of silver and black. Her jet-black hair made her eyes more vibrant.
She was the same girl who delivered me the letter in the meeting. She was the one who killed Casper, the beta of Dumeny.
"Esma," she regarded me and stretched her hand to shake. She sure carried some aura, but still, for some reason, my eyes stuck to the hooded figure standing in the middle.
I could feel her eyes burning holes in me. She was giving me an eerie feeling. My sole attention was on her, and for some reason, I could tell she was smiling behind her cloak. I kept my eyes on her. The girl near me walked back to her position. I was sure she wasn't happy with the attention I gave her.
The hooded figure in the middle nodded to the girls, and they turned their backs. She walked toward me painfully slow and put her cloak back to reveal herself. Every hair on my neck straightened.
She was the opposite of what I had thought. I was prepared for some old hairy wrinkly witch, not some hot-shot-ready-to-catwalk-on-the-ramp witch. She smirked as if satisfied with my reaction but didn't say anything. Her eyes were the same replica of the girl's who I just saw, so were her other features.
Her jet-black hair and completely black eyes were something you could never forget. Her eyes were pure black, like some black hole. They looked too old for her age, as if they had seen so much.
My wolf was overanxious. If it was not for me, she would already be out and probably by now tearing her head off. She stared at me for some more seconds before stretching her arm for a handshake. I shook her hand firmly, giving nothing away. She could not intimidate me. There was only one in the world who could do that, and he was probably in his room in my house.
She looked amused, and her eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Hecate," she said, her voice authoritative and powerful.
"Esma," I said with equal power. Her eyes widened with delight, and I could see her upper lip tuck, suppressing her smile.
"You did not disappoint me."
"How? Because I solved the riddle?"
"How did you know that she was not me?" she asked, referring to the girl who approached me first. I shrugged and smiled my confident smile, the smile which could burn the hearts of my enemies. See, two can play this game.
Her smile broadened if possible. She started walking in the opposite direction before signaling me to follow her. Without a second thought, I complied.
She was humming a sweet melody of the song "The Night is Young". She walked gracefully, giving nothing away, as if she knew where to go. I took this opportunity to admire her features.
Black jet hair, black-purple eyes, her burning gaze enough to melt mountains. She was beautiful, and for a second, I felt a ping of jealousy. I could hear the residing footsteps, knowing the others were following us.
We walked for a few more minutes before she stopped and turned to look at me. Both of us stared into each other's eyes. She was trying to intimidate me. And the thought amused me.
"Why do you wanted to meet me?" I asked, getting straight to business. I knew witches were known for their manipulations. I tried my best to look passive. Her eyes darkened if possible.
"I am here to help you," she said after a momentary silence. I was lost into fits of laughter as soon as the words left her mouth. Help me? I watched her face to see if she was not joking. She was indeed serious.
"Then sorry to disappoint you. I don't need anybody's help," I said and started walking back toward my pack. I don't have time for her shit.
"I know the talisman isn't working." I stopped dead in my tracks. Her smirk widened and soon transformed into a full-blown triumphant smile.