Chapter 2

Three Years Later…

Poppy.

A heavy sigh escapes from my chest as I continue to mix a batch of my herbs, hoping that this would be the potion that could stop the curse, my curse. I grab a small amount of the mixture and sprinkle it into the small cauldron I have sitting on the back counter, waiting in hopes of a puff of white smoke telling me the concoction was a success. But there is no smoke. This is another dead end.

I turn back around when I hear the bell on the door ring, surprised that I have a customer this late in the afternoon. I close my eyes for a moment as the scent of my visitor hits me. My eyes widen with fear and uneasiness as my heart starts to race against my chest.

What is he doing here?

A tall, muscular man with shaggy blonde hair and cognac eyes that are fierce when you stare into them walks into my small Apothecary shop. It is none other than Adrian, the Alpha of the Rover pack—the pack I allegedly belong to. It’s been years since I saw him, ever since that dreadful night, the first night I attempted to run with the pack with my wolf. Since that night, I have chosen to run on the outskirts of the pack territory so no one can see my wolf.

I quickly pull out another bowl with herbs already inside it and start to stir to make myself look busy. It takes everything I have not to look and stare at the man that I am chosen to be mated to, only he doesn’t even know that I exist. As he gets closer, my body starts to tingle; damn treacherous hormones, why must you defy me.

Adrian strolls up to the counter and waits quietly for me to acknowledge that he’s there. His massive height towers over me.

Why did I have to be so short?

When I continue to stir my herbs and not greet the Alpha of our pack, he leans down against the counter, resting his arms on top of it, bringing himself down to my height.

Bastard, I say to myself as I lift my head and narrow my eyes at him, not caring that he is the Alpha of the pack. The pack that has treated me as an outcast since birth, and my mate, can’t even detect me as I stand right in front of him.

Adrian smirks, knowing full well that he’s annoyed me.

“Hey, Poppy,” he starts as he looks around the deserted shop. “How’s business going?”

I paste a fake smile on my face and answer, “Business is great; you just missed the rush.” It’s a complete lie, but he doesn’t need to know that. He doesn’t need to know anything about my business.

Adrian’s smirk drops from his face as he nods his head but stays quiet for the moment.

I know I should ask him what he wants so I can get rid of him—out of my shop and out of my life. A small part of me loves the fact that he is here in my shop, and we’re all alone, with no one to bother us. But deep down, I know it’s too good to be true.

“Adrian, we both know that you are not here for a social call. So what do you need from me?”

Adrian immediately gets up and goes back to his tall, towering form. “I need a potion that will allow me to talk with my ancestors. Can you help me?”

A faint smile crosses my lips. I know the potion that the Alpha is looking for, and coincidentally, I had all the ingredients right here in my little shop. I also know I am the only witch within a hundred miles who could do this for him. I continue to stay silent as I stir the herbs in front of me.

A rumble comes from Adrian’s chest, telling me that his patience is wearing thin. The rumble sends a shiver down my spine, a feeling my body greets with excitement.

“Yes, I can create the potion for you and write down the incantation you will need to say after you pour the potion over the graves of your ancestors.”

Adrian’s face immediately relaxed, and I could sense the tension escaping from him. “Poppy…”

“The potion shouldn’t take too long,” I interject before he could say another word.

I turn away from him and start grabbing the ingredients I would need off of the shelves.

“So, Poppy, do you plan on attending the festival tonight?” Adrian asks with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

I chuckle but do not turn back to look at him.

“Now, why would I go to that?”

“It would show your support toward the pack. Afterward, we are heading out and going for a moonlight run. You should come run with us,” Adrian suggests.

I let out a huff as I shook my head. “We both know that I can’t do that,” I told him.

“You know there’s a rumor among the pack about a Witch-Wolf who runs on the outskirts of the pack territory in the dead of night. You wouldn’t know who’s wolf that is, would you?” He asks.

I close my eyes as panic starts to grow inside me. Taking deep breaths, I try to calm my nerves. I am grateful at this moment that he is unable to sense me.

I turn back to look him square in the eye.

“As much as I would like to feel like a member of the pack and be able to run in wolf form, unfortunately, I am just a cursed witch without a wolf to connect with my pack. I’m the outcast that no one wants around, except when someone needs one of my potions or herbs to help them through their problems,” I let out. I press my lips together and slowly turn back to mixing the ingredients.

Adrian stays quiet.

I’m sure he doesn’t know what to say to make me feel any different at this moment, which I am grateful for. Once the potion is complete, I tear off a scrap of paper and scribble the incantation on it before turning back to face him.

“Here, once you have poured this over the graves, say this aloud. There’s a new moon tonight, so tonight would be the best time to do it.” I explain.

Adrian smiles as he reaches out to grab the potion and paper out of my hand. At that moment, my heart races, waiting to feel that static feeling that mates feel between one another when their skin touches, but there is nothing.

My shoulders drop as I pull my hand back quickly and stand there quietly, not sure of what else to say.

Adrian pipes in to break the awkward silence between us. “Thank you, Poppy; I appreciate you making this for me as quickly as you did,” he says to me before stepping back and turning, making his way toward the door. He stops and turns his head back over his shoulder. “It would be nice to see you at the festival tonight,” he says quietly before walking out the door and leaving me all alone with my thoughts.