Page 69 of Scorned

“I must have heard it somewhere,” I mumbled hesitantly, not sure if I believed my own words.

“No, my darling, the magic is in your blood. The ancestors spoke to you. They knew that you would need an alliance to succeed, otherwise you wouldn’t fulfill the prophecy. Your ancestors are always forthcoming when you call upon them. They have helped you on numerous occasions when invoked.”

Her words only caused more confusion for me. “I don’t understand what you mean. I don’t even know how to call them.”

“Give me your hand and I’ll bestow an example.”

I reluctantly placed my hand out in front of me, palm side down. Shayla flipped it over, placing her index finger in the middle of my palm before drawing slow circles, her eyelids drifting close.

“You and my fanged friend went into battle at your apartment. On your third encounter with him, you fought valiantly, but he hesitated, almost costing him his life, which would have ended the prophecy. The silver hit the ground and you unknowingly called upon your ancestors while seeking it. The moonlight glistened upon the silver, unveiling it, but not before your ancestors made sure your cat paused the battle long enough for you both to cool off. You know the rest.”

Shock hit me when Shayla explained something no one but myself would’ve known. The night I fought Luka in my apartment, the moonlight had revealed my stake to me, and I’d never told anyone because it seemed coincidental.

“Your senses tell you things often, yet you ignore them because you haven’t tapped into your true power. After you dismissed your instincts, someone took you hostage and tortured you. Thankfully, my fanged friends saved you.”

My heart beat uncontrollably when I realized I had thought Mannie was creepy both times I met him. I should have listened to my gut feeling.

Shayla’s eyelids popped open and I sucked in a gasp when I spotted a nictitating membrane covering her cornea. She blinked and the third eyelid swept back into the corner, revealing her catlike pupils. Two blinks later, her eyes were back to normal.

“Those aren’t the only incidents. I can continue if you would like.”

My words had disappeared, running off to hide from the fading sunset like I wanted to. The abundance of emotions swirling in me only twenty minutes ago was nothing compared to what I was currently feeling.

My thoughts went into four different directions before coming together and forming one ridiculous image: the long pointy nose, big black hat, cauldron-stirring witches I had seen in cartoons.

But these witches weren’t like that. They were beautiful, mystical, eloquent, and completely unfazed by the cold air that slapped my cheeks.

I wasn’t beautiful, mystical, or eloquent, and I was pretty damn sure I was only minutes away from freezing to death.

How can I be a witch?

“The silver is tongueless!” Cece shouted with a concerned look. “Tell her more. Tell her more.”

Shayla tilted her head, her tender expression easing my anxiety. “Would you like me to explain the role your bloodline has to play?”

I noticed the witches spoke in a specific manner, which I found pleasing to the ear. Me, not so much. “Um, sure.”

“There are others living here who also need to hear this, Dragos. It’s a long story, may we have a sit?”

“Come on up to the camp,” Drag said, nodding his head toward the trees.

In an instant, he shifted back into his wolf form and stood next to me, the top of his head lining up with my shoulders. His sky-blue eyes stared into mine like he was telling me something.

“Does he want me to pet him or what?” I asked, and Ravage barked out a laugh.

“He’s telling you to follow him. Without a mate, he has no Luna, so the Alpha wolf has to lead the way.”

I sucked in a hard breath at a secret I didn’t know. “Drag’s an alpha?”

Ravage smiled, showing me his fangs. “Indeed, he is. A damn good one, too.”

After thinking about it, it made total sense. Drag’s sister needed him to decide about the baby when we were there. He’d also organized the food runs, handed out orders, and fulfilled both of the camp’s needs.

How did I miss the signs?

Being heartbroken had made me oblivious to the world around me.

Drag turned away and everyone followed, except for Ravage who stayed behind me like he was my protector.

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