Page 61 of Dark Moon Secrets

But the question kept pounding in my head. Why did I need this strong magic?

Was it simply to keep the wolves in check? Though I planned if I ever got the chance, I would annihilate the wolves for what they did to my parents.

I sat up in bed, no longer able to get any rest. It didn’t help knowing Luna was sleeping downstairs. I didn’t need a babysitter.

I rubbed my eyes. I would meet the rest of the coven during the initiation ceremony. Until then, I was to rest and keep learning how to manage my magic. Boring.

Could I pledge myself to a coven I didn’t know much about?

Willow had given me a brief history lesson of the coven, but it didn’t satisfy my curiosity. I needed to know more.

I wanted to know who exactly killed my parents and how they covered it up from the authorities. Was the coven that powerful they could do something like that?

Pepper tried to tell me it wasn’t important right now. The most pressing thing was my initiation at the dark moon.

For that to happen, I would stand in the middle of a circle and recite words that would pledge me to the coven. I had to show them trust, which was why I had to come to them in the darkness, including me not knowing every little detail. If I did this, then my real training would begin.

If it was that simple, why was I so churned up inside? The thing was, I wasn’t into blind trust, especially with those who were keeping something from me and had the power to wield magic. When the time came, would I do it?

I snapped my fingers, and pink flames fluttered between my fingers. I couldn’t even imagine being more potent than what I already was.

I wanted to pause everything, not proceed with the initiation, and wait until the next dark moon. I wanted to be confident and have no doubt that this was the path for me and the future I wanted. When I raised the possibility of doing this, I was shut down. The usual it-wasn’t-safe response was given to me.

How could I find out what they weren’t telling me?

I needed more time to find out. I didn’t know the other witches, which made the task more difficult. I felt incredibly alone as if the world would consume me.

I picked up my phone, and my chest tightened to see no new messages.

I typed quickly to the group chat with Mia and Caleb.

Mia-Caleb: I miss you.

A response came from Caleb.

Caleb: Miss you too, go to bed!

I smiled. This was what I was afraid might happen. My friends will start to get on with their lives back in Sydney—mine here, creating a divide between us. I just didn’t think I would start to feel it so soon.

This was all because I was a witch.

All I could think of was that they better not tell me who I should have a child with. That was never going to happen. I didn’t care about the future of the witches, the coven, or what chaos would erupt. I wouldn’t do what my parents did.

The magical flames around my fingers gave off a gentle heat, warming my face as I watched them flicker, mesmerized. Even though I was tired, my magic was becoming more accessible to manipulate and control. I let the spell fade, the light winking out, leaving me in the gray light of my room.

Magic could well be the only reason I would go ahead with the initiation. Did that make me a bad person? Who knew I was so power-hungry inside?

Restless, I got out of bed, grabbed a knitted throw off the chair, and wrapped it around my shoulders. The best bet for me to find information was to search the books downstairs.

Any information wasn’t about to be on the internet, and if it were, it would be in a hidden place on the web. Considering my skills were lacking when it came to technology, I opted to go old-school and look in a book.

A shiver slipped down my spine, and I looked at the window. Learning what I had about wolves today, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know whether it was out there.

Was it coming for me? Was that why it was watching me?

I should have been scared, but it wasn’t fear that prickled my skin. It was something more substantial, profound, and I had no control over.

I went to the window as if I were doing something forbidden.

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