Filed to story: The Alphas Contract Novel by Taylor West
“I have learned alot about myself.” I remind Xavi. He had been with me every step of the way as I sought information. I had also learned a lot about Witches. Some from him, some from the hidden secrets of my past. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”
‘I’m not exactly a good Witch Hunter am I?’ He mutters, closing his eyes
“I think we are stronger together.”
He falls asleep as I listen to the rain bouncing off my van. What exactly made a good Witch Hunter? The last one I killed came back to life. But this one wouldn’t. I’m not suffering because she decided to curse my mate.
*Do you see what I see?” I ask as I climb up on top of the van, trying to get a better view.
In the distance, up the cliff, I see what looks like the pointed roofs of a castle.
“I see it.’ Xavi mutters from the ground.
“When I read the book by Aldous, I was under the impression that it was hard to find. There was no information. I have no idea if Samara has managed to find out anything.”
‘Maybe there was something.’ He mutters as he sits.
I shake my head. “I went through that book so many times and now look,” I gesture to the castle on the cliff, “it’s just sitting there, available for all to see.”
‘I don’t think it is.’
I look down to find him staring up at me. His white tail wraps around his feet as he studies me.
You are still new to Witch Hunting. Maybe your mind wasn’t ready for it. Not until you accepted it.’
I jump down from the van, “What are you talking about?”
‘Look again, tell me what you see.’
I turn to face the cliff, looking up at the castle and the thick black clouds that hover above it. “Looks like a storm is about to hit.”
‘Those black clouds are not what you think. They are a sign of dark magic.”
“I’ve dealt with another Witch. I’ve met an older lady who was also a Witch. I didn’t see any of that.”
‘Like I said, maybe you weren’t ready.’ He sighs, ‘Or maybe it was because I marked you.’
“Hmm.”
What does that mean? Do you wish that I hadn’t?’
I shake my head, “I was thinking of Neah. Neahs Lycan side was unlocked when Dane marked her. I was bound by my adopted parents, but Dane worked hard to break it. Maybe I wasn’t completely unbound. I’ve always been a
TAU BARUS
part of Black Shadow but have never quite felt right. Don’t get me wrong, they are and always will be my family. But I was also never interested in pack runs or hunts or anything like that.”
‘Hunts?’
“Punishing those that betrayed Dane. Most get involved. The last one, Cooper, was ripped apart but not before he was partially skinned and then the other one that I told you about, Samara, ripped his head off.”
‘I’ve heard of worse things.’ He mutters, turning his attention back to the sky above the cliff.
*So dark clouds like a storm is dark magic?”
‘Not all the time. We still do have storms, but yes.’ He shuffles around to face the cliffs, ‘Looking at it, I would say the entire pack is under some sort of spell.
*The women with Brax mentioned a river. I hear it, but I don’t see it.”
‘Mentioned it like a warning?”
I nod
‘Most likely has a spell on it. We won’t know until we are up there.’ He heads in the direction of the path that will take us up to the top.
There was nothing to hide us from sight. Everything was open but Xavi continued anyway. The sounds of the water grow and it’s not long before I see the water coming from another larger cliff, opening up and blocking the castle and its walls from us.
Familiar clothes are abandoned on this side, but there is no sign of Brax anywhere.
Xavi doesn’t mention the clothes and moves closer to the river. He places a foot into the fast flowing river and quickly removes it.
‘It’s been a long time since I have seen anything like this.”
“Like what?” I ask as I study the walls. No one seemed to be watching us.
‘It’s a deterrent. No one can cross it. Actually, that is not entirely true.’ He moves along the river, putting his feet in at random intervals. ‘We just need to know the exact point that she crossed it.’
Xavi takes a step forward, and appears to be standing on top of the water.
I’m not sure what kind of spell this is,’ he moves forward carefully, but I bet she wasn’t expecting Witch Hunters. “How are you doing that?” I demand
‘I’m not, it’s the same way as we can see that dark magic has been used. It leaves a trace. Faint, but still a trace, the others are unable to see it. Follow me foot for foot.’
As my foot hits the water a flash of light circles my boot and it’s only now that I can see the same around Xavi’s feet.
Our feet hit dry land and as I turn back to the river, I watch it flow over the edge, the water hitting the rocks below. “How the hell did you do that?!*
I turn to see a woman with a hood pulled up over her head, golden eyes peeking out from underneath.
‘WITCH!’ Xavi roars through my head and charges forward.
Brax appears from nowhere, tackling Xavi to the ground. “Go Indy, I’ve got this.”
She runs to the edge of the cliff, throwing herself down on her stomach, disappearing from sight.
*Brax, stop!” I demand
*Not if this asshole is going to attack her. We need Indy!”
*Brax, let go of my mate!”
He cocks a brow at me. “Your mate?”
“Yes!” I growl, “Now get the hell off of him.” I glare at him and tell Xavi to listen to what Brax has to say.
The sound of metal locks puts all of us in silence. We turn to face the opening gate.
“We need to move now!” Brax whispers at us. “Come with me.”
He copies the woman and runs over to the cliff edge. “Come on then you idiots!”
Rushing forwards, we do as he tells us and are ripped over the edge of the cliff and dragged back into a hole,
completely out of sight.
A man with thick dark hair drops Xavi and stares at us. The woman is further back, almost hiding behind him. Xavi settles on my legs, guarding me as he lets out a low growl.
“It’s okay.” I reassure Xavi, “Brax wanted us here to help.”
Brax nods and points to the woman. “Half breed, but mostly Wolf. Her name is Indy. This is Orion, a Wolf” He points to the guy. “Thalia cut out his tongue so he can’t speak.”
I point to Xavi. “Cursed by Thalia to live forever as a Wolf. I’m Klaus, a Witch Hunter. Now does someone want to tell me why we are in a hole in a cliff?”
“It’s a tunnel,” Indy whispers, lowering her hood to reveal shocking white hair that was almost as bright as Xavi’s fur. “It takes us to my house.”
“But before we move, there are some things that you need to know about this place.” Brax tells me as he watches Xavi, “Though it seems we all want the same thing.”
Silas
After my talk with Damien, I found myself in my own little bubble, talking to Lyall, trying to understand the possibility that Damien might be right. Each and every time, I feel a pull in my heart that told me he was wrong.
I longed for the woman I loved, the child I loved. I just wanted us to be together again. And if Dane didn’t want her here, that was fine, we could go it alone.
Sitting at the kitchen table, watching. Damien, Samara and his little girl act like one happy family. Damien spins the kid around the room, making her laugh until she cries.
I wanted my happy family. I wanted everything to make sense.
I scratch my head as Dorothy stops to chug some water. She drops into the chair across from me. Bright green eyes stare at me. She carefully slides a muffin across the table. “These always make me feel better.”
“I’m good.”
