“Alexander.” I whisper as a tear slips from my eyes and trails down my cheeks.
“You wish to rename my pack ‘Captured and Caged,’ to my detriment.” The man, the third part of Dad, states. “Don’t feign surprise. I hear your thoughts clearly. I’m sure you’re wondering how I know.”
“Thompson.” I stammer, writhing on the ground. “Please, help me up.” I reach out my hands to him. He chuckles, his expression abruptly changing.
“You want to stand so you can attempt to kill me, right?” He scoffs. “Alexander is in a struggle within me, and it’s almost midnight. I lied; it’s not 9 pm.”
I rub my eyes, ensuring my head faces the ground for my witch being to minister to me.
“Now, you have no hope of escape. You’ve been under my spell since entering this hut.”
“I’ll kill you instead, and it must be tonight.” He declares. “Right here.” His arms spread wide, and two swords take their positions in his palms.
“Remain as you are.” He commands. “Don’t make me miss my target. I’ll behead you now, and here’s to your union with Alex in the world beyond.”
Flat on the ground, I contemplate my next move. As my wolf senses the approaching sword, I abruptly jerk up, dragging Thompson’s feet backward, causing him to fall.
“Now, tell me.” I stand tall while he winces in pain amidst other weakened wolves. “How can you prove you’ll kill me?”
The door jerks open, and two foxes burst in, standing at attention upon seeing me. Moments later, they throw themselves onto Thompson, claws digging into his eyes. Blood oozes from his eye sockets as he gazes at me for the last time, lips curved. Through that expression, I receive a message – he’s foretelling my demise. Seizing the opportunity, I escape the room. As I step forward, I feel a rush of wind, as if it’s lifting a restraint from my wolf.
“Alex? Alex?” I call out in this eerily silent bush, illuminated only by the glow of wild creatures. In this perilous environment, if a wild animal attempts to attack me and I can’t rely on my wolf, I’ll shift into his form, showcasing the ability of a witch or wizard to transform into any kind of wolf.
Instead of finding Alex, I witness the first part of Dad gathering himself and transforming back into a human. Standing a few meters away, I scan the sky, then look at him, and finally, check my surroundings for any potential rogue attacks.
Dad reverts to his wolf form, prompting the two foxes to dash out of the room – a clear confirmation. With them feasting on a part of Dad while he was human, the man must have vanished or scared them off. As they approach me, I tilt my head back, feeling my leg twitch as it curves into a V-shape and elongates precisely. My eyes radiate a mix of green and magenta as my witch power links with the fox world, transforming me into a fox before their potential attack.
In my fox form, I intensify the glow of my eyes, expecting it to ward them off, but they remain unfazed. The two foxes approach, exchange glances, and depart with silent grunts. I rest on the ground as a fox observes Dad shiver. Suddenly, a signal from my witch power prompts me to shift back into human form.
“Dad, can we return to our pack house now?” I ask, yawning and feeling drained.
“Sure.” He replies, whimpering as he stands. I take his hands, and we make our way to the pack house, navigating through the bush. The buzzing of insects and the late chirping of birds become eerier as we walk. Doors to the huts open by themselves, and lights inside blink repeatedly, affecting our vision.
“Dad, stay alert.” I caution. “If any rogue attacks us, shift immediately.”
“Thank you, and I should apologize.” He says. It’s baffling how he can be so oblivious. How can I suddenly act nice, and he doesn’t suspect something’s amiss?
“You’re welcome.” I play along.
“We’re just a few minutes from the pack house.” He informs me. “I’m relieved to be back in my pack after enduring the trials in the bush.”
“Good luck in your new world.” I reply, chuckling.
“New world?” He seems puzzled.
Unaware that I’m still fixated on the idea of killing him before midnight.
“Well, you did mention it was almost midnight, right?” I inquire.
“Yeah, I mentioned it from outside. How did you hear? Any issue?”
“No worries, I’m good.” I reply, keeping my guard up. He’s proven to be a monster who can duplicate himself, managing to have three versions but only keeping two active.
“Now, we’re here.” He says as we wash our feet in the river. I choose not to inquire about Alex, avoiding any chance of revealing our ongoing plan, at least for now.
“Could you mind link Smith and let him know we’re back?” I ask, nonchalantly shrugging. He’s familiar with the concept of mind linking. When one wolf establishes a mind link with another, it provides a witch with unrestricted access to that link.
“Only if you won’t interrupt.” He warns.
“I won’t.” I assure him almost immediately. “Are you telling him something else, though?”
Abruptly, the door swings open, and Smith emerges, flashing a smile at the sight of both of us.
“You did that so quickly?” I inquire, and Dad nods in response.
“That’s an Alpha attribute. Can you both come inside now?” Smith urges, but I casually shrug my shoulders.
“Dad, you go ahead. I’ll join you shortly.” I instruct as he enters the pack house. I settle near the waterfall, anticipating Alex’s arrival. The door closes, and when I glance back, Alex is standing behind me. Without hesitation, I pull him into a hug, and he chuckles, his excitement evident.
“So, you knew I was waiting here?” I inquire, peering at his face with an impulse to hug him again.
“I didn’t leave you. I muted Thompson’s reasoning, so he didn’t know you were up to anything anymore.” He explains. “And there’s no need to express gratitude. I am your mate, and in case you haven’t realized, I’m an Alpha returning to this world soon.”
“That’s great news.” I respond. “Shall we sit?”
“Sure, it’s quarter to 11 PM. If Smith and Thompson don’t perish tonight, then I won’t have a chance to return to this world again.”
“What!” I exhale. “Why tonight? What should we do?”
“Don’t panic. The worst-case scenario is for you to die, and we get mated in our ghost forms.”
“Die? Like, take my own life?”
“No, Thompson or Smith must be the one to kill you.”
“Pardon?”
“And it must be your head. Your head must go, so you’ll get a new one here in the ghost world.”
“Alex, is this really your wish for me?” I move a bit away from him.
“Why would I wish this for my mate?” Alex reassures.
“Then why the horrifying talk?” I question.
“Since I’m a child of horror, but hold on, you won’t die. We can handle this.” He forces a smile.
“But I can touch you. I can feel you. Why aren’t you a spirit?”
“The first reason is that you’re a witch, and you have a connection to the ghost world. The second reason is that I’m reviving. My body is forming as blood splatters on the ground.”
“You must have been a serial killer.” I remark, rolling my eyes.
“No, I was a blue wolf, and I believe you’re aware of that. I was murdered when Thompson and I vied for Alpha of this pack. He successfully killed me with the help of a tall wolf whose name I can’t recall.” He explains. “Blue wolves are divinely appointed by the moon goddess to eliminate wolves that trespass. It’s a mandate, not the vicious kind like a serial killer, as you may have thought.”
“Can you become a blue wolf again?” I inquire.
“Only if I come back through the vicious and bloody deaths of Thompson and Smith.” He responds.
“Rise to your feet.” I instruct, clenching my fists. “It’s time to take action.”