DAHLIA
Pacing around the small, dimly lit room, I tried to piece together how I had ended up here. My mind was a jumbled mess of confusion and fear. One moment, I was in my room, preparing to sleep, and the next, I woke up in this unfamiliar place. Zac. It had to be him. He was the only person who had been hounding me relentlessly. But how had he managed to bring me here without my knowledge? My thoughts raced, and I felt a surge of panic rising within me.
Desperate to escape, I attempted to use my magic to blast the door open. Concentrating, I summoned my energy, but as I released it, a weak, sputtering light barely reached the door before fizzling out. I staggered backwards, falling onto my butt, my breath coming in short gasps. What had happened to me? Why was my magic so feeble?
Fear surged through me, my heart pounding in my chest. My magic had always been strong and reliable. To feel it so drained, so powerless, was terrifying. I tried to calm myself, but the sense of helplessness was overwhelming. What had Zac done to me?
As I sat there, stunned and disoriented, the door creaked open. Zac entered, followed closely by his sister, Benita. My heart sank. Their presence only confirmed my worst fears. Whatever was happening, they were behind it.
Benita wasted no time. She crouched down beside me, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet with force. “Get to work, witch,” she ordered, her voice cold and demanding.
I stared at her, bewildered. “What are you talking about? Work on what?”
Benita’s grip tightened on my hand, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t play dumb, Dahlia. We need your magic. You’re going to help us erase Ralph’s memories.”
Realization dawned on me, and with it, a cold dread. It was them. They were the reason I was here, the reason my magic was weakened. “You did this to me,” I whispered, the horror of the situation sinking in. “You weakened my magic.”
Zac stepped forward, his expression hard. “Yes, I did. It was necessary to ensure you wouldn’t resist. Now, you’re going to do as I say.”
I shook my head, fear and defiance mingling within me. “I can’t. Memory spells are dangerous, especially on someone as powerful as Ralph. It could kill him.”
Benita’s eyes flashed with anger. “You’ll do it, or we’ll make you wish you had.”
My mind raced, desperately searching for a way out. I needed to stall to find a way to regain my strength. “I need time,” I said, my voice steadying as I tried to buy myself some precious moments. “My magic is weak right now. I need to recover before I can perform such a spell.”
“No need to recover your powers,” Zac said, pulling out a small black bottle and handing it to me. “Drink that. It will restore your power. And don’t even think of doing something stupid because if you do, it will be the end of you.”
I stared at the bottle for a moment, wondering if their mother was involved in this as well. She’s the only witch in the pack house who knows about my secret.
“Where did you get that? Did you get it from your mother?”
Zac narrowed his eyes. “That’s none of your business,” he snapped.
“How do I know this potion will restore my powers? How do I know it’s not poison since you and your sister want me out of your lives forever?” I challenged.
Benita’s lips curled into a sneer. “For how much I wish it was poison, you are still useful to us. Stop all the mumbling and drink the damn thing and get our work done.”
I turned to Benita, a sudden realization hitting me. “Is this about getting into the Alpha’s bed again? Are you that desperate to get fucked? You think if I erase his memories, he’ll make you his mate?”
Benita’s face twisted with fury, and before I could react, she slapped me hard across both cheeks. The sting was immediate and intense, making my eyes water. Fueled by anger, I lunged at her, my hand raised to strike back, but Zac wedged himself between us, taking the slap meant for his sister.
He clenched his jaw, his eyes boring into mine with a dangerous intensity. “You don’t have any right to hit her,” he hissed. “Don’t forget, I have control over you. I can ruin your life and make you packless. So behave.”
With that, he released his grip on my neck, letting me drop to the floor. I landed hard, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my body. I glared up at him, my hatred for him and his sister burning hotter than ever.
“Now, drink the potion,” Zac commanded, his voice icy. “And get to work.”
Benita smirked, her eyes gleaming with malice. “My brother must have been soft with you by not telling Ralph and the pack who you truly are. But if you keep irritating me, I’ll waste no time in telling him myself.”
Swallowing hard, I looked at the black bottle in my hand. My mind churned with possibilities and fears. This might be my only chance to regain my strength, but at what cost? I had to think fast, to find a way to turn this situation to my advantage.
Taking a deep breath, I accepted the inevitable and swallowed the potion in one gulp, then opened my mouth to show them it was done. Zac and Benita observed me closely, satisfaction glinting in their eyes as my strength began to return.
“The herbs needed for this kind of spell are in my room at the pack house,” I lied, hoping for a chance to tell Ralph everything. Zac let out a chuckle.
“Are you kidding me? I know the kind of witch you are-you can do anything without herbs or candles.”
“Zac, I’m the witch here. If I say I need certain ingredients for a spell, I mean it.”
Benita cut in eagerly, “Tell me exactly where they are, and I’ll bring them to you.”
I shook my head. “No. I have to be the one to get them.” No one else must touch them, or the spell won’t work.”
Zac’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. Since I’m just a wolf, I’ll believe you. But if I find out this was an excuse for whatever plan you have in your head, you’ll get a taste of my wrath.”
He blindfolded me and guided me towards the car and drove us to the pack house. As we neared, he removed the blindfold, and we entered the pack house grounds.
“How long will the spell take to finish?” Zac asked as we approached my room.
“In less than half an hour,” I assured him.
Closing the door behind me, I heard Benita attempting to follow. I turned to her, my voice firm. “I have to be alone to concentrate, or it won’t work.”
Benita gritted her teeth in frustration. “Fine. But I’ll be waiting right here.”
With a nod, I locked the door, blocking her out.
As I sat on the edge of my bed, hands trembling, I reached for my phone lying beside the pillow. With furtive movements, I slipped into the bathroom and locked the door behind me, the small space suddenly suffocating. Nervously, I dialed Ralph’s number, my mind racing with the weight of my confession.
My heart pounded as each ring amplified my anxiety. Finally, he answered, his voice laced with concern. “Dahlia? Is everything alright?”
“Alpha,” I began, my voice wavering with emotion, “I… I lied to you. The truth is… I’m not who you think I am. I’m a witch from the Howling Nexus clan. My real name is Gaia Emberheart.”
There was a stunned silence before he responded, confusion evident. “Dahlia? What… what are you saying?”
Tears welled up as I continued, words pouring out in a rush. “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. Thank you for accepting me into your pack, for being on my side, for being my Alpha.”
With a heavy heart, I apologized again and hung up, my hand shaking as I placed the phone on the bathroom counter. I took a moment to collect myself, my mind racing with what to do next.
After a few moments, I sent a quick text to Jay, “Wait for me in half an hour with the car ready.”
Jay’s reply came swiftly, concern evident. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll tell you,” I responded cryptically. With a deep breath, I returned to my room, sitting back on the bed, the weight of my decision settling heavily upon my shoulders. I closed my eyes and began to concentrate, gathering magic around me in a shimmering aura.
Softly, I chanted the first spell, a complex incantation to induce a deep sleep in Alpha’s wolf, ensuring he wouldn’t wake during the memory erasure. My voice grew stronger with each verse, the air crackling with power. As I reached the second spell, rain began to lash against the windows, conjured by my magic into a stormy tempest outside.
Chanting the final spell, I felt my aura blaze brightly, casting a glow around me as I wove the magic that would erase Alpha’s memories. The intensity of my focus was palpable, each word spoken with unwavering determination. I visualized the specific memories, carefully unraveling them from Alpha’s mind, layer by layer, until they were no more.
Outside, the storm I had conjured continued to rage, echoing the turmoil within me. Rain hammered against the window panes, thunder growled ominously in the distance, and flashes of lightning briefly illuminated the room. My magic, fueled by raw emotion, had amplified the natural forces around me, creating a spectacle of nature’s fury.
I knew I couldn’t stay here any longer. My decision to leave was not just about self-preservation; it was about sparing Alpha from the dangers of knowing the truth about me. As a witch from the Howling Nexus clan, my existence was a secret that could bring harm not only to me but also to those around me. Alpha, in his trust and kindness, had unknowingly placed himself in harm’s way by accepting me.
With a heavy heart, I stood up and swiftly began to pack my essentials. There was no time for sentimentality; I needed to disappear quickly and completely. Jay’s car would be waiting. As I stuffed clothes and necessities into a bag, my mind raced with thoughts of Keilah. How would she manage alone without Alpha by her side? Despite the hurt she would feel, I knew it wouldn’t last long because I had left his wolf sober.