MALIA’S POV
I turned to face the red-haired witch who was already seated in the centre of so many lighted candles. She beckoned on me to join her and I wondered how I was going to successfully make it to the centre without setting my dress, and hence, myself on fire.
Seeing the confusion in my eyes, she pointed to a very narrow path that I could take. It didn’t look safe to me but I wasn’t about to lose my chance of breaking my curse because of some lighted candles.
I took off my shoes first and inhaled deeply before walking on the tip of my toes along the narrow path that led to the centre.
She smiled when I sat down opposite her. “Good job,” she said like I was some toddler.
She then handed me a suspicious-looking fluid to drink. I turned my head to look at Ryder again for reassurance and he nodded, encouraging me.
I faced the witch and she smiled patiently at me. I closed my eyes and downed the fluid in one go. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it with my eyes open.
I cringed at the bitter taste and took deep breaths to keep from nausea. I handed the vial back to her and she nodded in satisfaction.
I looked at her expectantly and she smiled. “Now we wait,” she said and I wondered just for how long we were going to be sitting there. My legs were already beginning to cramp.
The bout of nausea passed and I started to feel sleepy.
My eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Why do I feel so sleepy?” I queried in an accusatory tone. I made sure my voice was loud enough for Ryder to hear even though he was probably paying rapt attention to us. He came closer to us and it was he rather than the witch who explained. “It’s part of the process, Love. You have to fall into a deep sleep.”
“Don’t fight it, Malia,” she added, which was exactly what I was doing. “Just try to relax. You’re safe here.”
I nodded and allowed whatever was in that vial to pull me into a state of unconsciousness. The last thing I registered was the witch’s hands on my head, slowly and gently guiding it to the floor.
I woke up to a nasty headache and a foul taste in my mouth. It was with some level of difficulty that I opened my eyes.
I was no longer in the room of candles and crystals but in the living room and on one of the sofas. It was then I realized that my head was resting on Ryder’s thighs.
“Ryder,” I said weakly. My voice came out raspy and I tried to cough to clear my throat. My head immediately protested and I winced.
“I’m right here, Love,” he replied, gently smoothening my hair with his hand. “She needs some water, please,” he said to the witch who hurriedly rose to get it.
She returned with a glass of water and Ryder gently brought me up to a sitting position.
“My head hurts,” I murmured as I took the cup from her.
“I’m so sorry baby. What you’re experiencing right now is temporary. Lifting a curse and getting your wolf back is no joke.
I took a small sip of the cold water before bringing it down from my lips.
“You should have some more,” the witch advised and I obliged. She took the half-empty glass from me with a smile. “You’ll feel brand new starting from tomorrow.
“Would I be able to shift?” I queried, already feeling excited.
“Of course,” she replied. “Just make sure someone’s right there with you to guide you through it.
Ryder gave my hand a small squeeze. “I’m more than willing to guide you through it all.”
The witch beamed at us. “You two make a lovely couple.”
I smiled politely at her and Ryder thanked her for her help.
We left shortly afterwards and I slept throughout the journey back home.
This time when I woke up, I was back in the palace. On Ryder’s bed. I wasn’t sure whether I could think of it as ours yet since we weren’t official yet. I had to wait until the coronation day.
“You are awake,” Penelope said and I blinked in surprise as I noticed her sitting at the foot of the bed.
“The Alpha had to go tend to something important. Don’t ask me. I don’t know what it is yet but I’m going to get it out of Damien because it seemed like a big deal. So he asked me to be by your side just in case you woke up and needed help.”
I smirked as I sat up. Thankfully, the headache was gone and I was starving.
Her eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. “And why, pray tell, are you looking at me like that?” she queried.
I slowly moved closer to her and licked my lips.
There was mild panic in her eyes when I got very close to her.
“I’m so fucking hungry and you look really palatable right now,” I answered.
She shifted backwards a little. “Er…. Malia? Are you sure you’re fine?” she asked and I noticed the slight tremor in her voice. I tried not to laugh. I was really enjoying this.
“I’m not sure. Earlier, the witch gave me a strange-looking fluid to drink and since then I’ve been feeling really strange. It’s as if there’s something else inside of me. Something strange.
Her eyes widened as I spoke and she kept on shifting backwards just as I kept on going closer to her.
I didn’t stop until she slipped off the bed and landed on the floor.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I doubled over with laughter.
“Malia, I’m so going to kill you and go to hell,” she threatened, getting to her feet.
I gave a shriek of excitement as she chased me around the room. I stopped once to stick out my tongue at her. This only enraged her even more and round and round we went until I was exhausted. I plopped to the floor and she attacked me with tickles.
I tried to escape but I wasn’t strong enough. I was breathless with laughter and the tickles were already becoming unbearable.
“Please stop,” I managed to say. “I’m sorry.
She stopped after smacking my arm and sat on the floor beside me.
“Never scare me like that again,” she warned. She was also out of breath.
I nodded. “Don’t worry. I have learnt my lesson. But I’m really starving though.”
She gave me a look before going to ring the kitchen.
I got up and returned to the bed. Someone, probably Ryder, had helped me change into a comfortable pair of shorts and a tank top when I was asleep. I tried to remember the last time I had slept so deeply.
Penelope joined me on the bed and I regarded her with a smile. “So how does it feel like being the Beta’s mate?” I queried.
She grinned. “One thing is certain. I don’t have to do any chores if I don’t want to.”
I was thoughtful for a moment and then I quietly exclaimed. “Wow!”
She arched an eyebrow. “Come on. It’s not that much of a big deal.”
I shook my head and smiled. “No, it’s not about that. I’m just amazed about how you once had a crush on a Beta and thought that you had no chance with him because you were just an Omega. Now look at you. You’re mated to a Beta.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know right? It is just so funny how things turned out. The Beta I was in love with was arrested and stripped of his position, only to be replaced by the man I’m mated to. It’s not like I’m happy about what happened to Ronan though but I just can’t stop thinking that his misfortune became my fortune.”
I nodded in understanding. Who would have ever thought that things would turn out this way?
There was a knock on the door before it swung open to reveal two maids carrying food trays.
I asked them to place them on the bed instead of the mini dining table.
I noticed that one of them gave a nearly imperceptible lift of an eyebrow as though she found it improper that a Luna or Luna to be had chosen to eat on the bed.
Perhaps she thought it poorly mannered of me.
I smiled inwardly. I was still going to do so many things that people thought a Luna shouldn’t or couldn’t do.
We thanked them and waited till they were out of the room before we started to eat.
“So what about you? You mentioned something about a witch. Was that a joke as well? Besides, where did you and the Alpha go after leaving the ballroom?” She queried.
I smiled at her questions. If it were any other person apart from Penelope, I would have thought their question too intrusive. But this was my best friend.
“He took me to see a witch to get my curse lifted. A terrible headache and sleeping like the dead were the effects of the liquid she gave me. I’m expected to shift into my wolf tomorrow,” I answered.
The fork full of food never made it to her mouth. She dropped it back on her plate and looked at me with her lips slightly parted in surprise.
“Malia, this is good news,” she said, her eyes glistening with unsheathed tears.
I gave her a small smile. “I wouldn’t be too hopeful if I were you, because I’m not. We can’t be so sure that it worked until I shift into my wolf form tomorrow.”
“Malia, I know you will. I have a very strong feeling that it worked. I was even going to mention earlier that there’s a different glow about you.” She clapped her hands in excitement. “I can’t wait to see your wolf tomorrow. Could you please persuade the Alpha to allow me to watch?” She asked.
I nodded, amused by her childish glee. There was no way I could say no to those eyes filled with anticipation.
She shrieked in delight and nearly knocked her fork off her plate.
“I don’t think I can even eat anymore. I’m so excited.”
I scoffed. “Well, luckily for you, I can,” I replied, reaching for her plate of food.
She slapped my hand away and drew her food closer to her protectively.
I laughed. “What?” I thought you couldn’t eat.”
She shook her head. “Food is definitely going to be the cause of your death,” she murmured.
I grinned. “You should be careful what you say to me now. You could be arrested for careless words which might translate to thoughts of treason.”
She scoffed. “Colour me warned,” she replied and resumed eating.
We ate the rest of our meal in silence. She insisted on taking the plates back to the kitchen all by herself when we finished.
“Let me help you,” I said but she shook her head stubbornly.
“The Alpha made me promise that on no account must I allow you to lift a finger,” she replied.
I rolled my eyes. “But the Alpha isn’t here now.”
“Don’t be stubborn, Malia. Just stay put. I’ll be right back.”
I scoffed as she made her way out of the room. I was already far stronger than I had been before we left the witch’s house.
I mentally rolled my eyes as I remembered that Penelope had conveniently forgotten the promise she made to Ryder when she was chasing me around the room.
She returned with some sliced apples and I frowned.
She arched an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?” she queried.
“Nothing,” I replied. “It’s just that Ryder insists I take apples or any other healthy stuff instead of sweets. I was thinking you were going to get me a slice of cake or some ice cream.”
She rolled her eyes. “Girl, your man takes good health quite seriously. I checked but didn’t see any sweets.”
Then she grinned. “You should be happy about it though, seeing as you’re soon going to be with child. Those happy screams shouldn’t be for nothing.”