The Witch Prophecy

by Mary Goldberger

  She turned to go back into the office but stopped saying over her shoulder, “Jenna didn’t come to the office, but I have a feeling she is planning something.”

  Caden frowned at her words taking them seriously as he knew Jenna could be very sneaky if she wanted something as she has shown him already.

  “Thank you,” he told her as she headed back inside the office.

  He listened for a few minutes to them talk and laugh before he headed upstairs to his dad’s old study where Timothy, Gregory and a few others were waiting.

  “So, Caden,” Gregory began. “Do you want to move the things from the attic to down here?”

  Caden looked around the room noting how big it was compared to some of the other rooms before he answered. “I originally wanted to turn the attic into my room and later attaching a bathroom, but…”

  “It’s not that big when you really think about,” Timothy offered.

  “I always wondered why she chose the attic for her room,” one of the others asked.

  “It is the furthest room from the other rooms,” someone murmured, and Caden turned at the answer. The man looked at him sheepishly as he said, “Sorry, Alpha, I didn’t mean to offend your mate.”

  Caden thought for a second before he said with a touch of wonder in his voice, “You were actually telling the truth, Dylan, I just never realized it until now.”

  He looked around the room before he said, “I think that’s exactly what we should do and Timothy, what do you think if we turn the attic room into the office?”

  Timothy looked surprised at the suggestion before he said thoughtfully, “I never thought about it.”

  Caden nodded his head as he pushed up his sleeves. “Let me know what you think because you use the office just as much as I do.”

  Timothy nodded his head as Caden said, “So if you guys don’t mind helping me, let’s get to work moving a room.”

  They all laughed at his choice of words as they headed out of the room for the attic stairs and as they disappeared up the stairs, Jenna opened her door wondering what they were doing. When they started coming downstairs carrying furniture, a smile started crossing her lips. She closed the doors on a sigh as she leaned back against it.

  “Finally, Caden, you realize who is important,” she murmured with a satisfied laugh before she walked over to her closet opening it looking for the perfect dress for Caden’s surprise.

  It never crossed her mind that Caden was moving rooms for someone else. The only thing that went through her mind was that he was giving up the ghost of his mate, Leana.

  Down in the office, Jessa looked her watch before she grimaced. “I need to run out for a little while. Will you two be okay here?”

  Abella and Asilynn looked at each other with laughter before Asilynn said, “I think we will be fine, Jessa.”

  Jessa gave them glaring looks causing them to laugh harder before she walked out of the room.

  Abella watched her leave her eyes thoughtful before she turned back to Asilynn. “I can understand why she is worried about me, but why is she worried about you?”

  Asilynn shifted on the couch before she sighed heavily. “Although I am mated to one of the strongest werewolves of the pack, I am pretty weak myself. In fact, most of the other she-wolves don’t really bother with me because of it.”

  Abella frowned as she asked, “Don’t you train when they do?”

  Asilynn shook her head. “The other she-wolves believe that it would be a waste of my time because I’m not like them so it wouldn’t be helpful if we were attacked.”

  Abella snorted at this news as her mind suddenly flashed to her father telling her, “knowing how to protect yourself is always helpful no matter who you are up against because everyone has a weak point. It is up to you to discover it.”

  She hadn’t realized that she had spoken aloud until Asilynn said, “Do you thinking learning to fight could be of use then?”

  Abella looked at her in confusion and Asilynn repeated the words she just said as Abella shook her head.

  “I didn’t realize had spoken the words aloud,” she admitted.

  “Who told them to you?” Asilynn asked noticing the look of sorrow in Abella’s eyes.

  “My father,” Abella answered immediately before her eyes widened. “He spoke those words to me when he started to teach me to defend myself.”

  Asilynn’s own eyes widened as she asked, “Do you think you can teach me?”

  Abella didn’t know because she had even forgotten about those teachings until just now. “I don’t know, Asilynn, because I forgot all about them until now. I guess we can learn together if you like.”

  Asilynn smiled nodding her head at the suggestion before she grimaced. “It is my turn to cook dinner tonight.”

  “Would you like some help?” Abella offered as Asilynn stood up and she shook her head.

  “Maybe next time because it is something simple tonight,” Asilynn told her. “I will see you later, Abella.”

  She gave her wave as she walked out of the office closing the door behind her as she left and Abella leaned back against the couch.

  “I wonder why I forgot that,” she asked herself in the silent office.

  She shook her head as she picked up the book to continue studying until her eyes started shutting on her. She placed the book back on the table before she curled up on the couch feeling a little discomfort in her back but nothing as before and she was surprised at how quickly she was healing being thankful for the ointment that Dr. Olsen and Cicely made for her. She fell asleep as she wondered why she hadn’t seen either of them lately including Jed, and she hoped that they were okay as she fell asleep.

  The sun had set and Jessa had returned when Abella finally opened her eyes again, and she stretched noting how dark it was in the room.

  “What time is it?” She murmured aloud although it echoed throughout her mind as she slowly got off the couch.

  Almost nine, Caden answered her, and Abella frowned still trying to figure out how they were reading each other’s thoughts.

  I am going to bed, she told him packing up her books when Caden’s urgent voice vibrated through her.

  Wait, please, I will come get you, he told her.

  Abella frowned as she asked him, what are you up to?

  Caden didn’t answer but she heard his chuckle at her words and she sighed in frustration as she sunk back down on the couch before leaning over and turning on the lamp.

  She studied Caden’s office noticing how clean and organized it was letting her know that Caden liked things to be neat and orderly especially when it came to the pack and any businesses outside of the pack he may be involved in.

  Her back was starting to throb letting her know that it was time for her medicine treatment as she called it. She had to get the recipe for the medicine Cicely had given her and she frowned remembering that Cicely never told her about the poison when she recalled that Jed had brought some things from her sanctuary. She wondered if her mother had known anything about a poison that had the ability to weaken a witch’s powers. If her mother had known, it would be in her diary and Abella hadn’t been able to go through all the diaries her mom left her especially as her mother had used the diaries as a way to continue teaching her.

  “I thought I had gone through them all though,” she questioned aloud as she recalled there seemed to be more books than she remembered from before.

  There was a knock on the door and she said absently, “Come in” as she thought about this.

  Jessa came into the room with a smile and a bag which momentarily diverted Abella’s attention as she recognized the store logo on the bag.

  “He didn’t,” she said on a soft moan.

  “He asked me to pick one up for you,” Jessa told her in apologetic voice as she walked over handing the bag over to her from a well-known computer shop. “And if you are feeling guilty about accepting it, I will tell you that Jenna and Leana asked for things much more expensive than t
his laptop.”

  Abella grimaced at the remainder and Jessa told her softly, “I don’t know if you will believe this or not, but I personally believe that Caden enjoyed getting this for you more than any of the others things he has given because of the simple fact, you didn’t ask for it.”

  Abella looked up in surprise at that statement and Jessa nodded her head as she said, “So let’s pull that thing out and get you setup so you can start on your report tomorrow.”

  “So much fun,” Abella murmured as they pulled out the box.

  “Oh, I believe that you’re having plenty of fun,” Jessa told her in a teasing voice, and Abella gave her a startled look of embarrassment before she started to giggle.

  “I don’t think I will let you in on all my secrets, Jessa, especially as it concerns your brother,” Abella told her with a wicked look.

  Jessa bowed her head as she said, “And I thank you for that because I really don’t want to know about my brother’s personal life in that way.”

  They both started laughing at the conversation before they turned their focus on the laptop as they got it setup. In fact, Abella started working on her report as she soon as she got it running, but only to do a little research using the internet especially after Jessa had to go and hunt down the password so Abella could use the internet.

  It was almost an hour later when Caden finally walked into the office and he stopped when he noticed Abella sleeping on the couch and Jessa sleeping in the chair.

  Timothy, your mate is sleeping in the office, he told his Beta hearing his grumble that he would be right there.

  It had taken them longer to switch the rooms around then he thought it would but then again he had only wanted to really get the bed and nightstands downstairs for this evening. It was the others who decided that they should do the whole room instead of waiting until tomorrow.

  He smiled as he walked over to Abella kneeling down to put a hand on her cheek and her grey eyes flashed open as she smiled sleepily, “What took you so long?”

  “You will see,” he promised as Timothy came into the room.

  He nodded his head at them as he walked over and picked Jessa up in his arms. She mumbled without opening her eyes, “Did you finish?”

  “Yes, we did,” he told her shifting her in his hold so that he had a firmer grip.

  “Thank you, Timothy,” Caden said aloud, and Timothy smiled nodding his head wearily before he walked out of the office.

  “Let’s go to bed,” Caden said as he closed down the computer and began to pack it up.

  “Wait, Caden, you should get something to eat,” Abella told him in a worried tone.

  Caden smiled and leaned toward her giving her a brief but sweet kiss on the lips. “Don’t worry we all ate thanks to Asilynn making sure of it.”

  Abella sighed in relief as she told him, “Asilynn wants me to teach her how to defend herself.”

  Caden frowned slightly at her words as he grabbed the bag with the computer and everything else before he slid an arm around Abella’s waist helping her to her feet. Noticing her grimace, he said, “I forgot about your medicine so when we get to our room, it is the first thing we will do.”

  Abella nodded her head as they headed out of the office and up the stairs, but when she would’ve headed for the attic stairs, Caden turned in the opposite direction.

  “Huh?” Abella said in confusion.

  “Trust me,” Caden told her with a smile and Abella nodded her head although she wondered what was going on.

  Caden opened the door to their room and guiding Abella inside before closing the door behind them.

  “This is our new room,” he said as Abella walked toward the center.

  Caden placed the computer on the desk before turning his attention to Abella who still stood in the middle of the room.

  “Why?” She asked turning to him with a weird look in her eyes.

  Caden walked toward her slowly as he explained, “The attic was the room that Leana chose when she moved in the pack house. For me, it was fine because I tend to spend more time in my office anyway. Before you arrived after you were taken this last time, Cicely suggested I find another room and I didn’t understand what she meant until you showed up. Then I didn’t want anyone else to see you if you were taking a bath or such which would happen if you continued to use the bathroom down the hall so Jessa went through the rooms and remembered that this use to be a study my father used at one time.”

  “Your real father,” Abella stated without hesitation.

  Caden nodded his head a smile gracing his lips as he told her, “I think the reason that he used this as a study is because at one time it connected to the main bedroom but after he died, my mom had them disconnected.”

  Abella looked around the room noting that everything that had been up in the attic now resided in the room including her parents’ picture which sat on the nightstand next to the side she had been sleeping on since they started sharing a bed.

  “Are you sure, Caden?” Abella asked softly, and Caden heard more in her voice than what she actually said.

  “I am,” Caden said taking her into his arms as he started to kiss her when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

  Caden and Abella pulled slightly apart at the interruption as Caden glared at the door. “Yes,” he said sharply.

  There was a giggle followed by a seductive, “Can I see my surprise now?”

  “Surprise?’ They uttered together when suddenly understanding dawned on them at the same time.

  Abella started to laugh before she stifled her laughter in Caden’s shoulder as Caden shook his head laughing aloud.

  There was a loud bang on the door as their unwanted guest heard his laughter, “Caden!”

  “It has been a long day, Jenna, so I am going to bed,” Caden called out to her his hands gripping Abella’s waist.

  Abella looked up at him her laughter still evident in her eyes but she settled her hands on top of his trying to calm him down.

  “Of course, after all the hard work you did today, but I can help you…”Jenna offered.

  “Not tonight,” Caden said a little too sharply.

  There was silence on the other side of the door before Jenna said, “Okay, but I want to see my surprise tomorrow. Goodnight, honey.”

  Caden loosened his hold on Abella to go across the room quietly locking the door quickly as they listened to Jenna’s heels go back down to her room.

  “I can’t wait until Briac returns,” Caden muttered aloud as he walked back over to her.

  “Briac needs to settle something with her, doesn’t he?” Abella asked in a soft voice.

  Caden nodded his head before he looked down at her as a wicked grin crossed his face as he swung her up into his arms.

  “Hey, you said the ointment for my back comes first,” she reminded him as he carried her to the bed.

  “So I did,” Caden said sitting her on the bed before helping her to get undressed, but Abella saw the black gleam of his eyes telling her that there was something more coming.

  Chapter 34

  Two weeks later, Caden walked into the pack house with a smile that turned into a heavy scowl when he saw Cicely standing in the middle of the hallway.

  “Cicely,” he said in a quiet voice.

  She nodded her head as Jed and the other Council members came out of the living room. Caden turned his head to them slowly as Jenna came down the stairs a searching look on her face before it turned into a full blown smile crossed her face as triumphant gleamed in her eyes.

  She rushed down the rest of the stairs just as Timothy came running into the pack house his brow knitted with worry.

  He nodded his head to the others before addressing Caden. “Caden, it is time.”

  Caden turned to him quickly as his mind immediately called out to Abella as he said, “Alpha Stone called?”

  Timothy nodded his head and they all turned as they heard footsteps coming toward them. Jessa, Asilynn, and Abella cam
e in from the living room and from their attire; Caden knew that they had been in the gym. When Abella had made her statement two weeks ago about helping Asilynn learn self-defense, he hadn’t believed it until he saw her in action. It made him wonder if her father had taught her a few things about protecting herself without revealing who he was when she was younger.

  “Caden,” Abella said walking over to him her grey eyes worried as she scanned the room.

  “Alpha Stone called,” he told her putting his arms around her waist without thinking about her back. Although her back was healed, which amazed everyone including Abella herself at how fast it did so, but there were a few areas that still bothered her and he knew that she was ashamed of the fact her back would be scarred for life.

  “The Council is here,” Jenna said smugly positioning herself next to Caden although he still had his arms around Abella.

  “So I see,” Abella commented glancing over at Jenna before she turned her head to look at Cicely.

  Jenna had learned about Abella the day after Caden had the rooms moved around although she didn’t do anything about it. At first, Caden and Abella believed that it was because she knew that there was nothing she could do until she started dropping hints about the Council arriving and how as a she-wolf she was more suitable to be Caden’s Alpha Female. Abella found the whole thing childish and annoying to the say the least while Caden found himself having to restrain his wolf from attacking the damn woman.

  “Caden you know why the Council is here,” Jed said as Caden turned Abella in his arms her back resting against his chest to the frustration of Jenna who looked at him with wide disbelieving eyes.

  He looks tired Abella said getting an answer from Caden as he growled low in his chest.

  One of the Council members frowned as he looked over at Timothy before asking, “But what is the news about Alpha Stone?”

  Caden didn’t hesitate as he told them, “The rogues that attacked us a few months back dispersed afterwards but some went to Alpha Stone’s territory causing more trouble. They also seem to have find another leader or joined a more destructive rogue group because there have been more packs attacked and more deaths since then.”