He watched as the Council members nodded their heads telling him that they knew about the situation.
“What does this have to do with you?” Another Council member asked.
“Alpha Caden offered his support if and when Stone learned the whereabouts of this group,” Gregory told them as he came into the house. “Alpha, the fighter wolves you requested are ready and waiting for you.”
Caden nodded his head as his arms contracted around Abella’s waist feeling her nails dig in his arms where her hands had been laying.
“You can’t go,” Jenna start to screech. “As an Alpha, it isn’t your job to help another’s pack but your own.”
“Did Stone know were the rogues would attack next?” Jed asked ignoring Jenna’s outburst as did the others.
“Everwood Pack,” Caden told them in a deadly voice, and the Council members beginning mumbling among themselves at this unsuspected news.
“Are you sure, Caden, because the Council hasn’t heard anything about that?” Jed asked his silver eyes narrowed him.
“As positive as we can be at this time, sir,” Caden said respectfully.
Jenna grabbed Caden’s arm as she said in hard voice, “And I say that you are not going. Send your Beta in your place.”
Caden turned his head slowly to look at her his black eyes flaming with anger and disgust before he said in low deadly voice, “You have no say in what I do as I am the Alpha of this pack.”
“I am your chosen Alpha Female,” she told him with a toss of her head unaware of how everyone looked at her.
“Abella,” Caden said gently although the eyes still focused on Jenna were burning with black anger.
“Yes,” she said softly already knowing what he was going to say.
“What do you think I should do?” He asked hearing the gasp from at the Council members with the exception of Jed.
“She has no…” Jenna began hotly until Caden snapped at her.
“QUIET!
Jenna’s mouth dropped open as Caden’s voice echoed around the pack house bringing the pack members that were home to the commotion.
“You need to do what you think is right,” Abella said quietly tilting her head back to look up at him.
Caden feeling her stare took his eyes off Jenna to look down at her. “Is the Everwood Pack the one everyone has been talking about were older werewolves go to retire?”
“Something like that,” Caden said.
One of the Council members spoke up catching their attention as he went in to more detail. “The Everwood Pack was formed some time ago when one of the original Council members grew tired of always fighting and roaming around settling pack issues so he created a pack where werewolves once they grew tired of the fighting and wanted to live out the rest of the lives peacefully.”
“Technically it isn’t a pack but a small village for that peace,” another one added. “The werewolves who reside there are from different packs all over the world and yet from what I understand, pack names are rarely mentioned in the village itself.”
“To think in this day and age, a small village that basically went back to the basics,” Abella murmured.
Caden nodded his head realizing what Abella was thinking about in that instant as the Council members nodded their head to her statement.
“So what?” Jenna sneered unwisely in her anger at Caden showing preference to the witch over her with the Council standing in the same house.
“If I know Caden at all, he will go and help Alpha Stone for those werewolves and for the ones that have been lost because of these rogues,” Abella said in the silence afterwards. “Besides, he would make sure that his pack is well protected before he left on this mission.”
Caden smiled at the confidence in Abella’s voice and yet he could feel her body tremble slightly telling him that she worried about his safety at the same time.
“I have made my decision,” Caden told them but there was a double meaning in his words that the Council members heard.
“Then we will abide by it,” one of the Council members said his eyes searching Abella who stared back at him her grey eyes clear although they held a hint of worry.
One of the Council members scowled looking at the young woman with narrowed eyes as Jed said, “Unfortunately, I would offer to go with you, but I have something that I need to take care so the Council will wait until your return to finish this discussion.”
Caden nodded his head at Jed who turned to the Council his silver eyes scanning each Council member noting the harsh look that flickered in one member’s eyes before he shielded it. He didn’t let any other emotion show on his face but he sensed that he would cause trouble while they were gone.
“Abella,” Cicely said catching her attention and everyone else’s.
Caden’s jaw tensed as Cicely stepped toward them and the arms around Abella tightened even more.
“I have gathered some of the best witches that I know of,” Cicely said without beating around the bush. “We need you to take us to their hideout where they took you so as not to be interrupted.”
Abella now knew why she hadn’t seen Cicely in the last few weeks as she thought about what she said. “It makes sense because if it had been another interrogation site then it would’ve been easier to locate.”
Cicely nodded her head but Abella sensed a hesitation within her as if she didn’t know to reveal something or not about something else she discovered.
“Just tell us,” Abella said softly.
Cicely shot a sharp look but said quietly, “We learned that in the next day, the leader of the witch hunters will be going there.”
Abella’s whole body went rigid at her words circled around her head.
“The leader,” she repeated slowly. “My father’s uncle?”
Cicely eyes were hard with hatred at her words but she nodded her head. “Yes, he will be in attendance along with the man who took you in. For what purpose, we haven’t learned yet.”
Abella listened to her aunt’s words but she also recalled what her father had said about his uncle the man who originally had a hand in her father and mother meeting.
“Caden,” she asked her mind in a whirl of emotion feeling those same emotions whirling inside Caden.
“You do what you think is right,” Caden repeated back to her. “I know that you want to avenge your parents’ death but I think you also want some answers.”
Abella nodded her head as she whispered so softly for only Caden to hear. “I want to know why he believes that witch’s blood will give him their power.”
Caden knew the minute that Cicely had revealed who would be there and how Abella’s body responded there was some questions she needed answered.
Just be careful, he told her leaning down to kiss her temple as he pulled her back against him.
You be careful also, she told him closing her eyes at the touch of his lips and body against her own.
“Cicely, when do you plan on leaving?” Jed asked as Abella and Caden’s eyes flashed opened.
“As soon as possible,” Cicely said looking at Abella who nodded her head.
“Caden,” Jed said turning his head to him noting the blank looks on both Abella and Caden’s faces although he sensed that they were having a mental conversation. Jed knew the reason for their ability to communicate even though Caden hadn’t marked her as his mate although he sensed that they have become lovers in the truest sense.
“We will leave today,” Caden told him his voice hard and decisive conveying his Alpha tone that couldn’t be disregarded or denied.
“Abella, did you go over the notebooks I gave you?” Jed asked her getting a confused look.
Jed waved her hand and the backpack appeared landing on the floor at their feet. “You will need them so I suggest you read them.”
Abella nodded her head as she tried to bend down to pick it up but Caden didn’t release his arms from around her. Abella stifled a smiled as the others looked at them and Jed gave
them a hooded look that was filled with worry.
“We leave within the hour,” Caden said looking back over his shoulder at Gregory as he started walking forward without releasing Abella.
“Cicely,” Abella said as they headed up the stairs.
“An hour,” Cicely agreed her eyes alight with humor as she watched them go up the stairs.
Jenna watched them with narrowed eyes and she gnashed her teeth before she murmured, “She will never be Alpha Female.”
The Council member who scowled earlier looked over at her and as she stormed away he followed.
“Do you want to know how to make sure that she doesn’t,” he whispered as he followed her outside to the middle of the yard.
“How?” She asked a hard look in her eyes and grim smile on her face. She would rather see Caden’s real mate come back then see that witch become Alpha Female. Besides she still had Briac to fall back on even though he wasn’t an Alpha, he had been part of the Council fighter wolves and a few words from her, and he would go back to being one of their protectors.
The Council member smiled as he leaned forward divulging a secret and Jenna’s eyes widened in astonishment as Jed watched from the house his eyes hard with anger.
You were right, sir, he said sending out the thought to his mentor.
It has to happen, the voice replied back wearily, and Jed sighed heavily his silver eyes still focused on the couple in the yard.
In their room, Caden kissed Abella softly and slowly so as to remember the touch and taste of her.
As they drew apart, she looked up at him worry evident in those grey eyes telling him how much she cared and he smiled using his fingertips to skim over her eyelids.
“Everything will be okay and when we return, we need to talk,” he told her.
Abella nodded her head as suddenly a loud ‘Bang’ echoed around the room and both turned at the sound ready to defend if they had too.
The book lay on the floor and Caden frowned as he stepped around Abella to pick it up, and as he opened the cover his eyes narrowed.
“Have you read this, Abella?” He asked looking up at her catching the sad look that crossed her face.
“Yes,” she said softly going over to the bed as a knock sounded at the door.
Caden gave her a hooded glance as he went over to answer it and Timothy handed him the backpack that Abella had left downstairs.
Timothy didn’t say a word as Caden took the pack from him and nodded before telling him, “We will be down soon.”
Timothy barely had time to nod his head as the door closed and he looked at it with worried eyes before he turned around and headed back down.
In the room, Caden handed the pack to Abella who unzipped it and started to look through the things inside.
“I’m not going to like what I discover, am I?’ He asked her quietly his eyes on the book still in his hands.
Abella was quiet for so long after his question that Caden glanced up at her. She was staring at him with a questioning look before she responded. “I don’t know, Caden. I do know this much though,” she began walking over to him. “I never thought to feel like this about anyone after my parents’ died so I will do anything to make sure that you are happy and won’t suffer because of my feelings.”
Caden frowned as he said, “I don’t understand, Abella.”
Abella smiled shaking her head as she reached up wrapping her arms around his neck before she lifted herself up and kissed him softly on the lips before she breathed against them, “I love you, Caden.”
Caden’s breath stopped in his throat at her words and his black eyes were the only color in his face as Abella landed back on her feet.
“Abella, I…” he started only to stop when Abella covered his mouth.
She shook her head and told him sadly, “You still have some unresolved issue concerning your mate and even though I want nothing more to hear those words, until you resolve the feeling that still resides in your heart for her,” she placed a hand on his chest right over his heart. “Then please don’t say them to me unless you are completely sure of your feelings for both of us.”
Caden looked down at her seeing a hint of sadness in her eyes that he hadn’t notice before and he tugged her tightly into his arms. Abella didn’t say another word as she encircled his shoulders snuggling into his warmth and strength before they both went their separate ways for the battles to come.
They both sensed that it wasn’t the battles they were worrying about even though each worried over the others safety. It was a sense of something happening afterwards that was creating this unease within them. Abella had a feeling she knew what was coming, but she didn’t think nor did she speak it because ultimately as in the past, it was Caden’s decision and she, as the witch before her, will do what she thought was right for him.
Chapter 35
“Now,” the woman commanded a second before she charged Abella, and she reacted without thinking catching the woman by the arm. She threw her over her shoulder before she flipped out of the way grabbing the knife she had hidden in her boot.
The woman stood up slowly giving her a narrowed look before asking, “Where did you learn that?”
Abella shook her head as she came to her feet. “I don’t know. It was just an automatic response.”
Abella wasn’t going to admit that she felt as if she had done this before although how she couldn’t quite remember which caused her to frown.
“Don’t think too hard on it, Abella,” Cicely told her as she started toward them. As the others gathered around, she scanned the group before she started to speak. “Tomorrow we will reach their hideout if Abella’s memory is correct.”
She gave Abella a sideways glance that Abella met easily knowing neither was going to admit that Abella couldn’t remember exactly where the place was, but with her gift she could put them right inside the room she was held without much difficulty.
“We seemed to be doing this the hard way,” another woman, Sydney, said stepping out of the group.
Abella didn’t look over at her because every time she did, she got an eerie feeling about the woman. The woman in question was almost six years older than Abella, if she surmised correctly, and she was perfect in her own right. Yet, Abella had the feeling that Sydney was accessing each of their gifts and filing away the information for some later use. When she voiced this opinion to Cicely the evening before, Cicely had given her a narrowed look before telling her point-blank that she didn’t know these witches after only a day and half, and she shouldn’t make hasty judgments. Abella took that as a reprimand and didn’t voice her uneasiness again even though it was still there and seem to be growing.
“How sure can we be that she isn’t leading us into a trap?” Another witch, Janie, said giving Abella a hateful glare.
Abella flinched slightly knowing why the woman didn’t like her and why the others were keeping their distance. Even though her mother had been a respected witch, her father was still a witch hunter and the witches around her were wary of that information.
“I promise you,” Cicely said confidence threaded through her voice. “Abella is not leading us astray and if anything, she has more to gain from this attack than some of us.”
Abella didn’t look over at them as Cicely’s words echoed around the camp as she wondered how Caden was doing although they had decided before they left the pack house not to contact each other as it would only distract them from their individual missions.
Abella closed her eyes breathing deeply to clear her mind as she focused on Wester, the man who destroyed her parents’ and she froze as his face came to her mind.
“Abella,” Cicely began only to stop as she saw how Abella clenched her fists and her breathing was slow.
“Hey,” Janie said stepping forward to touch her when Cicely threw up her hand blocking her.
Janie turned to her in shock at what she had done before Cicely said quietly, “If you break her out of it, then she may end up so
meplace else entirely.”
Janie’s eyes widened as Cicely’s words sunk into her mind and she said in a whisper, “She has it, the ‘third eye’?”
“She does,” Cicely told her as she kept her eyes on Abella. “It is also more powerful than mine because she can actually see someone she has never met before without having any knowledge of them.”
Janie bit her lip looking at the young woman in front of her and wondered if she understood the impact of her gift because those with the third eye were considered rare witches in the least. Although all witches had the ability to teleport themselves to any place, it was limited to places that they have been before, but those with the third eye didn’t need that as long as they were given a decent description or if they focused on a person then they could go to the place whether they had been there or not.
There were more issues involved with those who had this rare gift but only a few knew about it or how to train those with it.
“Does she know…” Janie said quietly as the other witches made camp for the evening. They had decided to camp out instead of staying within town so as not to raise suspicion if the hunters had someone on the lookout particularly as they must still be searching for Abella.
Cicely shook her head as she said, “I haven’t told her yet because it never happened to me. She will ask questions that I don’t have answers to at this time, but I am doing some research because I want her to know everything about the gift she has, and be prepared for what could happen.”
Janie nodded her head once as Abella suddenly took a deep breath and opened her eyes, and Cicely waved her hand dissolving the barrier she had put up.
“What happened?” Janie asked keeping her tone low.
Abella gave her a curious look before she answered truthfully. “Wester is nervous which is surprisingly considering how arrogant he was when he captured me. My uncle,” the twist of her lips after this statement told the others exactly what she thought of him, “is there also but he is scared witless. I have a feeling that his being there has a meaning and he knows what it is even though he is trying to deny it.”
The Witch Prophecy Page 33
