Bonds

My head throbbed like a maddened drumbeat as | tried to push myself upright. The last thing | remembered was

Fiona and her coven’s spell, and the next thing | knew, Amaya was in front of me. My head pounded and | knew |

really needed to hurry up and get out of here because these constant headaches were going to eventually

explode my brain.

“You're causinga whole lot of trouble, and I've only known you for a day,” Delores’ voice cut through the

haze. She stepped into the room, her expression a mix of amusement and weariness. My gaze followed hers to

the ground, where Fiona lay unconscious.

| groaned, rubbing my temples. “I think we both would appreciate it if | could get out of here sooner rather than

later. Did you get everything for the spell?”

She nodded, her eyes serious. “For a spell this delicate, you need strength. | may be the regent, but | can’t trust

you to be alone. You can stay at my place tonight then when you are well rested, we will perform the spell

tomorrow.”

We exchanged a silent understanding, a connection forming between us that felt both strange and comforting.

As we walked, the weight of the situation pressed down on me. I longed for her to actually be my mother, and |

sensed a similar yearning in her eyes- forto be her sister.

The house was a surprise. Small and unassuming, it stood nestled among a riot of colorful flowers. I'd expected

something more... witchy, | suppose. But this was homey, inviting. As | stepped inside, my eyes landed on a

framed photo. It was Delores, younger, smiling sitting beside my mother. They looked so alike and it must have

been really difficult for anyone to tell them apart. A wave of familiarity washed over me. | reached out, my

fingers tracing the glass. “I miss you, Mom,” | whispered, the words escaping before | could stop them.

A profound sense of loss enveloped me. | turned back to Delores, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thank

you,” | managed to say.

She nodded, her voice thick with emotion. “Take a shower. The bathroom is that way. I'll leave something for you

to eat, and you can sleep on the couch.” She gave the photo one last lingering look before disappearing.

Alone, | made my way to the bathroom. The hot water was a balm to my aching body. As the water cascaded

over me, | tried to clear my mind of the chaos that had consumed my life. Ever since | could remember, | had it

all. It didn’t matter that my father was a monster, | had always lived a comfortable life and it bled into my need

for success which was how | beca billionaire and now all the riches, now everything seemed so... irrelevant.

The crisp white towel felt cool against my skin as | stepped out of the shower. Pulling on back the pair of shirt

and trousers, | told myself that it was just for a day.

The enticing aroma of roasted meat filled the room, my stomach growling in protest as | entered the living room

area again. | hadn't realized how hungry | was. Following the delicious scent, | found Delores true to get word

had placed food on the kitchen counter, a steaming plate laid out on the table. Without a second thought, | sank

into the chair and devoured the food. It was like the most satisfying meal I'd had in years - simple, comforting,

and seasoned with a hint of unexpected warmth.

As | finished the last bite, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. | slumped onto the couch, sleep claiming me

almost instantly. The air grew chilly in the dead of night, sending shivers down my spine. Then, a sudden

comforting warmth washed over me. Blinking through the haze of sleep, | saw a figure looming overhead. My

mother’s face floated above me.

“Go back to sleep,” she whispered.

| complied, sinking back into the soft cushions. This sleep felt different, deeper than any I'd experienced in the

past four years. The kind of sleep that washes away worries and leaves you feeling refreshed and renewed.

And it felt like nothing could get me.

The sun’s gentle rays filtered through the curtains, rousingfrom slumber. A moment passed as | tried to

recall where | was, the strange events of the past day flooding back. Just then, Delores voice broke the silence.

“It’s tto go, Alex, she announced. “This spell is complex, and there's no room for error,”

“Well, good morning to you too,” | mumbled, stretching my arms above my head. “I guess that’s where | get my

bluntness from, huh?”

A flicker of amusement appeared in her eyes. “Perhaps,” she conceded. “Let's get going.”

She ledoutside, towards a clearing bathed in the ethereal glow of dawn. A group of witches huddled

together, their faces etched with apprehension. They shifted uncomfortably as we approached, their gazes

flickering between Delores and me.

Delores addressed them, her voice firm yet filled with a plea. “I understand many of you are troubled by this

situation.The pain inflicted by werewolves, especially on sof you...” She paused, her gaze lingering on a

woman with a deep scar running down her cheek. “Many of you know | had a sister, a twin, who during the

attack. Her voice trembled slightly as she turned to me. I've recently discovered she survived, and...” she

hesitated, a tear glistening in her eye, “...she had a son.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Delores held up a hand, silencing them. “He simply wants his wolf back, so

he can protect those closest to

him. I'm not asking you to help him as your regent, but as a sister, a friend. We have a pact, one that demands

loyalty to family. And Alex...” she smiled at me, placing a hand on my shoulder, “is family.”

A tense silence followed. Finally, a wizened woman stepped forward. “Well then, let's get this spell done as

quickly as possible.”

A wave of agreement washed through the group. Delores gestured towards me, pointing at an intricate chalk

circle drawn on the ground. “You have to lie in the center,” she instructed.

Looking around at the wary faces, | took a deep breath. This spell, this chance to reclaim my wolf, was more than

just about regaining power. It was about protection, about keeping Amaya and the twins safe. With a determined

nod, | stepped into the circle, ready to face whatever cnext.

The circle of witches closed in aroundtheir voices rose in a haunting melody, a complex weave of ancient

words and primal rhythms. Delores knelt beside me, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder, a silent anchor in

the swirling chaos.

As the chanting intensified, a palpable energy began to build within the circle. It was a force both exhilarating

and terrifying, a raw power that seemed to emanate from the very earth itself. The trees surrounding the

clearing swayed violently, their branches whipping through the air like frenzied arms. The wind, once a gentle

caress, had transformed into a howling gale, tearing at the edges of my senses.

| felt a surge of adrenaline, a primal instinct awakening within me. My heart pounded in my ears, a rhythmic

counterpoint to the witches’ chant. The ground beneathtrembled, as if the earth itself were caught in the

throes of a convulsion. A low, guttural growl rumbled in my throat, a sound unfamiliar yet deeply resonant.

5 ‘ a

The witches’ voices reached a

deafening crescendo, a high—pitched

wail that seemed to pigrce the very

fabric of egjity Bendre around me

blurfdd the once familiar shapes of

the trees and the witches twisting

into grotesque, surreal forms. Then,

f q

Delores’ voice cut through the chaos,

her tone firm and resolute. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

I I

This is where | leave you. You have

to find your wolf by yourself. Then

spell will send you {for

SHER iis but be careful. Your

ang , a

demons are waiting, and you're going

. . ” H

in there ordinary.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

She pulled a knife from the folds of her dress, “You'll need this.”

| blinked, confusion and disbelief warring within me. “How am | supposed to take a knife into my head?”

Delores offered a small, enigmatic

: “ » .

smile. “Trust me,” she replied. She

began to UT PRS &F Adds,

her yoidallow and ypnotic. As she

spoke, the knife seemed to shimmer,

a soft blue light emanating from its

blade. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

When she finished, she looked down at me, her gaze intense. “Your daughter. When the tis right, make sure

she finds her

| opened my mouth to ask what she meant, but before | could utter a single word, she whispered, “This is going

to hurt.

The next moment, a sharp pain shot through my leg. | let out a cry of surprise as Delores plunged the knife into

my thigh. B

way here.”

The world seemed to tilt on its axis, and then, a blinding flash of white light engulfed me, consuming my vision

and consciousness.