Dangerous Lycan: Claim Betrayed Luna’s Second Chance Mate

I stared in awe as I looked at the ladies all engrossed in their devices. They were nothing I expected, certainly not the old, giggling hags I had pictured in my head. These women were the perfect definition of calm power.? The eldest seated by the edge of the longest couch had pure white braids that fell on her shoulders. She wore a flowing turquoise robe adorned with silver embroidery.? Her dark eyes were sharp and hidden behind the glasses. She helped her gaze with the phone in her hands. Seemed to be amused by what she was looking at.

Seated beside her was a woman with red hair. Her face was etched with fine lines. She looked a bit younger than the first lady but not as young as the third one. She wore a simple linen green dress, a silver necklace glinting around her neck. Opposite them was a young woman, her short black hair streaked with vibrant purple, leaning back in her chair. She had a playful smile on her lips. Her attire was the most casual a pair of ripped jeans and a band t-shirt with a skull and the words “Don’t Mess With the Ladies” written in it.

Despite their outward differences, they didn’t look different to me.

“Welcome, travelers,” the woman with red hair greeted us, her voice warm and welcoming.? “We’ve been expecting you.”

Kieran and I exchanged surprised glances.? “You have?” he asked.

Well, that explained what we had seen by the door.

The eldest woman, who I presumed was the leader, chuckled.

“The whispers of the forest carry far, young king,” she said. “We felt your distress, the darkness clinging to you like a shroud.”

Before I could say something, the woman with red hair spoke again, her gaze settled on me.? “And congratulations on the upcoming arrival,” she added.

My cheeks flushed as they all looked at me including Kieran.

“Oh shit,” I mumbled, I should have expected that. The secret that I had carefully guarded for weeks, was out in the open.

“Thank you,” I said.

Avoiding Kieran’s gaze.

Kieran cleared his throat, drawing the conversation back to the reason for our visit.? “We… we need your help,” he began.

“Mother we should offer them a seat first,” the youngest of the witches said. She had a stable smile across her lips. Then she walked up to us, “Here,” she took Kieran’s hand ignoring mine, “my name is Emaline,” she winked.

“I’m Kieran, nice to meet you Emaline,” Kieran responded.

Did she just do that? Openly flirting with Kieran. I swallowed and followed them to the couch. Where we settled in and she returned to her seat. But for some strange reason, her eyes did not leave Kieran.

“So, what brings you to the Wilds?” The oldest of the witches asked.

Kieran unwrapped the cloth around his arm, “this did,” he showed them the mark.

They looked at it keenly, “what is your story?” They asked.

“It appeared after a dream. In the dream, an arm grabbed me and when I opened my eyes, I saw the mark on my arm.

“The connection curse,” the red-haired witch mumbled.

“What?” I said.

“That’s what your mate suffers.”

“We know, Kieran,” she said gently.? “We know why you are here.”

My head snapped up.? “You know?” I echoed, bewildered.

The leader nodded.? “The magic you used to save your husband, Clara,” she began, “It was a powerful act of love, but it also came with a price.”

My heart hammered.? A price?? What did she mean?

“You bound Kieran to you,” the woman continued, her voice filled with a quiet understanding.? “You imbued him with a part of your power, creating a temporary bond that pulled him back from the brink.? But without knowing, you also made him a conduit for the souls you claimed.”

The cold gripped me.

“The souls I’d claimed during the fight with the vampires, I remember now they are the source of Kieran’s nightmares, the reason behind the darkness that clung to him?”

“Don’t blame yourself, child,” she said, her voice softer now.? “You did what you had to do to save him.? But the magic of life and death is a delicate balance.? Those souls are restless and vengeful, and are now drawn to Kieran, seeking vengeance for their untimely demise.”

“Oh shit.”

The weight of her words crushed me.? In my desperation to save Kieran, I’d doomed him.? Tears fell from my eyes, what had I done?

The youngest with the purple streaks spoke up, her voice was surprisingly gentle.? “Don’t despair,” she said.? “We can help.? But it won’t be easy.”

“We’ll do whatever it takes,”? Kieran said, moving forward.

The leader smiled faintly.? “Good.? First, we need to break the connection between you and these vengeful spirits.”? She reached into a pocket of her robe and pulled out a small, carved wooden box.? Opening it, she brought out an amulet made of silver and moonstone.

“This amulet will act as a shield.? It will deflect the attacks of the vengeful spirits and break the link you? created.”

Kieran reached out and took the amulet, “How do we use it?” he asked.

The red-haired woman took over, “The amulet needs to be charged with your combined energy, your love for each other,” she said.? “Focus on that love, visualize it as a bright light that surrounds you both, so it can push back the darkness.”

Then she handed me a note, “This is for the ritual. Say the words while channeling your love and weaving it into the amulet.? Hold your hands together. As you would say the words, the moonstone would glow and would only grow brighter with each passing moment.

When the glow finally reached its peak. Then you know that the amulet is fully charged.”

I nodded. She took the amulet and the three witches cast a spell and chanted some words to it.

” The amulet will protect you,” she said, handing it back to Kieran.? “But remember, it’s only a shield.? You need to find a way to appease the spirits, to offer them something they desire to find peace.”

Kieran nodded.? “We will,” he said.

“The spirits are bound to the book from which they reached out,” the red-haired woman added.? “Perhaps within its pages lies a clue, a way to offer them what they seek.”

We had a starting point, that was good enough.

The journey wouldn’t be easy, but at least we weren’t facing this darkness alone.

“Thank you,” I said.

The leader smiled.? “We all have a part to play, child,” she said.? “Now, go.? May your love be your shield, and may you find the answers you seek.”

We thanked the witches once more and made to leave. But something caught my eye, the youngest witch, Emaline, her smile drifted away as I held Kieran’s hands and led him out. I couldn’t quite tell why she looked at him the way that she did.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

As soon as we stepped outside, I felt the weight of their eyes leaving us and finally, we were alone again.

At least physically.

“Did you see that?” I asked Kieran.

“See what?”

“The third witch.”

“And what about her?”

“Never mind,” I said. I didn’t want to sound paranoid.