Chapter 75

Words : 1400 Updated : May 20th, 2025

Raven. After Sadie left my room, I got up, showered, and got dressed. I usually take a few minutes in the morning to meditate. It helps channel and anchor my powers—something my mother taught me since I was a little girl. Once I was done with that, I checked on Aspen. She was still asleep, with Martha curled up on the sofa opposite the bed. Today, I didn't plan on much except visiting my mother's grave. It's been so long, and I miss her so much. Before Sadie and I fled, I used to visit her at least once a week. It helped me feel closer to her, even though she was no longer around. "Morning," a cook said when I walked into the kitchen. "What can I get you for breakfast?" I stared at her. A smile was plastered on her face as she looked at me expectantly. She seemed so warm and inviting. It's been the same with the few pack members I've encountered since we arrived yesterday. I looked at them and wondered how such seemingly warm people could have such a dark side. The pain Sadie endured is embedded deep inside me. Her screams are still etched in my memories. I dreamed about her—about what she went through. But it all felt real, like I had switched bodies with her. "Miss?" her voice called me back. I shuddered as cold shivers raked through my body at those memories. Not wanting to think about them anymore, I pushed them to the recess of my mind, shutting them away where they couldn't haunt me. "Just toast, eggs, and coffee," I mumbled, trying to hide my irritation and disgust. She served my breakfast in minutes. I dug in, not really wanting to be there longer than necessary. I felt angry and bitter that they went on with their perfect little lives after ruining Sadie's. She tries to hide it most of the time, tries to pretend that she's fine, but I see it. I know her... and I know that she's still struggling with what they did to her. She's struggling to put the pieces of her shattered heart back together. Once I was done, I left without even a thank you. Back at our pack, I would have thanked our cook and probably given her a hug, but I just couldn't muster the energy to be kind to these people. I left the pack house and headed straight for the woods. When my mother was alive, we didn't live far from Alec's pack. We never ventured near the borders, though. My mother always warned me to stay far away from this pack. Werewolves and witches generally have a good relationship, and even though I was drawn to this pack for some reason, I never once disobeyed my mother. It was only after I met Sadie that I realized she might be the reason I was so drawn. It wasn't the pack I was attracted to; it was Sadie. It took about forty minutes to get to her grave. When I arrived, I dropped to my knees, tears falling down my face as I laid eyes on her headstone for the first time in three years. "Hi, Mom," I began, my voice clogged with emotion. "I miss you so much." I'll never forget the day she died. Just like always, we spent the day with her teaching me how to use my powers. When my lessons were done, she sent me to pick herbs that would come in handy for making potions. I did get the herbs, but I decided to take a swim. It wasn't unusual for me to do so. My mother knew that I liked to take a dip in the creek. She was okay with it, as long as I got back with whatever it was she’d sent me to get. I didn't know my father, and my mom refused to talk about him. For as long as I can remember, it was just her and our small cottage. When I was done swimming, I headed back home. I think I had been gone for only about an hour. I remember nearing our cottage and just knowing that something wasn't right. Something didn't feel right. I rushed inside to find my mom on the floor with her chest ripped open, her heart next to her body. I fell down on my knees, my legs no longer able to keep me upright. I was shaken and broken as a scream tore from my lips. I remember crawling to her and pulling her body into my arms, wailing for her to come back—willing everything to be just a nightmare. The pain that consumed me was like nothing I've ever felt. I felt like my heart had been shredded into pieces. I felt lost and dead on the inside, like I had nothing to live for. Everything became dull and lost its color. I cried for what felt like hours before burying her in a shallow grave I had dug by myself. I ran after that, trying to escape the pain I was feeling and the images of my mother's dead body. I was confused and didn't understand why someone would kill her. Was it an accident? Was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Did someone intentionally kill her? My mother kept to herself. She didn't have enemies—not one I was aware of anyway—so I doubted someone would want her dead. Days later, I came across Beth. She welcomed me into her home and comforted me. She even took me back where we held a proper burial for my mother and gave her a proper grave. "How have you been?" I asked, pushing those memories back so I could focus. “I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while, but I guess you already know why." I swiped away the dry leaves that had fallen on her grave while I filled her in on everything that had been going on. Being here with her after so long calmed something inside me. It brought a certain peace that had been lacking since we fled this state. "I'll bring Sadie and Aspen the next time I come," I promised, sitting cross-legged on the ground. "You will love them. You left me, but I believe you brought them to me—Beth, King, Sadie, and Aspen. You didn't want me all alone, so you gave them to me. Thank you, Mom." "I wish you were here, though," I continued. "Maybe you could help me figure out this curse that has been plaguing Alec's pack." I sat quietly after saying those words, basking in the peacefulness for a few minutes when it hit me. I shot up, staring at my mom's headstone in wonder. "Oh, my goddess! Thank you, Mom. I promise I'll be back." I couldn't believe that I'd missed it, and that it took coming to visit her to remember what she always told me. Giving her headstone a kiss, I rushed back to the pack. This time, I got there in under thirty minutes because I was in quite a hurry. When I broke through the forest and reached pack land, I scanned my eyes around, looking for a central place. I hurried when I spotted an area near a pond, a short distance away from the pack house. Sitting down in the middle of the field, I crossed my legs and closed my eyes, focusing on the surrounding energy. My mother always told me that every spell cast leaves a sort of remnant behind—a residue, if you must. Something that you can trace. She told me that you can use those residues to figure out the kind of spell used, the type of magic that was involved. Armed with that knowledge, I pushed my powers out, feeling the energy around me. I separated them, trying to isolate the one I was looking for. I dug deep, feeling the air, water, and earth around me. My eyes snapped open when I locked onto it and felt it. "Oh s**!" the curse flew from my mouth. This isn't good. This isn't good at all.

Chapter 75

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