Fallen Love
Chapter 4

Chris.

Deciding to get out of my room after spending the rest of the night watching for the moon to turn red again, I make my thirteenth cup of coffee. I’ve got to cut back because I’m not going to last long at this rate. Intrigued, tired and furious, I dive into my thoughts. Which witch issues a warning of disaster?

What do the signs that make the moon glow mean afterwards, the guys are supposed to find out about it because our relations with the wizards are at a standstill like with everyone else, since the drama eleven years ago, I need info. I’d like to be able to see my parents to find out more, they were close to good wizards many years ago before they died tragically.

Unfortunately, they won’t be back from their cruises for several weeks. I pass through the corridor of rooms hearing no noise, which means no one is awake and given the hour I understand them. Seriously, I hope this moon stays bright next night, because I’m not going to be watching the territory every night. I know the sentinels are watching, but I have to be there and ready for anything. Tracker, my wolf agrees with me, but what kept him awake wasn’t the red moon or the coffee, but rather our encounter with our soulmate last night at the game.

Frankly, the Goddess of the Moon chose the wrong moment for me to meet her. She’d be a she-wolf, I don’t mind saying, but as a human, how am I supposed to protect her with all the problems I’ve got? She shouldn’t have sent me my soul mate, she should have sent me a f*****g miracle. What am I going to do with a human, a powerful Alpha? I clearly don’t have time to deal with her with the enemies around. Lisa mustn’t know, only my Betas do, and that’s fine. As long as she’s not a witch I consider myself lucky, it could happen but then I’d have to kill her and live with a dead bond. So thank you, Goddess, for sending me a human, that’s something.

Arriving in the kitchen to make myself another cup of coffee, I put my hands on the worktop and stare at the wood. Her long, slender legs, her lightning eyes, her bewitching smile, haunting me every minute I’m away from her. My wolf’s been pissed off ever since he saw that guy try to k**s her. Well, she slapped him and pushed him away, but I’d have liked to have done more than just hit him in the shoulder. That would have put the wretched human back in his place.

I now understand where that smell Lisa’s been wearing for some time now came from, I thought she’d changed perfume but obviously I was wrong about the whole thing. They must be very close, which is why Lisa mustn’t know anything about it, at least for the time being, while we sort out our affairs.

Already with the enemy packs and with the witch who’s having fun worrying our sector of imminent danger, not forgetting the signs that have been happening for the last two nights, the moon that’s returning to normal, and then the weirdest, the snake that’s like swallowed the evil of the red moon. But that’s impossible, because there aren’t any white witches left in the world, as far as I know, and since no one can reverse the evil and return everything to normal, it’s very complicated. This nightmare has been around for almost twelve years now, and frankly, it’s had an impact on the entire supernatural community. Many women no longer want to have children for fear that the witches will want to make sacrifices for their rituals, and the packs are pretty empty in terms of child life.

My parents’ friends had bewitched a room so that the people inside wouldn’t be detected, just in case. Normally, this would have ended when they died, but the spell remained. For my parents, it’s a sign that their child didn’t die because the woman was pregnant, so they’re looking for him. But where can he be after all this time? My parents and Nick and Lisa’s parents hope to find him. As far as I’m concerned, he’s unfortunately dead. My coffee ready, I drink it half-heartedly, wondering how I’m going to manage all this. I clearly don’t have the skills to take on witches, even for an Alpha with over-trained members. I hear footsteps on the stairs and see Lisa trotting up with a smile on her face.

– Hello Alpha,” she says before kissing my cheek.

Being the only girl close to me, I allow her a few privileges and then nothing happens or ever will happen between us. I’m not saying she’s not beautiful, but we’ve never seen each other before. In my opinion, she’d be more on Emmett’s side, but they’re not soul mates, which I think is a shame. Well, that’s their problem. I’ve got my soul mate and a whole lot of other shit.

– Are you all right, Chris? Lisa inquired, seeing my unearthed face.

I raise my almost empty cup in her direction and smile.

– After fourteen coffees, I don’t know,” I said ironically.

– You should go to bed, we’ll take it from here.

– No, I’ve got plenty to do. With the threat hanging over our heads, I can’t afford to go to bed.

She also makes herself a cup of coffee, then stares at the floor, biting her lower l*p. What’s she thinking?

– How are you these days? I ask.

– Yes, yes, fine,” she takes a sip from her cup. What did you think of the snake last night?

– Honestly? I don’t know, it could be a joke or a false hope. I don’t know enough to answer that, which is why the guys have to do some research and contact our parents if they can.

– Don’t you think it could be a white witch?

Yes, I’ve thought about it, but as I said before, it’s inconceivable that there’s a white witch still alive who’s stayed in the wild for so long without being spotted or killed. It would be a miracle if that were the case, which is impossible, which is why it can’t be a good witch.

– If it could be that, we’d be at an advantage, but you know as well as I do that it’s unimaginable.

– Yes, unimaginable,” she murmurs.

Lisa is silent in her thoughts as she prepares another cup of coffee, then takes four croissants out of a packet to spread them with butter and strawberry jam, when she finishes Nick goes downstairs with Emmett and joins his sister to k**s her forehead, looking at her tenderly, then packs her breakfast.

– Didn’t you sleep, Chris? Emmett asks.

– No, I’d rather not sleep when the moon starts to change so suddenly.

– If we’re attacked, you won’t be at your best,” remarks Nick, his mouth full.

– Don’t worry, Tracker’s on the ball.

We finish lunch in silence, then I glance at Emmett, who looks at Lisa, who stares dreamily at the bracelet on her wrist. It’s all too quiet, and we’re in an entrenchment I don’t like.

– Nick starts a conversation, anything.

Being the Alpha I can communicate with my wolves at any time by thought with one or more of them.

– Why me? replies this one with a frown.

– Because you’re the clown of this pack,” I whispered.

– Not even true,” Nick says vehemently.

I keep looking at him until a smile appears on his face, telling me nothing. What the f**k is this idiot going to think up?

– So Lisa, how’s your girlfriend?

Oh, he’s doing it on purpose.

– Esra? All right, why?

– Does she have a boyfriend? he asks, interested.

Lisa laughs, not looking at him seriously.

– Forget it, she’s not for you.

– And why is that, dear little sister? Does she prefer girls?

Oh no, not that, please not that. The Goddess wouldn’t play a joke like that on me, would she? But when I see Lisa’s face smiling slyly, I realize she’s laughing. Phew, finally some good news.

– No, she doesn’t prefer girls, but you’re not her style,” smiles Lisa.

– How do you know that? Intervene Emmett this time.

– Because I know her,” she says simply.

She goes to rinse her mug and puts it in the dishwasher before heading back upstairs. I look at the guys more seriously

– So we’ve got work to do, guys, as agreed you’ll do some research with our parents if possible and I’ll improve the traps and increase the security of the territory.

They nod and the door swings open on Ethan who enters, out of breath.

– Ethan, what’s going on?

– Alpha, the pack to the north is coming to declare war on us.

– When? asks Nick, rising to his feet.

– Tonight,” warns Ethan. Sacha heard it from a member in a bar.

Lisa comes back just then, dressed, then looks at us strangely. She was quick.

– Anything wrong?

– The northern pack is attacking tonight, Emmett tells her.

– Shit,” she hisses. I’ve got to get out,” she says hastily.

– No, Lisa, we have to be ready. If a member is out you’re at risk and I won’t allow it,” I said seriously.

She was about to parley, but changed her mind, shaking her head. Well, at least it’s done, I tell Ethan to spread the word about the attack and that no one is to leave the territory. He leaves in a hurry. The boys and I are going to get ready, because there’s still so much to do before tonight that I hope we’ll be able to get there in time. It’s been several months since we were attacked, although there were some quarrels over territories, but I thought that with everything that was going on with the wizards, it had brought us closer together. I guess not. Anyway, a werewolf attack is nothing we can’t handle.

*

The sun is setting and everything is ready to welcome our guests. Lisa has set traps everywhere, in the square and around the houses, just in case some of them don’t make it to the front. We put all those who couldn’t fight under cover, a hiding place that our parents’ wizard friends had made, undetectable to any nefarious creature. Unfortunately, the guys weren’t able to contact our parents, but all they know is that the snake is a very powerful totem animal for witches, which doesn’t put us at ease.

We then scoured the territory to trap it and eliminate as many wolves as possible. I’ve been thinking a lot about Esra today – we’re risking a lot and I haven’t even seen her. I really wish I had. A howl makes us look up at the starry sky, it was the signal. They’re out there. I turn my head towards Nick and Emmett at my side and see them transform, growling and ready to attack. Lisa has remained in her human form, as have a few of us. I too transform as I see the first wave of werewolves running towards us. The traps activated as they passed, and explosions were heard in several places. Wow, Lisa’s traps don’t mess around, I’m glad to have her in my pack.

Here they come.

– Tracker, are you ready?

– Always Chris, count on me, he assures me.

No sooner has he finished his sentence than wolves jump out at us and we intercept them. Snarls, fangs and squeaks follow, but I throw myself into the battle and keep an eye on my wolves. I crushed the wolf that had jumped on me with my pasta and ripped its neck out without delay.

– LISA, Emmett’s voice screamed in my mind.

Turning my head towards her, I see her fighting a wolf in human form, suddenly a fireball comes from behind me heading towards Lisa, I start running to interpose myself before the fireball reaches her. But she’s stopped dead in her tracks by a force field that surrounds Lisa, who turns around after finishing with the wolf she’s been dealing with, then smiles at the witch who threw the fireball.

Several of us stopped the fight to see what was going on. What’s a witch doing here? How did Lisa stop the fireball? How did she create the force field that protected her like a shield?

Lisa approaches the witch, who sends her more fireballs, spells that are stopped by the shield that suddenly reappears. The witch stepped back, not understanding, as did I, and then a huge snake arrived at Lisa’s feet. We all squinted, as the snake shrank like a spring and suddenly lunged at the witch to bite her, after which she tensed as if paralyzed by venom and fell from her broom, letting the snake swallow her whole. Oh f**k, I’m going to puke.

– Em it’s disgusting,” complains Lisa, disgusted by the scene.

Ah, so this reptile has a name? When he’s finished eating the witch, he looks at us and approaches Lisa, who bends down to him.

– Thank you,” she says.

The snake looks at her, then disappears as it came. I recover from my emotions, remembering that we’re still in the middle of a battle, but what a surprise to see all the enemy wolves with arrows through their hearts. But who did it? I didn’t see a thing, and the others are starting to notice what’s happened too.

Oh wait, I didn’t quite catch that.

– She really is the best,” Lisa murmurs with a smile.

I stare at her because she’s going to have to explain the events she seems to know a lot more about than we do. Seeing a few lightly wounded, I tell them to get the pack out of the hiding places before treating themselves, while the others go and burn the bodies and remove the traps to prevent us from hurting ourselves unnecessarily.

Nick, who’s back to being human and clothed, takes his sister in his arms, reassured that she’s all right. Sensing my gaze, she stares back at me and comes over gently.

– I’ll explain, but not here and only to you,” she says in her mind’s eye.

I nod, then we leave for the house to go to my study, which is the only place where our conversations can remain secret as the room is soundproofed. I regain my human form and quickly put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt lying on the sofa, then close the door behind us, making it clear that no one is allowed in. Lisa is already sitting in front of my desk, so I go and sit on it right in front of the she-wolf. She’s fiddling with her bracelet without saying anything, although if she doesn’t want to say anything on her own, I’ll get the ball rolling.

– How did you get a shield? I began.

She raises the wrist she’s been fiddling with and shows me the bracelet on it. Not seeing me calculating, she taps her handmade string bracelet with her finger. No, it’s a joke, it’s breakable and guilty and this little thing makes a shield appear, seriously?

– Are you kidding me?

– Why do you think I don’t transform during attacks anymore? She shrugs. It doesn’t resist transformation, and I need it most in battle.

– But you transform into a wolf.

– I take it off first, and if I forget, my wolf reminds me.

Okay, so this little gizmo makes shields appear out of thin air. But why don’t you tell us who gave it to him?

– Who gave it to you?

– A witch, but a good one.

– Did you have to give her something in return?

– No, I didn’t.

I pause to see if she’ll unpack her bag for me, but no, she keeps her eyes on her bracelet as if it were precious. At the same time, it’s not every day we get a bracelet to protect us.

– How long have you had it?

– Oh, about two years.

– A couple of years? And you never thought to tell us? How did you get it?

Lisa remained silent for a few seconds and when my patience reached its limit, I grunted and her eyes closed briefly before she removed the bracelet. I didn’t understand at first, but then I saw them, thin cuts on her wrist right where the bracelet was. I kneel down in front of her and take her wrist to examine it, hoping it’s not what I think it is.

– I tried to kill myself,” she revealed.

– Lisa,” I murmured weakly.

Our eyes meet and I can read all the suffering she must have endured to come to this last choice. Anger and sadness run through my veins, I’m angry at myself and sad at what she’s done.

– Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you tell me, your Alpha, your friend, your brother or even Emmett, I don’t know, but anyone,” I raged.

– The most important thing is that a witch found me, nursed me back to health and, when she realized who I was, gave me this bracelet to make me stronger and safer.

– Who is this witch?

– She’s dead, don’t worry about her.

– She helped a wolf knowing we were killing her kind?

Lisa nodded as she put her bracelet back on, a small white light appearing when it was put around her wrist. OK, so this bracelet isn’t evil, which is good news, Lisa wanted to kill herself and that takes precedence over her witch stories. Goddamn it, a member of my pack, whom I deal with every day, I’ve never seen a damn thing. What a loser I am, instead of sleeping around I should have been more careful, Tracker screams out his pain and Lisa’s head snaps up.

– Don’t blame yourself Chris, I was hiding it and without bragging I was doing it very well.

– I should have seen something.

– If Nick couldn’t see it, you couldn’t either.

That doesn’t help me accept it. How could I not have seen anything? I can’t remember a moment that might have enlightened me, it’s all a blur.

– You’ve never tried to end your life again?

– No, don’t worry, that’s behind me and I’m trying to get better every day.

– Well, if it ever crosses your mind again, come and see me.

– Okay,” she promised honestly.

Let’s recap, because this is a lot. A witch created a protection bracelet for Lisa that works even when she’s dead, then Lisa tried to kill herself and nobody seems to know, and what’s more, she’s my human soul-sister’s best friend. Yes, I know, it doesn’t make any sense at the time, but it’s the truth all the same.

– Who was the snake that killed the witch? You called him by his first name, Es….En…,” I tried to search for the first name.

– Em,” she corrects me. It’s the animal totem of the witch who made the bracelet. If I’m in great danger, her spirit appears to help me.

– Even dead she can do that,” I say a little skeptically.

I’m not a specialist in witchcraft, but it doesn’t seem too possible if the witch is dead. When in doubt, I don’t believe her but don’t say anything either, after all, the magic of my parents’ friends still works. Seeing me not argue the point, she relaxes slightly and smiles at me. Good thing we’re on the subject of confidences.

– Lisa, I’ve got something to tell you.

– I’m all ears.

– Well, I’m scratching my head. Your friend Esra is my soul mate.

– I’m so sorry.

Her eyes round in surprise, which I can understand. I was just as surprised when I found out a human was related to me, but then again, it could have been worse. Now that Lisa knows, maybe I can ask her advice. But right now, I don’t see her coming down, still in shock at what I’ve just told her, which scares me a little.

– Why the long face?

Lisa pulls herself together and looks at me with a small smile.

– Let me take it, but you know she’s… human.

– Of course I know.

– Oh dear, she told me that boys weren’t part of her plans, now she’s going to have to rethink her priorities,” she laughs.

– Lisa, the most important thing is to tell him that we’re related and, above all, that we’re werewolves.

She waves her hand, as if to say that wasn’t the most important thing, which surprises me. Saying we’re werewolves is the most complicated thing to explain, and when it comes to talking about soul mates, I’m going to have to pray she doesn’t run off. That’s the trouble with humans: they have no idea that the supernatural world exists.

Seeing the time, I decide it’s time to go to bed, but the red moon comes back to mind, so I go to the window and am relieved to find it shining as usual. With my agreement, Lisa leaves my office to go to bed, and when I leave, Nick and Emmett get up from their armchairs in the living room to come and see me, surely wanting to know what’s going on with Lisa. I understand, but Lisa doesn’t want anyone to know, so they’ll probably be angry with me. The only one who can tell them the truth is the she-wolf, not me.

– Sorry guys, she doesn’t want you to know,” I said without waiting.

– But is it that bad? Nick asks.

– The only thing I can tell you is that it’s over and she’s fine.

– That doesn’t help,” grumbles Emmett.

– I can’t betray her confidence, you know that.

They nod, resigned to not asking any more questions. On the other hand, I tell them about the witch and that Lisa knows about the connection I have with her pal. I then go outside to check that everyone’s all right or healed, that the bodies have burned properly and that the traps have been removed correctly. On my way back to my room, I take a shower and count myself lucky that there were no more injuries or even deaths in my pack.

If the packs start wanting the witches’ help to take over territories, we’re in trouble. I’m going to send out some scouts to find out about this tomorrow, it’s a lead I can’t ignore. I get out of the shower, put on a pair of boxer shorts and throw myself on my bed to catch up on my missed hours of sleep. Until the next attack or other problem with the witches, I decide to get to know Esra and hope she won’t be reticent towards me, but Lisa should help me well.

Or so I hope.

It was while I was drawing up a plan for tomorrow with Tracker’s participation that I fell asleep.