The Tiger Prince's Witch
Chapter 53 - The Real Monster

Astaroth looked down at Melita lying on the bed, passed out. She was tied back up for later use. He wasn't in his body; he was in Santi's. He was the one who decided to have sex with Melita making her think it was her father. Astaroth had entered Santi's body without him realizing it, as he's done for years.

He'd corrupted Santi's mind and the mind of his tiger, so they were slaves to him. Santi's thoughts were no longer his own, while Astaroth was in his body.

Santi's mind still came through at times when Astaroth had to rest. However, each time he enters and leaves Santi's body, he always leaves a piece of himself there, corrupting Santi even more. It was the only way for him to walk on the earth

unseen.

Astaroth was the evilest of all demons in the underworld. Even Lucifer himself had cast him aside because his mind was too evil. That's why he did what he did to Melita in the form of Santi. The weretiger wasn't nearly as bad as he'd made him. In fact, before Astaroth had begun corrupting him all those years ago, while he was still a teenager, Santi had actually been shy and kept to himself. He had been the perfect patsy for Astaroth's plans.

If Santi was in his right mind and knew he had raped his daughter, he would most likely be unable to live with himself. Luckily for Astaroth, he wasn't in his right mind. As he moved down through the tunnels to his place of rest so he could leave Santi's body, he thought about the last couple of hours. His potion from the witches always worked well on young women. It was the only way he could get them to want him. After he kills off the shifters and all of Spirit Energy, Astaroth would have any young woman he wants. They will line up to please him. Just the thought of it almost made him return to Melita.

When he reached his destination, he got out of Santi's body and handcuffed him to one of the stone. Astaroth had ensured it was too strong for him to get loose. As Santi woke up, the old demon watched him from the body of the old man he'd taken hundreds of years ago. It had seen better days.

"Where am I?" Santi asked, looking around. After Astaroth left his body, he was always confused until he was given the special potion.

"Drink this, and you'll remember." Santi drank the red liquid Astaroth poured down his throat. It was a potion mixed with some of the demon's blood. As it took effect, he saw the viciousness coming into Santi's eyes and knew he could un-cuff him.

"What am I to do now, my lord, now that the spies have been returned to us?" Santi asked, feeling as though he'd just woken from a long nap. The last thing he remembered was the spies standing in front of him. He doesn't remember how he got to the tunnels.

"I will take care of them. I want you to get in contact with Alpha Gary. Make sure everything is in place for them to fight with us. We're going to need all the soldiers we can get. I want to ensure he hasn't had a change of heart." Santi nodded and began leaving the tunnel. He hated it down there, especially when he couldn't remember going there.

Gary and Shila were busy training with the pack when she got a weird look on her face. Shila grabbed her head and fell to her knees in pain, rocking back and forth. Gary ran to her side in worry. "What's wrong?" He asked, terrified by her reaction.

"I don't know. I think someone is coming, and they're trying to check for Spirit Energy witches. I need to hide before they find me here. It's probably someone for Santi. I have a shield, but their magic is trying to break through." Gary didn't think twice. He lifted her up in his arms while mindlinking his beta. He took Shila to the hidden room where she would be safe. Joshua ran into the room right as Gary was putting Shila on her feet. "What's going on?" Joshua asked anxiously.

"Someone's coming, most likely from Santi. Stay with Shila until I get back." She grabbed his arm before he could leave.

"They may try to read what's in your heart and mind. I need you to bring all of your hate forward. Don't think of me. Show your fear of Santi and your anger at having to fight with him. They already know you're doing this because of the she- wolf and don't expect you to be happy about it. Keep Spirit Energy out of your thoughts. Be safe. I love you." Shila looked up into his eyes with tears in hers. Gary nodded before bending down to kiss her on the lips. After shutting the door, he got her out of his thoughts with his wolf's help. They had to keep her safe.

When he got outside, he saw two familiar figures coming toward him. It was Alice and Marcus again. He stared at them with anger in his eyes. Letting his hatred for Santi and the two of them course through his body. His wolf Cyril even growled a little to help keep him on track.

"What do you want?" He asked as he glared at them.

"Santi sent us to ensure you're training your pack appropriately and haven't had any outside influences changing your mind," Marcus said as they looked toward the training grounds where the rest of the pack was still preparing for the battle. "Nothing has changed. We're getting ready. I just want to be done with this and out from under Santi. You can report that to him. After this fight, we won't owe him anything." Gary shuddered when Alice and Marcus stared at him with their cold black eyes. He could tell they were trying to read him.

"Don't be surprised if we have some more unplanned visits. Santi is worried about cold feet. If he has any inclination that you've had a change of heart, he will have your pack eliminated." Alice's voice was so hollow it sent chills down his spine, causing Cyril to growl at them.

"I will protect my pack. Tell Santi he can stop with the threats. I'm not taking any chances by defying him. You can leave now. We have training to do." Gary started to turn away, but Marcus stopped him.

"You don't tell us when to come and go. Only our master does. In the end, we may decide to stay here to make sure you make it to the palace in time for the battle. We wouldn't want the warriors to miss the fight, as the sacrifices would be too small." The warlock's words confused Gary until he remembered that Santi needed willing sacrifices to win the fight. He glared at the couple again.

"None of my pack will be sacrificed, and we're definitely not willing. Tell Santi he can find another wolf that wants to die on his behalf." Gary yelled at them with rage in his voice. That was not something they had agreed to. "Listen here, dog, you will do as Santi says, and if he wants to sacrifice one of your mutts, you'll let him. You are nothing but a mongrel who we can kill whenever we want." Alice moved closer to him, but Gary didn't back down. "Get the hell out of here and don't come back unless you're invited." He spat at them as the fury took over, almost to the point that he was ready to shift.

"We'll leave now. Just remember, we'll be back soon, and it will be unexpected." As quickly as they appeared, they were gone. Gary didn't move for a few minutes, making sure they were really gone. He then ran into the packhouse and down to the hidden room. Once there, he threw open the door. Shila was sitting in the corner, rocking back and forth. Joshua was standing next to her watching the door anxiously. Gary ran over and lifted her in his arms before sitting in a chair. "It's okay. I'm here, and they're gone." She looked up at him with fear in her eyes.

"They may be gone, but they put a watching spell over the pack lands. I'm going to have to stay here until the battle, or they'll know about me. The spell will only look for newcomers or people with blood other than a wolf. I am a hybrid with Spirit Energy blood. It would be a beacon to them." Shila was terrified that her presence would cause everyone to get killed. Gary held her tightly in his arms.

"If that's the case, you and I will both stay down here. I will go up to train with the pack, but I'll eat and sleep down here with you. Even when I'm gone, you won't be alone. I love you, Shila, and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe." Gary kissed her hard as he held her.

"I love you too." She said against his neck as she hugged him. Shila didn't tell him that it may not be enough. The black magic she felt from Marcus and Alice was powerful. Due to her being a hybrid, their magic may overpower and kill her without even trying.