'Don't worry, she's just trying to mask her fear.' Marisol assured him through the mind link. 'She's also trying to rile you up to confirm if the curse has truly been broken. If you do any more than you already are, you'll scare her away.'
'Good.' Cedric grumbled back. The witch was way too cocky for his liking.
Just then, Caleb and his mate stepped out from hiding, hand in hand.
"Finally," the Witch exclaimed. "What were you so afraid of? This is a proper family reunion."
"Enough of your bullshitting!" Cedric finally snapped, startling everyone present except for Marisol, who had expected the outburst at some point, "What do you want, witch?"
The witch recovered quickly, her features stretching to reveal a smug smile that grated at Cedric's nerves, "Shouldn't you be thanking your brother and his mate? If not for them, you'd still be prowling the hidden castle and causing havoc."
Cedric raised an unamused brow, "What is it to you, Witch? Like you said yourself, it's a family business. Shouldn't you be on your way back to your coven?"
The witch rolled her eyes at his words, "Alpha," she started, an exhale following, "I have a name. It's Leticia. Secondly, do you think the battle is over? You know better than that, don't you?"
"Again, what I know is none of your business and, if anything, I'd like to know why you are still sticking around. We don't condone witchcraft here in Redwood."
Leticia narrowed her eyes, resignation flashing in them, "I'm still here because of the prophecy. I can not leave until it's fulfilled."
Cedric and Marisol exchanged a look, turning to give her unimpressed ones.
"Okay, I'll be honest. I'm here to help. I'm amazed at the sheer power Marisol wields. It calls me like it calls others like me. Normally, when a witch manifests powers for the first time, it's always in small proportion until he or she is ready to grow. Yours is different, Marisol. The powers in you are immense for someone who is still so new to it. That's not all, I'm sure you've noticed that instead of being new and fresh, the energy flowing through you is ancient. It is as old as time and impatient. You need help to control it or risk it controlling you."
Everyone in their small gathering stared wide-eyed except Marisol. She only nods in understanding.
"But that's not all, is it, Leticia?"
Leticia smiled, her eyes glinting with relief at being listened to and a hint of mischief, "Oh that's just the tip of the iceberg. The prophecy hasn't even begun to unravel in its totality. It mentioned war. Guinevere is coming, faster than you all can imagine, and I promise you, we're nowhere near ready for her."
"Fine." Cedric grumbled, impatient "What do we need to do?"
Leticia shrugged, "I can't advise you wolves. I'm only interested in the Hybrid Witch. So come and find me when you're ready. You'll soon find that the ball is in your court, Marisol. Always has been."
With that, Leticia vanished from plain sight. The ambiguity of her cryptic words leaving the air crackling with a tense energy.
★
It wasn't until a few days after Leticia's sudden appearance and disappearance that Marisol understood the meaning of her parting words.
She found herself torn between two worlds. On the one hand, she could flee Redwood and return to her parents and original pack, leaving behind the chaos and uncertainty that was Redwood. But on the other hand, she couldn't bear the thought of leaving Cedric. Cedric and her newfound pack needed her now more than ever. The thought of turning her back on them filled her with immense guilt and uncertainty.
She hated that she was unable to make a decision quickly. It filled her with so much guilt that she began hiding away from everyone. With Cedric, she made sure to think happy thoughts wherever he was around.
She wanted to seek out Leticia's help in unlocking the full extent of her powers as a witch because she knew that understanding and harnessing her abilities would be crucial in preparing for the looming conflict. But she wasn't sure that she was ready for that.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere within the pack had become increasingly tense as news of Cedric's liberation from the curse spread like wildfire. The council wasted no time in pushing for Cedric's reinstatement as Alpha, eager to restore order and stability to the pack. However, Cedric remained elusive, knowing that assuming the role of Alpha would also make Marisol his Luna, a prospect that filled him with both joy and apprehension.
He knew that they'd developed a deep connection but couldn't bear to force her into a position she wasn't ready for. Especially when he knew that she was battling to make a decision.
He understood the weight of her decision and respected her need for time and space to come to terms with her newfound powers and responsibilities.
So, to the pack, he feigned difficulties adapting to his human form again, allowing Caleb to retain his position as Alpha for the time being.
For Cedric, Marisol was everything. Her presence filled him with a sense of purpose and completeness he had never known before. He would do anything to protect her, to stand by her side through whatever trials lay ahead. Their bond was unlike anything he had ever experienced, and he cherished every moment they spent together.
Little did he know that her decision was the least of his problems. Trouble was coming to Redwood, and this time, it wasn't in the form of Guinevere.