I couldn’t believe everything I missed while away, especially the part where my mate was involved in helping Zira get an abortion. Of course I was worried about Zira but I was more worried something might happen to Isabella as well. This is why I shouldn’t leave her by herself. She makes stupid decisions all the time. I should’ve stayed but no. I wanted to go see my cousin. I had to.
A week ago, I rode with my Aunt Vera to James’ new pack which was only about three hours away from Zack’s. We rode in silence most of the way. She knew my reason for coming and she didn't like it. She didn’t want to bring trouble to her son and I couldn’t blame her. James has already been through a lot but I knew if he heard why, he would help me. I was smiling at a text from Isabella when my Aunt broke the silence.
“Guessing it’s that Isabella girl you’re smiling about,” she said, throwing a glance my way.
“Yeah. She’s at a spa with Luna Alaia and she’s complaining about the mud bath. Says she gets enough of that with Jas, her wolf.”
“Those Gale women. They are something else.” Gale? She noticed the look on my face. “Her mother’s maiden name.”
“Oh, I didn't know you knew her mother.”
“Well I knew her sister when I was younger. We were all close until, well…,” my aunt paused for a moment.
I saw my aunt grip the steering wheel before taking a deep inhale. “Anyway, that was a long time ago. Just watch out. They are great at capturing your heart. Just be sure you want to be captured.”
I wanted to press her for more but she motioned to the sign on the side of the road. “We’re here.”
The sign read 'Ancient Walkers' with a shadow of a person waving as we drove by. Riding through the gates, I could see it was situated in a nice vast area surrounded by the thick forest trees. Nice way to keep themselves hidden from just about everybody.
The houses all had the same log cabin build with others being a bigger or wider in size. The road was filled with people from all species of life. From wolves to witches to gnomes to fairies, and did I just see centaurs. They are usually notorious for staying away from others rather than their own. It was almost like a cornucopia of people roaming around.
My aunt pulled in front of the biggest cabin there and standing on the porch was my smiling cousin, James. He walked down the steps as we got out of the car. He seems to always be in a good mood. Hopefully I won’t ruin too much of it when I tell him why I’m here.
“Well this is a surprise,” he said to me, giving me a hug before turning to his mother. “Are you trying to replace me, woman?”
Aunt Vera slapped James on the arm, making us both laugh. “Boy, get the bags out of the car and stop playing around.”
After helping with the bags, Aunt Vera and Alpha Fiona went to the storage room to do inventory while James took me on a little tour of the pack. I watched him interact with everyone with nothing but smiles and jokes. We finally retired to the back porch drinking hot chocolate while we watched the snow cover the forest trees. I didn’t really want to ask my cousin for help but my time was short and he was the only person close enough to Alaia to know her.
“So are you going to tell me why you’re really here,” James asked, staring off in the distance.
I could never hide anything from him. He always knew when I needed something. This time around I wasn’t sure I wanted to bring this up. He looks so happy here and I didn’t want to ruin it. Then again, I needed help.
“It’s about Alaia. I think…I think it’s happening again.” I saw his body stiffen for a second before he relaxed again.
“What do you mean? She doesn’t have powers anymore. Zack said her powers were taken away,” he said, still relaxed in the lawn chair.
“Well I haven’t actually seen her do magic but I know she’s doing it. Her mate…”
“Mate,” James growled. “She actually has a mate.” I nodded. “Well I feel for the guy but good for them.”
“James…”
“Vicky, I’ve already been through enough with Alaia. I have a mission and right now I need to stay focused, do my part until I can…”
“Reunite with Maria,” I finished for him, remembering what he said at our first encounter. “What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know,” James yelled, throwing his hands up before gripping the banister.
There was a moment of silence as he continued to stare into the forest. Now I was regretting bringing this up.
“I’m sorry, James. I didn’t mean to…”
“When Alpha Fiona found me almost frozen to death,” James started, “She said she was led to me by the Goddess. I didn’t believe her until the Goddess came to me in dream. She said it wasn’t my time yet. That there was someone still here who needed my help. She said when I help this person I will get what I most desire and I want my family back, in any state.”
James looked at me with all seriousness. It’s not often you hear someone’s willing to die to be with the person they love. James was a Beta, so a second chance mate was highly probable for him. I didn’t understand why he would throw that away. I knew he believed every word he just said so I had to at least try to get him to help me
“Then maybe I am that person. Maybe the Goddess wants you to help me take down evil, once and for all.”
James laughed a bit and looked at me. The serious guy was gone and in its place was my goofy cousin again.
“What are we? Power rangers? Defenders against evil? You don’t quit, do you?”
“I know you don’t want to be a part of this but you know her. You know how she works better than anyone. I just want to make sure she isn’t hurting Zira. That’s all.”
“Zira?”
“You know her?”
“No. Just sounds familiar. Like in a dream. Anyway, what does she have to do with this?”
It was my turn to laugh when I thought about everything that's happened. I told my cousin the entire story from the night I met my mate, to my first encounter with Alaia, the bracelet Isaiah was wearing, to Zira’s pregnancy. I could see him clenched his fists throughout the entire story before standing up, pacing back and forth.
“So let me get this straight. Zira is pregnant with Alpha Isaiah’s baby, who’s mated to Alaia who is also pregnant.” I nodded as he continued. “So you think Alaia is using magic because you saw her mate wearing a bracelet similar to what Maria was wearing when she went crazy?” I nodded again, hoping he would just agree to help me. “That bracelet made Maria paranoid. Why would she want that for her mate?”
I thought about the day James brought Maria to my house. I thought about the crazy things she said and how she looked. Surely that’s not what Alaia wanted for Isaiah, right?
“I don’t know, James. I’m not really in the position to study the dark ways of Alaia’s mind at the moment. All I know is that Zira has been acting strange lately. Just like Maria. I didn’t see a bracelet but who knows what Alaia did. I just know she’s up to something and now that Zira’s pregnant, I want to try to stop whatever she’s trying to do.”
James took a deep breath and shook his head before letting it go. “December would’ve been our two years anniversary. Our son would’ve been nineteen months.”
I was shocked. I knew they were married but I didn't know Maria was pregnant. I touched his shoulder. “What! James, I didn’t know…”
“No one knew. She was so far gone I don't think she even knew. I only found out after she died.”
James became silent for a minute. A nice breeze swirled around us moving out into the yard. I watched as the snow danced around in a circle as if someone was directing it before everything settled. James let out a frustrated groan then turned to look at me.
“I’m a sucker for the pups. I’ll help but Alaia can’t know I’m here or around at all. I think seeing me might bring up old feelings for her and that wouldn't be good for anybody involved.
I gave James a hug. “Wait, how am I going to find proof,” I asked for Zira’s sake. “Besides the bracelet I’m not sure what I should be looking for.”
“That is the beauty of living here. There’s bound to be a witch or two flying around,” he said, looking at me with his goofy smile. “Get it?”
I shook my head. How he could instantly change from serious to goofy always baffled me. “Come on, that was slick, right?”
“Just point me to the person to help us. I don’t have much time.”
“Fine, you’re no fun anymore, Vicky. Finding your mate turned you into a spinster.” I punched him in the arm. “Ow! And abusive.” He moved away, rubbing his arm while linking someone.
“Great! The Alpha is sending someone. While we wait, tell me about this Zira person. Is she cute,” he asked with a smile on his face.
I facepalm myself. If I didn’t know my cousin well I would think he was crazy too. After the visit and getting the information from one of the witches in James’ pack, I decided to discuss all of this with Zack. It wasn’t the bracelet that bewitched Maria but whatever Alaia attached to the bracelet. A spell or a rune the witch told me. Sometimes they can influence someone if the witch had something personal from the victim. We can detect if someone is using magic by the scent the spell can leave behind but not everyone could sense it.
She told me to watch for weird behaviors like instance changes in behavior, different runes carved or painted somewhere, or their appearance most likely their eyes turn reddish. That would mean someone is trying to coax them. So when Isabella told me how Zira looked bewitched along with Isaiah, I knew Alaia had something to do with it.
Making them act and say things they normally wouldn’t. I just needed proof and help from someone close to her. Isaiah was off limits as she already had him wrapped around her fingers, but Zack was a better ally. He was already on her trail.