ZADOK“Are you just going to stand there and watch all day?” Azriel said a few meters away from me. We were on training grounds. The air reeked with sweat, determination and blood. Just the way I liked it. “You are doing a good job,” I commented, examining the wolves as they sparred. “However, there is room for improvement. I taught you better than this.” “This is just the first round, Alpha. I promise it gets rough with time.” Azriel said, now standing beside me. “All I hear is excuses.” I tutted, “take a look at the female wolf's end. Athaliah is doing a better job. Perhaps I should watch them instead?” Athaliah was the strongest female wolf in the bloodMoon pack, she was capable of training other females. Ths was as a result of the alpha blood that flowed through her veins, and the impressive skills she's built over the years.I hear excited screams from the other end where the females trained and I realize they were all listening in on our conversation. I turned to Azriel wi

ZADOKPick her up! Pick her up! My mind yelled at me, and like a possessed person, I walked towards Ithra with that goal in mind. Probably scared by what happened, she leans into her person but I wasn't deterred. I picked her up like a pack of cards and immediately made my way out, leaving behind a pack of bowed wolves in my wake. As I stepped through the people, carrying her bridal style, my eyes caught an unconscious wolf by the corner with a knife to the chest. My blood boiled, knowing exactly who had perpetuated that act. My eyes connected with Ithra's and my hold around her tightened. With clenched jaws, I walked past the body, sending a note to Azriel to take the impaled wolf to the pack doctor while I led Ithra to the prison till I knew exactly what to do with her. We got to the prison and I dumped her on the floor. “Lock her up. No food or water until I say otherwise.” I ordered one of the guards who immediately dragged her away with a snarl. I watched Ithra struggle to

ZADOK“I’ll give you another chance to tell me who you are, Ithra.” I said into her ears, enjoying the look of horror in her eyes.“Not that I do not know, but I'd like to hear you say it…” I spun the witch band in my pinkie finger. “Who are you and what is your real motive for entering my territory?” Ithra gulped and it was the most attractive thing I've ever seen in my life. Focus, Zadok. Focus. I shook my head, trying to get the odd thoughts away. Ithra remained silent, an act that didn't go down well with me. I thought that by now, she would have learned her lesson about crossing me.“You must feel very confident.” She croaked, surprising me.Her voice wasn't the sweet and sultry one I'd come to know her for. It sounded parched, broken and overused. Why did she sound like that? “Unlocking that band has got to be the stupidest thing you've done since the beginning of your existence, Zadok” She said, eyeing me warily. I saw through her act. Behind the tough girl persona, was

ITHRA Not a day passed without a dream about the dark forest. Ever since the caped lady visited the farm, every waking moment was spent with thoughts of the dark forest.So much so that I felt a part of me was there, waiting for me to come. With the alarming increase of my dreams about the dark forest, I became a shadow of myself. If I was looking bad before, then I looked terrible at the moment. Dragging myself to the farm, I contemplated how to get to the dark forest. I didn't know where it was located, neither did I know how to leave this place. I didn't even have powers to help myself out there if peradventure, I left on my own. It was an impossible mission. I toiled on the farm, calculating my odds if I was to get an opportunity to leave this deserted place. The dark forest didn't scare me anymore. Infact, I was certain nothing would happen if I stepped foot in the forest. Call it an intuition, but I was convinced that the dark forest wouldn't harm me. Infact, I develope

ITHRA “The dark forest mountains retain the power to give and restore a witch's power.”I reread those lines with shock, cleaning my eyes every now and then. This must be a set up too. I turned around, checking for the odd herbalist who thought it wise to play tricks on me. However, she was nowhere to be found. I looked around the hut, turning out back in search for her all to no avail. I was left alone. With a new found determination, I shut the door behind me and return to the book with fresh eyes. This time around, one thing stood out to me. Everything written on the page remained on the ancient witch's code safe for the last paragraph. Which read, “the dark forest mountains retain the power to give and restore a witch's power.”Goosebumps wash over my body as I recite the line in my head. I could feel my spirit connect to the book. It felt like the line was written just for me. ‘Legend says it's been locked by the ancient witches and can only be read by one they permit…’S