BEYOND THE DARKNESS: The Alpha's Little Witch

Five years after the death of his fated mate, Alpha Blade found himself lost in the abyss of life.

He had abandoned his pack and chose to lead a mercenary life to avenge the death of Soledad, his fated mate. But even after justice was served, he felt empty, and the need to take more lives had become his way of life.

With too much blood in his hands, he became ruthless and cold-hearted, with no direction, no goal, and no will to survive—until destiny decided to play a cruel joke on him and gave him a light witch for a second-chance mate. 

Confused and not wanting to betray the memory of his first mate, Blade fought against the new bond the Goddess gave him, only to find himself being drawn more to the young witch who was slowly lighting up the darkness surrounding him.

But when lies, betrayals, and secrets come to light, will their bond survive the test of fate, or will the truth spiral them into the darkness lurking behind the shadow? 

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BEYOND THE DARKNESS: The Alphas Little Witch is the third installment of the INTO THE DARKNESS SAGA. To understand the world I created, I highly suggest reading the first two books, also available on Goodnovel/Buenovela/Meganovel.

INTO THE DARKNESS SAGA

BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha's Little Demon

BRAVING THE DARKNESS: One Night With the Demon King (attached to the book Beneath Her Darkness - after its epilogue)

BEYOND THE DARKNESS: The Alpha's Little Witch

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For updates and teasers, follow me on my I G and F B  - author.cassa.m / www.facebook.com/groups/cassandra.m.world

001 - Her

BLADE.

A euphoric groan escaped from my throat as my hold on the female’s hips in front of me tightened. I was lying on my back while she was sitting on top of me, straddling my front with her hands on my chest, sending explosive sparks all over my body and drowning me in pleasure I had not experienced in a very long time.

This was pure bliss.

A smug smirk tugged on my mouth before I squinted my eyes, trying to have a clearer view of her because I couldn’t see her face at all.

Her long, dark plum hair was cascading over her, shadowing her face. But I was sure I had never encountered her before, yet she felt familiar.

But not knowing who she was was the least of my worries. I was more concerned about what we were doing. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a female in my arms, especially like this.

I knew I shouldn’t have anyone, yet I didn’t want to end this.

“Fuck!” I growled as my hips bucked faster, hitting her hard as she bounced on top of me.

I let my hand move, my fingers skimming over her naked skin. Her soft whimpers filled my ears, and just when I was reaching my peak, an earth-shattering scream ripped in the thin air, making my body rigid and all the hair in my skin rise.

I knew this scream.

I’d heard it for the last five years, and even after hearing it over and over again, the pain that came along with the scream never faded.

The female in front of me vanished instantly, and I fell with a loud thud before my body rolled over. I found myself lying on my stomach on the wet, muddy forest ground. My eyes roamed in the dark until they found what they were looking for.

“No!” I growled so loudly that I felt the earth shake underneath me.

My hand extended as the scene unfolded in my eyes.

I watched in horror as my mate’s body was flung in the air and landed on the ground with a deafening thud.

“No! No! No!” My grip on the dry leaves and twigs tightened as I scampered to raise my body and sprang to where Soledad was, snapping the necks of the wolves along the way until I reached her.

But I was too late.

Blood oozed out from her mouth and from the hole in her chest, pooling around her body.

My knees weakened as my whole world crumbled right before my very eyes.

They broke her.

“No! No! No! Please no…” My pleading echoed inside the forest as I kneeled beside her, not knowing which part of her I should touch first. I just wanted the bleeding to stop.

“Please, make the bleeding stop…” I kept pleading, but I had no idea who I was praying to.

Our gazes locked, and despite the tears in our eyes, I could see how her emerald eyes began to lose color. I took her hand and placed it on my chest before I rested my forehead against hers. I tried to stop my tears, but they kept coming.

The sparks and her scent were around me, but they were weakening. She was slipping away.

“Please, don’t leave me…” I mumbled softly, trying to breathe in the air she was breathing out. “Not yet, please…”

And then everything about her faded — the sparks, the scent, and the breathing. She was gone.

“No!” I roared, and my body jerked up, awakening me from another bad, torturous dream.

My eyes rounded as sweat trickled down my forehead and every part of my body. I kept staring blankly at the vast, dark forest in front of me.

Another nightmare. But it felt like it was real — like it had been for the last five years.

I let my agony wash over me at the memory of her, but there were no more tears. I had run out of them.

Soledad. She died five years ago.

Five years, but it never got easier.

Five years of having recurring nightmares about her death — a blatant reminder that I did nothing to save her.

I was an Alpha — one of the strongest in the north — and yet I was not able to protect my own mate.

They wanted me, but they went for her. They knew killing her would ruin me. And it did — knowing I was the cause of her death and that I was not able to stop them.

It was a burden I would carry for the rest of my life.

After her death, I left my territory and hunted the pack of rogues that caused her demise. But even with their hearts in my hands, I felt incomplete.

I wanted more.

So I didn’t stop. I let the anger and the beast in me take over my life.

I spent the last five years in the wilderness, raking in money from bastards who wanted to find and kill anyone. It didn’t matter anymore what the reason was behind the request for the kill. I just wanted blood in my hands.

The more I kill, the more I go numb. The more my heart became cold.

I welcomed the darkness, waiting for the day when my life would be taken so I could finally be freed from the guilt inside me.

But death never came. Instead, I had to live with this pain every day of my life. Alive, but worse than dead.

I closed my eyes and let the cold air fill my lungs. I dropped my body to the cold ground, spreading my arms wide as I stared at the moonless sky above me.

I was sure I would not be able to go back to sleep, so I better get going.

Rage, my wolf, growled in my head because I shoved the memory of Soledad again at the back of my mind, which I have been doing a lot lately.

I’d been controlling myself when it came to her. The only time I couldn’t was during my sleep, when her death would always come back to haunt me.

But after I awoke, I would let myself be reminded of her for a moment, and then I would get up and do the things I needed to do for the rest of the day as if she did not exist at all.

Until the night comes, and I will have nightmares again, repeating the cycle of how I lived my days, night after night, day after day.

I grabbed the small, battered satchel that held the little belongings I had before I cast a look at the carcass of the elk Rage devoured last night.

I had no appetite to eat, but my wolf needed one. I usually let him out to hunt for his food, but last night, I had to channel my misery into something. So I went for the hunt, and the elk was my victim.

I knew Rage wanted to eat what was left of his food, but I didn’t want to stay at this place anymore.

“I will let you hunt again later,” I told him as I walked in the direction I was heading.

He growled at me, still annoyed that I disregarded our mate again and refused to let him eat. But, like always, I ignored my wolf.

I took a deep breath and set my goal for the day. I’d been doing well at blocking off Sol’s memory in my head whenever I was awake, if I wanted to. It shouldn’t be a problem today.

I should find the witch that Alpha Stone of the Mystic Pack asked me to find. The witch of the Red Mountain was the only known witch who was able to escape the underworld alive.

Aside from the money that Stone gave me, I accepted this offer because I had an agenda of my own. I wanted the witch to help me reach Soledad.

I wanted to speak to her one more time and ask forgiveness for being the reason she was dead and for not being able to save her.

Maybe only then could I finally free myself from the guilt.

Or maybe the witch could bring her back from the afterlife.

Or maybe she could take my life and take me where Soledad's soul was.

I just wanted everything to end. I was tired of life. I couldn’t find any happiness anymore.

The only satisfaction I felt was the presence of blood in my hands.

I shook my head at my own thoughts. I grunted and kept walking. A part of me was hoping the witch was powerful enough to do what I wanted.

Another ten kilometers before I reached the place where they had seen the witch. Ten kilometers and I would get my answer.

My mind was already blank, and I was just letting my feet do all the work when another thought slipped into my head.

There was another female at the beginning of my nightmare. It had never happened before.

Who is she?

I was sure she was not Soledad. My mate was slim and tall, while the female giving me pleasure was too small for my frame.

I couldn’t see her face, but I remember her long, straight hair being dark plum in color. She felt so real, and I would not deny that I enjoyed the spark and the pleasure she gave me, even if it was just a dream.

But no matter how hard I tried to rummage through the memories in my head — even memories before Sol came into my life — I was sure I had never met this female. Or I would have remembered her because there was something in here that piqued my interest, but I couldn’t pinpoint.

My heart clenched in pain. This was wrong. I shouldn’t be disrespecting the memory of my mate by thinking of another one.

I shook my head to remove her image from my mind as I continued walking, treading the deep forest, and making my way uphill up this mountain.

The sun was already up when I finally heard another sound aside from the birds chirping and the twigs snapping as I stepped on them.

Running water.

It had been days since I took a bath, and although the dirt and my smell never bothered me, I knew I needed a cold bath this morning. Because no matter how many times I kept shoving the thoughts of the purple-haired female away from my head, she kept coming back.

Her moans kept filling my ears, and even if I didn’t want to, she was making my cock hard.

I needed to cool down. I had never lusted after another woman in the last five years. This was a first for me, and I was convinced I was already on the border of being delusional and feral.

The sound of a waterfall heightened, and I began walking faster, pulling off my shirt as I did, leaving me bare-chested.

It was already autumn, but the crisp, cold air of the north did nothing to hurt my skin. I was accustomed to it. Even when I was deep in the snow during the winter, the cold never bothered me.

Rage began pancing and growling inside my head, but he was not communicating what was upsetting him. My wolf was uncontrollable at times, but he never kept his mind shut at me. He would always tell if I was being dick or lame, and it annoyed me that he couldn’t tell why he was agitated.

I kept snapping at him to communicate until the smell of the frosted forest and cinnamon swirled around me, and it began to calm my senses.

And it calmed my wolf, too.

It wasn’t winter yet, so it was amusing that it smelled like this at this part of the mountain. I didn’t know I liked the scent of the forest during the winter, but at this moment, I reveled in it.

The body of water finally came into view. A waterfall.

It was small compared to others I had seen, but it was magnificent. I knew the water should be cold, but for some reason, the smoke from the lagoon looked warm.

It might be that the water source was from a hot spring, but it shouldn’t be this warm when it flows here, given the chilly weather.

But regardless of whether it was warm or cold, I would still go for it. My body was aching for a swim.

I threw my satchel on the top of a big boulder, together with my shirt, before I pulled down my pants, leaving me fully naked.

It was when I was already in front of the small lagoon below the waterfall that I realized the scent of frosted forest and cinnamon heightened and was more concentrated on where I stood.

But before I could understand why it was making me salivate, a small form emerged from beneath the water and began screaming with a terrified expression on her face.

And for a moment, I thought I was seeing a nymph come to life.

Time stopped as our eyes locked, and I felt a bond snap within me. And slowly, all my senses came back to life as I stared at the female with the dark plum hair.

She was naked and looked like a fucking goddess in the middle of the water. And even if I didn’t see her face in my dream, I knew it was her.

Everything began to make sense — the agitation of my wolf, the intoxicating smell of frosted forest that I used to ignore, and my cock getting harder just by looking at her small face.

The Goddess gave me another mate. My second chance mate.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: *Please be advised that Blade's wolf name has been changed from Buck/Hawk to RAGE. I am trying to find a wolf's name that I feel is suitable for him, and the first two I used didn't really grow on me, so I'm changing it to Rage. So please don’t be confused. It's the same wolf. I started editing his wolf's name in the first two books, so it will be the same across the whole saga. TY*

002 - Living In Isolation

ALTHEA.

I had become accustomed to living alone after my mother died two years ago.

I had no idea about the cause of her death. I just found her not breathing in the middle of the forest of the red mountain after two days of non-stop searching for her.

My mother would never abandon me for more than 24 hours without notice. This time, she told me she would gather herbs at the mountain’s east end, but she would return before nightfall.

The night came, and the morning followed, but she was nowhere home.

I waited until lunchtime, and when she didn’t appear, I prepared to go after her.

The forest was full of creatures beyond what a human mind could comprehend. Shifters were everywhere. The bears and the wolves were the most commonly encountered, according to Mom. But as much as they were dangerous and everywhere, I was lucky to have never met one.

And I hoped that I would find my mother before I crossed paths with any shifters or any other species, not from the human realm. I was not scared of them, but I was aware I was weaker than them, so I was not taking any chances.

I set off on my journey. It took me two days of non-stop walking and following her traces.

My mother would never tread the forest without leaving traces of her magic for me. So the moment I couldn’t find more after following the path of her initial leads, I knew it meant danger for both of us.

But I kept walking.

At the end of the second day, I found the answer that I was looking for. Her body was lying on the cold forest floor, slightly covered in mud and dried leaves.

She was dead for more than forty-eight hours.

I spent the whole night crying beside her, hugging her cold body as if my cries and pleas to the spirit would bring her back to life. But it did nothing.

My name is Althea Vitali — a solitary, light witch.

My mother had taught me many magics and spells, but none of them were about bringing the dead back to life.

It was prohibited by the law of nature. But I wish I tried to know more about it because, at that moment, I wanted her back, and I didn’t care if I were to violate any laws.

I had no one but her.

I didn’t meet my father. I didn’t even know his name.

Mom told me she lost contact with my father even before I was born, and she thought it was better that I didn’t know who he was.

I was okay with that. I have a mother. I would survive.

So when my mom died, my world came crashing down. But slowly, I had learned to accept that I was bound to be alone in this life.

I was sixteen at the time.

For two years, I lived in isolation. I could count on my ten fingers the number of times I went down the mountain into the nearby city to buy things I needed. But mostly, I make use of everything around me to survive.

So far, I am surviving. I had no complaints. I was thriving with nature.

I splashed the water around me as I giggled heartily. I was in a small lagoon under a beautiful waterfall, two kilometers away from my small cabin.

Bathing naked in this place is what I consider a luxury.

The water was chilly at this time of the year, but a little magic helped warm it up, and voila! I have my own warm, private bath, with nature surrounding me.

Living alone wasn’t that bad.

I ran my hands on my hair, flattening it, before I lowered my body into the water and swam deeper, picking up the trinkets I dropped earlier to keep me entertained.

I was swimming peacefully when my heart began to beat rapidly for no reason at all.

This usually happens when I sense danger. I paddled and made my way up to the surface, and the moment I did, my eyes widened before a scream escaped my throat.

“Aaaaaah!” My eyes locked with a very naked, huge man standing by the edge of the lagoon, straight from where I was.

I kept screaming, but I remained in my spot, just looking at him, until I realized something was moving in the middle of his body.

He had a growing erection.

And spirits! It was huge, and it was still getting bigger.

I had never seen a naked man in flesh, that I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening and my pussy from tingling.

My head slowly tilted up to look at his face. His eyes were swirling with lust as they focused on something, only for me to realize that he was looking at my breasts as the waters sat below them.

Instead of covering my nakedness, I spread my arms open and summoned leaves from the ground to swirl around him, creating a tornado in his space.

“What the fuck?” He growled.

I wasn’t expecting his loud voice, so I lost focus on my chants, and the tornado disappeared.

I prepared to do another one, but the huge man jumped into the water and landed in front of me.

I knew I was doomed.

Water splashed all over my face and my feet slipped. I screamed as I fell back.

I was gasping for air when his hands gripped my arms and held me up, putting me back up, but he was holding me so tightly that it was already painful.

“Let me go!” I screamed as I tried to get away from his hold. My hands tried to reach any part of his body, scratching and clawing him, but I was nothing compared to his big frame.

“Calm the fuck down!” He growled, and it made my body go rigid. But before I could plead for my freedom, he pulled me towards him, slamming our naked bodies together.

My breasts were pressed against his hard stomach, and his hard thing was poking at my navel.

I couldn’t breathe.

“Calm down, or my wolf will come out.” He said in a low, raspy voice, and a chill ran down my spine. I had no idea if it was because of the word “wolf” or because his voice sounded rough yet so sexy.

He’s a shifter. A werewolf. No wonder his build was too perfect for a regular human.

I closed my eyes, trying not to be affected by his naked body against mine, but I couldn’t help panting. Every part of my skin was tingling, as if they were excited to touch him.

“Get away from me…” I mumbled. I had to, or I would collapse soon.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

How would I tell him I had never been this close to any males before? That his naked body was setting a fire inside me? And despite being submerged in water, I could feel something leaking between my thighs.

“Don’t hurt me…” I knew I could protect myself, or at least try to unless he was a powerful werewolf, but I would never be able to fight him off without my crystals and runes. Besides, his presence was making my knees weak and my stomach churn.

“If I wanted to hurt you, you’re already dead by now.” He said in a cold voice that it snapped me back to reality. He was a stranger, and that meant danger.

“What is your name?” He asked.

“I don’t owe anyone my name. Why are you here?” I asked back.

“I have a business here.”

“Are you going to kill me?”

“You’re dead now if I wanted to kill you. You wouldn’t even have any time to speak.” He spewed his words, laced with irritation.

“Let me go,” I said in a firm voice, my teeth chattering. The warm spell I placed on the water vanished and cold was already enveloping my body.

I didn’t realize I was leaning heavily on him when he abruptly let go of me. My feet slid again and I was about to crash into the water when I felt rough hands on my ass and on the side of my breast.

“Can you fucking balance yourself?” He growled while my hands widened because I could feel his calloused hands on my private parts. “How fucking clumsy can you be?”

“You, freaking monster! Get your hands off me!”

“The fuck!” He growled one more time and let me go. My body fell over to the water and I began flailing my arms so I could float. I was expecting he would help me again this time, but the help didn’t come.

I eventually found my balance, but anger was brewing in my chest as I stared at him. “This is my private spot! Leave!”

He had already made his way onto a big stone in front of me. He scoffed as he turned around and crouched, his hard cock pointing in my direction, which was almost parallel to my face.

I was still furious with him, but I couldn’t explain what I was feeling at the sight of his manhood. Excitement? Curiosity?

But there was no way I would let him know that.

“Have you got no decency?” I cut him before he could speak. “Get that thing off my face!”

003 - No Decency

ALTHEA.

“Have you got no decency?” I shrieked at him. “You hideous creature! Get that thing off my face!”

“Can you fucking calm down! I’m a shifter! Nakedness doesn’t bother me!”

“'I'm not a shifter and I don’t go around naked or see naked people around me!”

“If you’re not fucking aware, I can see your breasts and your pussy but I don’t act as if it’s the end of the fucking world!” He scoffed.

I hissed before I swam to the nearest rocks and hid part of my body before I spoke. “Again, leave.”

I had no idea if I was disappointed he saw my private parts or because he was simply ignoring that he saw them while I was so affected by his nakedness.

“Are you a witch? I need to speak with the witch of the red mountain." He ignored my words again.

“I don’t have time to answer your question!”

"Oh, come on, little mermaid! Just answer my question, and I’ll be out of your hair!”

I glared at him but didn’t answer. I motioned with my hands, and my clothes shot up in the air and landed in my grip.

I saw his eyebrows raise, but I was already squeezing myself behind the big stone so he wouldn’t see me while I put on my clothes until I heard a loud splash in the water.

My head peered from where I was hiding, and I saw the big man swimming gracefully.

His body was covered with tattoos and scars, but I would say it suited his build and his rugged look. He was rather attractive, unlike the men I would see in the city with their baggy pants and chains hanging around their waists.

I kept staring and studying his features that I didn’t notice that he had swam across the water and ended up in front of me.

"Now that you are decent and my cock is hidden under the water, are you free to talk with me now? Where can I find the witch of the red mountain?”

I glared at him before I answered. “Eight kilometers to the east.”

“Is she there alone? Or are there any other witches there with her?"

“Alone.”

“Okay. Does she live in a hut or in a cave?”

I rolled my eyes at him as I pulled my hair into a ponytail. “Under the ground.”

“What do you mean? Is it an underground cave?”

“Six feet under the ground. She’s dead. When I found her, she was already dead. I hadn’t perfected lifting a body in the air then, and she was too heavy to carry, so instead, I dug the earth with my hands and my magic for hours until I got the perfect hole where I could place her body. The witch you’re looking for is dead! Now that you have your answer, you are free to leave.” I said it in one breath and found my body shaking as I fought my tears.

I had never spoken to anyone about her death or the agony of the days after. Although saying it now didn’t take away the pain, I felt a burden lifted from my shoulders.

The big man opened his mouth and closed it immediately. His face softened but was gone in a split second, and the cold demeanor returned.

We stared at each other in silence before he turned around and swam to the other side of the lagoon.

I didn’t look at him anymore as I jumped over the stones until I got to the ground and began walking in fast strides.

I was already preparing the chants in my head to shield me from being sensed, but even if I were, I didn’t do anything.

I had no idea why.

I kept walking until I heard footsteps behind me.

“You should leave. It’s dangerous out here.” I told him.

“I live for the danger. I want to ask more questions.”

“Go ask someone else. I don’t have time for you.”

“I’ll wait until you make time for me.”

“What do you want? The witch you are looking for is dead.” I was still walking ahead of him, and I knew he could definitely catch up on my steps, but he chose to remain behind me. It should be a red flag, but for some reason, I was not even worried he would strike me or do something devious behind my back.

Oh, spirits! I think living in isolation made me so careless that I would entertain anyone who wanted to speak with me.

“I presume you are a witch, too. I need your help, especially if you know something about the demon realm and about reaching out to someone from the dead.”

My ears perked up. I stopped and turned around, making him halt as well. He had his clothes on, but I could see the bulk of his muscles perfectly. And despite having a rugged get-up and a scowly face, he was really good-looking.

“What do you want to know about the demon world?” I asked. The demon realm has always interested me. “And who do you want to reach out to from the grave?”

“My mate. She died, but I didn’t get to tell her many things.” His whole aura changed and the arrogant man I saw earlier just disappeared and was replaced by a man with a defeated soul.

“What you want is against the rules of nature. No one should disturb the veil between the living and the souls of the dead.” I told him in a calm tone.

I had no idea why pain struck my heart. Was I hurting on his behalf, or was there something more?

“Have you not done it before?” He asked.

“I’m not a dark witch, and I have no plans to be one.” I turned my body around and walked away again.

“How about the demon world?”

“If you think conquering the demon world means you get to see the soul of a bereaved one, then you’re wrong. The underworld only held rotten souls, the unrepentable, and the outcasts of the other realms. Unless your mate is a rotten soul, you will never find her there.”

“I have a different request about the demon world, and I think it’s safer if we go to your place so no one can overhear us if we discuss it.” He answered.

“I don’t trust you.”

“If you didn’t trust me, you would have walked away, and yet you keep answering all my questions. Or was I too attractive that you couldn’t stop yourself from entertaining me?”

I stopped in my tracks, disgusted at the arrogance in his words, and before I could stop myself, I was spewing rude words at him already. “Aren’t you arrogant? Me fancying you? Look at you! I bet even in the dark, you’re still hideous.”

“Aren’t you fucking rude?”

“No, I’m just plain stupid. I should be walking away now, but for some reason, I keep answering your questions.”

“Do you know why?” He asked and the arrogant smirk was back on his face.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

“Do witches have mates?”

“Like werewolves?” I chuckled sarcastically. “No, thanks spirits!”

“What’s with the sarcasm?”

“You have a heart. Why rely on a mate bond to fall for someone?” I asked, crossing my arms across my chest. “Probably because shifters are the most indecisive and arrogant creatures on this earth. Every so-called alpha male wants all the females on their feet, so your goddess needs to coil ropes around your neck to…”

I was not able to finish my words when his hand cupped my jaw.

“Enough!” He growled, and my reflexive instinct was activated, and before I knew it, I had let out an energy and knocked him away from me.

His body flew and his back slammed on a tree with a loud thud, but he was able to balance himself and remain standing.

“Don’t you dare hold me again!” I felt heat rising from my body as my chest heaved.

He just looked at me with an amused expression, and it annoyed me more.

“Leave!” I said one more time before turning my back on him.

I had already taken a few steps when his voice reached me and made me stop in my tracks.

“You’re my mate, little witch.” It was loud as if he roared. “The Goddess decided to coil my neck with an invisible rope and tie me up with a witch for a second chance mate.”

It took a while before his words sank in.

I knew things about wolves, especially about the mate bond. My mother talked about them a lot and about one couple she knew that were fated mates, and even the king of the demons was not able to separate them.

But I had never heard of second chance mates. He must be bluffing — just his way of getting information from me, and that was a real cruel joke.

I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing. I wanted to lash out in anger, but instead, I decided to walk away.

004 - You're my mate, little witch

ALTHEA.

I arrived at my home and tried to go on with my routine, but I couldn’t seem to focus.

Everything reminded me of him.

I could see his muscles flexing and the way his jaw tightened, and even with his nose flaring and his eyes glaring at me, I found myself attracted to his physical features.

Something was definitely wrong with me.

For the rest of the day, I fought with myself not to think about him. At one point, I even screamed at the top of my lungs and let out energy from my body that had all my pans and pots dropped and clattered on the floor.

But I still couldn’t get him off my mind.

I finally gave up and let my desire for him take over. I drew my curtains close, even though I knew I was alone in this part of the mountain, and sat on my small couch.

I leaned my back against it and bent my knees, anchoring my feet on the sofa as I parted my legs and slipped my hand inside my dress and into my underpants.

I let go and pleasured myself with thoughts of the man I saw by the waterfall.

I didn’t even get his name, but it didn’t matter.

I let my mind wander, taking my desire to an ultimate high, enjoying the thought of his rough hands all over my body, pressing and caressing every part of me.

My toes curled, and just as I was about to explode, a knock was heard from my front door.

I peered through the window and found the same huge man standing outside my door. His one arm was a pile of cut wood.

I wanted to tell him to go away, but the desire in me took over, and I rushed to the door and opened it instead. “If you’re here to ask me to bring the woman you love back to life, you are wasting your time. I am not helping you.”

Instead of answering, I saw him sniffing the air before his lips twitched into a crooked smile. But it was gone in seconds. If he smelled something, he didn’t say anything about it, and I was grateful for that, as I felt my cheeks were already burning from embarrassment.

“I got you firewood. I saw you come out and take just a few from your shed, and when I checked it, there was nothing in there, so I looked for wood I could cut and chop.” He said

My eyes went to the wood before tilting up to look at his face. “Are you stalking me?”

“Can I settle this first?” He asked in an annoyed tone.

I should have told him to go away, but then again, my actions were different from my thoughts. I opened the door wide and let him in.

He entered and made his way to the fireplace. He dropped the wood on the floor beside it before crouching and tossing some in it, placing them strategically.

I was looking at his broad back until my eyes fell on his boots’ soles. They were full of mud, and they were already on my floor. Not that I wouldn’t be able to wipe it out with my magic, but as much as possible, I tried to do things manually if I could.

He turned around, and he must have seen the expression on my face because he frowned. “It’s just mud. It can be cleaned.”

“Did you hear me say anything?” I retorted at the animosity in his voice.

“Your face said it all.” He grunted before walking toward the door. “You’re welcome. Have a good night.”

Wow.

But instead of slamming the door in his face, I decided to be nice. “Do you want to eat? I think I have enough food for two. Although I’m not sure how much portion you are eating, I think whatever portion I have is enough to warm your stomach.” I said in one breath.

“How old are you?” He asked instead of answering.

“Eighteen.”

His shoulders slumped before he began walking away again.

My forehead creased, annoyed that he ignored my invitation after I did my best to be nice. I didn’t notice that I picked up one of my clogs and aimed it at him until it came flying and hit his head with a thud, making him growl before turning around slowly.

“What the fuck was that for?” He asked, almost roaring.

Instead of cowering, I decided to act bravely and tilt my head up, placing my hands on my hips. If he decided to attack me, there was a door between us. I could shut it and put an enchantment on my house so he couldn’t break it.

“I just invited you for dinner on a food I worked hard to cook, only for you to ignore it!”

“Isn’t that basically what you did to me? I ask you questions, and I never get a decent answer.” He snapped back.

“I don’t even know if I can trust you!”

"You don't seem to trust people easily, but you openly spread your legs and touch yourself without closing your windows so everyone can see you put on that fucking show!"

I gasped, horrified at his words.

“And then you invited me for dinner inside your home? So again, if I can’t be trusted, why are you inviting me inside your home?” In a few steps, he was already in front of me, towering over me. “Do you usually do that? Invite males inside your house even if you don’t fucking know anything about them!”

“I hate you!” I yelled at him as my eyes watered from his rudeness. I pushed him with full force, using my energy. His body flew again, and he landed on the ground outside of the house. I shut the door with my chants even before he could get up.

My hands curled into fists as my chest heaved. I didn’t know what to feel at the moment. I couldn’t understand myself.

The only emotions I was used to were happiness and loneliness, but this man was evoking emotions I was not familiar with: anger and frustration. And yet, I was lusting after him.

I was usually good with my emotions. I never had an outburst.

I bit my bottom lip and tried to steady my breathing, praying to the spirits to calm me down. I was counting numbers when I heard another knock on the door.

“What do you want?” I asked snappily.

“Is the food still available?” His voice was calmer.

“I threw it already!”

“How about water? I promise I won’t anger you again.”

I slowly loosened my tight fists, but I didn't move or answer him.

"I'm sorry. Those words were uncalled for." He added.

I knew I was being stupid because I opened the door.

“My name is Blade. What’s your name?” He said the moment he came into view.

“Althea…”

“I’m thirty years old. And I’m not lying when I say you’re my second chance mate. My wolf is furious at me right now for angering you, but I had no idea what to do with this bond…”

Of course, he wanted nothing to do with me. Didn’t he want his mate alive?

“My first mate died five years ago. You are my second chance mate, Althea. But maybe the Goddess made a mistake because you are too young for me.”

I could hear his words, but all I could think of was him saying I was too young for him. He didn’t want me.

Not that it mattered to me. I didn’t want him as well.

I closed the door in his face again, but slowly, not knowing what to say this time. But I could still feel his presence outside.

A minute or two passed by, and no one moved behind the door. I finally gave up and opened it, and I was right. He didn’t even move an inch from where he was standing.

Our eyes locked before he took one step forward, making our bodies touch.

His hand cupped my chin, tilting my head up while he leaned his face downward, making his warm breath fan against my skin.

“Althea…” His voice came out raspy, sending shivers down my spine and making my pussy tingle.

He was so close. Too close, I wanted to kiss him.

005 - This Mess

ALTHEA.

He was so close. Too close, I wanted to kiss him. Something was really wrong with me.

This pairing was impossible from the very beginning.

He was too old for me. He has an impossible temper. He’s a werewolf. And he was still in love with his mate.

My hands went to clutch his hand that was holding my chin, taking it off my face as I dropped my gaze away from him, breaking the magic between us.

“The food will get cold if we keep it waiting,” I said in a soft voice. I didn’t want to fight him anymore.

Having him too close was making me weak. This was not a good sign. He was making me vulnerable.

“Right. Let’s eat. I’m famished.”

The last two words came out as if he growled them lowly, and my traitorous core clenched at the sexiness of his voice.

It was a struggle to stay still while sitting in front of him, but I survived dinner without snapping at him. And he gave me back the same courtesy. We were both civil, but I could tell he was as uncomfortable as I was.

But at least the dinner was peaceful.

We talked about what I knew about the demon world and the reason why he was sent here to look for my mother.

But since she was gone, Blade thought I was the next best thing.

I wanted to tell him that although I knew many things about the demon realm, I was not an expert in spells and magic, but I also didn’t want him to know that. He said I was too young, and admitting that I was not a high witch yet would just make me look weaker in his eyes. So I kept my tough facade, pretending I knew what I was doing.

After that conversation, I was expecting he would talk about his mate and why he wanted a witch to reach out to her. But it never came.

There were also many things I wanted to ask him about us and the mate bond he was saying, but he seemed not interested, so I didn’t ask anything.

After dinner, he said goodnight and was about to make his way out when I found myself offering the extra room in the house.

Again, something must be wrong with me because I kept doing things that I knew were totally wrong.

I gave him my old room while I stayed in my mother’s room, which I began occupying after her death. The bed was small for his frame, but I thought it was better than being out in the cold.

I sat in my bed, holding the biggest blanket I could find, since I knew nothing was in his room.

But instead of going to him right away, I took my time contemplating things.

He did say his first mate died five years ago. So, if I were also his mate, what am I then? A replacement?

My shoulders sagged as I let out a deep breath. So much for thinking that I would find someone who would love me like the ones I read in romance novels.

Maybe true love doesn’t exist because all I was given was a mate bond, and to make matters worse, I was just a fill-in. I would never have him if the first one didn’t die. So there was nothing special there. But even with that bond, he still didn’t want me.

Maybe this was the perfect time to meet other people.

Or I would grow old alone.

I thought I was okay with that — just reading novels and being happily in love with the characters I loved. But meeting Blade made me realize how many things I was missing.

I liked the warmth that his body was giving me and the security I felt whenever he was around. If he couldn’t give that to me because I was too young for him or because I was not his original mate, then maybe I should find someone else to give me the warmth and attention I was craving.

Maybe accepting his offer to go to the Mystic Pack is the right choice. It would open many opportunities for me. I could try, and I could always return here if I fail.

I made up my mind to tell him I would go with him.

I stood up, and with the blanket in my hands, I went to his room.

I knocked three times, and when he didn’t answer, I pushed the door to his bedroom open, only to be left frozen in my spot.

Blade looked at me while my mouth hung open. A few seconds after that, something spurted out of his hard cock that he was holding.

Did he just masturbate in my bedroom?

My eyes darted from his massive dick to the floor, where the drip of his cum fell.

He chuckled. “I will clean it up.”

“How could you?” I asked, still dumbfounded.

“You’re the one who didn’t knock.”

“It’s my home!” I shrieked.

“I’m a fucking man! I have a libido!” He snapped back at me before he pulled up his pants and buckled them up. He then grabbed the pillow, taking out its case before swiping the floor clean with it.

My mouth hung open more as my eyes rounded in shock. “You did not wipe it with my pillowcase!”

“I just did.”

“You’re disgusting!”

“Just throw it in the machine and wash it!”

“I don’t have a washing machine!”

“Use your magic to clean it, then!”

“You go wash that on your own!” I yelled at him, and I felt my face burning in anger. I felt violated, although I was the one who entered his room without notice.

A smug smirk formed on his lips before he extended his arm, handing me the stained pillowcase and making me move backward.

“I jerked off thinking of you and came when I saw you by the door. So it’s your fault that I made a mess here.”

“Bastard!” I hissed as I threw the blanket on his face before leaving his room, slamming the door on my way out, and going directly to my bedroom.

I was sure my face was so red from embarrassment.