Bjorn walked into their shared office space only to find his partner glaring at the monitors again as if that would magically make the woman wake up. Sure, he couldn't see the screen from where he stood, but he knew perfectly well what his partner saw. The human female was tall, mid-twenties and with long, curly locks trailing down her spine. She had bruises around her wrists and ankles, but they looked days old. The goose-egg on the back of her head was probably the reason why she was out cold, but the EMs had assured them that otherwise, she was fine, and they could take her into custody.
Which still didn't sit right with Bjorn.
He didn't know what it was, but something was off – not just about the whole situation, but especially with that woman. They'd clearly walked in on her about to have sex with Colten and that's what the little rat also insisted on. That she was his girlfriend and this whole thing had been her idea. That she'd given him some old family heirloom which gave him the power of "suggestion".
Power of Suggestion…
Hell, that thing had almost fucked up the entire operation since everyone who looked at the damn thing fell under Colten's control. And he'd just about walked out on them when Magnus has finally been able to break free and attacked the guy, ripping off the damned neckless.
And usually, that would have been the end of it.
Case closed and they'd send the woman and Colton off to the MBI headquarters and let them take care of matters. But that's when Bjorn's bear had made him aware of the woman's state. Her dirty hair, the bruised cheek---
Her ripped clothes!
She didn't look like a "girlfriend" – hell, she looked like a prisoner. She was so dirty he couldn't even catch a hint of her natural scent from all the musk and the stench of sickness coming off her. He wanted her in a hospital, for a doctor to look her over and make sure she was taken care of---
But he was outvoted.
Not that he didn't understand the reason behind it: she was an unknown factor and as long as her life wasn't in any danger, they couldn't put her in a hospital. The risk of escape was too great, especially if it turned out that she was a witch like Colten insisted.
Didn't mean that Bjorn liked it!
And while Magnus had felt the same, there wasn't anything they could do until she woke up. Other than putting her in a cell where she wouldn't be able to escape, human or otherwise. Even now, Bjorn could see the wheels spinning behind his alpha's eyes as he was going over all the scenarios and sorting through all the evidence they'd gathered so far. If something didn't sit right with him, he followed his gut feeling and investigated the shit out of it.
Which was one of the many reasons Bjorn respected him as his alpha.
"Anything?" Magnus asked when he finally noticed him at the door.
"He claims she talked him into it," Bjorn replied and shook his head, as he headed for his desk. "And that she is his girlfriend."
Bjorn had tried to take another crack at Colten, but that hadn't gotten him anything. The bear might have been a big guy and could put the fear of God into any creature – atheist or otherwise – but Colten knew that changing his statement meant life in prison.
Just fan-fucking-tastic!
"Which means we're either still short one witch of a full house," Magnus sighed, leaning back in his chair, and rolled a ball between his hands. "Or the woman really is his new partner and likes rough sex."
"Do you really buy that?" Bjorn snorted, which only made Magnus grin wider. Shifters had very good senses and while lying didn't have a distinct scent, the mixed combination of fear, nervousness, and a rapidly beating heart were clear indicators of if a person was telling the truth or not. And then there was the fact that Colten was a know lying son of a bitch…
"Not for a second," the wolf replied, casting one last glance at the screen. "But if she's not his partner then where the hell is he?"
The conversation would probably have continued if Magnus's phone hadn't started ringing. He fished out his service phone, but when he realized, it was his private phone ringing, he frowned. It was well past 11 in the evening and most people would have gone to bed already.
Who the fuck would be calling him this late?
His thoughts instantly went to Milla. The troublemaker was a good girl at heart, but bullies were making her life a living hell. He'd helped her out as much as he could, even going so far as to reach out to the school, but that only resulted in the bullies starting to target her outside of school. He felt helpless and he hated the feeling of not being able to help her out. Had they been members of his pack he'd beat the living shit out of them until they knew how to treat other people with the respect they deserved. But these boys were human, which meant that if Magnus laid a hand on them, he'd be the one in trouble. And since Milla hadn't shifted yet, she didn't have a shifter's strength to defend herself. And while Bjorn was teaching her self-defense, there was still strength in numbers…
Quickly he ripped out his phone, his wolf ready to burst through his skin and--- and groaned loudly when he saw the caller ID.
"Who is it?" Bjorn asked confused. Like Magnus, his first thoughts had gone to their favorite troublemaker. But a call from her didn't warrant THAT kind of reaction. There were only two types of calls that got that reaction from the alpha---
"The MBI?"
"Worse," Magnus sighed. "My mother!"
Bjorn tried to stifle a grin but was unsuccessful. Magnus's mother, Olivia Dale, was a meddling pestilence if there ever had been one. And the only thing she loved more than her mate and their father, was sticking her nose into their love life.
Or rather--- lack thereof.
Not that either man didn't have a healthy sex life. But the number of serious relationships they'd been in could be counted on one hand – for Magnus at least. Bjorn had sworn off women ever since he was rejected, concluding, that if the one meant for him didn't want him, there wasn't a woman alive who did.
Magnus had tried the relationship-thing a couple of times – had had his heart broken and all that shit – but he never really felt that his whole heart was in it. His wolf wanted his mate and since his parents had been True Mates, he'd always wanted that for himself as well. But he was turning 32 this December and still there was no sign of his mate.
So, his mother had taken matters into her own hands…
Magnus threw the phone to Bjorn, who easily caught it.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" he asked with a frown.
"Answer it," Magnus demanded in a hushed tone, as if Mrs. Dale could already hear him, and made a cut-throat motion. "And tell her I'm not here!"
Bjorn grinned and did as he was told. Because unfortunately for Magnus, he'd forgotten one very important little thing…
"He told me to tell you he's not---!"
With a loud growl, Magnus leaped across his desk and snatched his phone back.
"Traitor," he mouthed with a low snarl, before answering the call with a sugar-sweet voice that would have made any sleazy salesman proud. "Hi, Mom."
"Darling," Mrs. Dale sighed exasperatedly as if she was about to chide a small child. "When will you learn that as long as I live, Bjorn will always choose me over you?"
Magnus glared at Bjorn, who'd stopped pretending he wasn't enjoying the shit out of the situation.
"Two words, man," he said with a grin and held up two fingers. "Strawberry. Jam!"
So, Bjorn was a sucker for everything sweet. What bear wasn't? And Mrs. Dale just so happened to make the best jam in the whole entire world. And while she also threw potential mates at Bjorn like a drunk threw out insults, Bjorn's "fuck off" attitude turned them right around again, so he didn't mind…
"Don't be mad at Bjorn, dear," their mother continued in her usual all-knowing tone that only a mother could master. "But we do have some important matters to discuss."
"And they might be?" Magnus asked, trying to sound polite between his gritted teeth. Because if there was one thing you didn't want, it was to upset a she-wolf. Just trust them on that. Mama-Bears had nothing on that she-wolf…
"The Elders have talked and---"
Bjorn scoffed loudly, unable to stop himself.
Elders!
A couple of old wolves – previous alpha, beta, enforcers, etc. – that hadn't really gotten it into their head that they weren't in charge anymore, so they formed a Counsel of sorts and claimed, that they were helping the new alpha out. Hell, Magnus's own father – the previous Head Enforcer – was one of the Elders and for reasons that were beyond anything Bjorn could understand, Magnus apricated their meddling – on most days. He wanted to learn from the mistakes made in the past and learn from it, which was all good and shit, when it came to pack politics and whatnot.
But the rest of it---
Let's just say, that if it had been Bjorn in charge, he would have sent them home and told them to mind their own goddamn business! But, then again… There was a reason why Magnus was alpha and not Bjorn.
"---and they think it might be time for you to take a mate."
Now that got both of their attention…
The look of annoyance on Magnus's face first turned to confusion and then---.
And then anger!
"WHAT?!"
*
Bellatrix woke up--- and wanted to scream when she realized she was behind iron bars.
Again!
"Why can't I catch a break?" she grunted and forced herself upright on the cot that was her bed. Hard piece of shit! Despite sleeping on a floor for the last week, her back still remembered what it felt like to sleep on a soft, welcoming mattress.
And they both longed for it!
She swung her legs over the edge and to her somewhat relief noticed that she wasn't held in chains anymore. That was at least one hurdle down. But that didn't help her situation much. She was still inside some kind of cage, that dampened her powers. She still couldn't use her powers and she was still trapped.
Great!
"I hate it here," she groaned and leaned back--- instantly regretting it as the bump on the back of her head connected with the had wall. She winced and leaned back forward again.
Could this day get any worse?!
"Well, get used to it," a feminine voice suddenly said, making Bellatrix look up. Strangely, nobody was there--- aside from a huge, black cat, that was posed on top of windowsill on the other side of the bars. Huge green eyes were looking back at her and she could all but feel the spite coming off the cat.
"It's going to be your view for a very long time in the future," the voice continued, sounding all too smug and justified. That's when Bellatrix realized that the cat was a shifter, and it was she talking.
And for some reason, anger flared inside of her chest.
"Why?" she growled back, holding back angry tears with all her might. "Why? What the hell did I do to deserve this, ha?"
She glared at the cat. All she wanted to do was go back home. She wanted to find a way to regain her powers and get back to Salem. To save her sister!
Was that so bad?
Was it bad for a witch to want to save the first and only thing she'd felt any connection to since her mother had passed? Was it really that selfish of her to want for her sister to live? She didn't understand why. Perhaps some selfish part of her wanted to see what kind of magic it was, growing inside of her sister. Perhaps she wanted to take her under her wing and teach her everything her mother had, and the baby girl would be the one to forward the next line of Phip's witches.
Bellatrix wasn't sure.
She just didn't want the last memory of her with her blood covering her hands…
"What?!"
The confused expression on the cat's face was almost comical, but it didn't do anything to soothe Bellatrix's anger.
"No, please enlighten me, oh so wise cat, so that---!"
"Wait a minute!" the cat cut off her angry rant. And Bella watched, as she jumped from the window and gracefully landed on her paws, stalking closer to the bars.
"You--- You can understand me?" Kat asked, surprised and stunned at the same time. She hadn't had a human understand her in ages now and while Magnus always seemed to be aware of her needs, it wasn't the same as having an actual meaningful conversation. However, this was a witch, so her guard was up – HIGH up! – but the lack of human interaction over the years had her taking chances she otherwise wouldn't have. And despite being dirty as sin, the woman had a very pretty and inviting face. Heart-shaped and a small, straight nose, paired with Cupid-bow lips and big, blue eyes that seemed unnaturally beautiful. She also had a very beautiful, seductive British accent that could make even an Englishman hard.
So--- perhaps she wasn't all bad?
"Of course, I do," the witch scoffed and almost rolled her eyes at her. Then she seemed to study Kat with an intensity that made the hackles on her back rise. "You're telling me nobody else does?" Kat didn't need to answer, because the witch wasn't stupid. Dirty as pig rolled in mud, but not stupid. The sly smile that slowly spread across her lips, told Kat as much.
"You really must have pissed off someone bad to end up cursed," she mused, tilting her head slightly to the side, looking at her in a new light. "What did you do to anger a witch that badly?"
"I didn't do anything," Kat hissed and even her animal let out a low hissing sound. Hell, the very nothing that she did something wrong that night insulted her. No, she wasn't a saint, but she hadn't done anything to deserve this!
But that only made the witch chuckled humorlessly.
"Let me tell you, sweetheart," she sighed, while she rested her elbows on her knees and her head on her hands. "Being innocent and still being punished is something that goes around, around here."
"I DIDN'T!" Kat insisted and without even realizing it, she went on to tell her all about the witch that had cursed her.
"That's a nasty curse for a shifter," the witch said with a frown, now sitting on the floor, which made it feel like Kat was having a normal conversation like a normal human being. "But also ingenious, if I do say so. Turning you into a cat and then make it so that it can only be broken if you mate your mate during a full moon." She then glanced down at her, a twinkle of humor in her eye. "I don't suppose that your man is into bestiality, is he?"
"NO!" Kat gaped, shocked that she even went there! "And-and he's a wolf shifter, it's not like---"
Why was she still talking?!
"Tried running after him during a full moon?" the witch continued to tease her and if Kat had been in her human form, her cheeks would have been flaming red by now.
"Seriously?!" she snapped and like any regular annoyed cat, lashed a paw out at the witch. But she quickly pulled her hand away and threw her head back, laughing.
"You should see the look on your face," she grinned, sounding just like one of her friends from back home. From five long years ago. Strangely, Kat hadn't felt this human in such a long time, she almost wished they could stay like this forever…
Bellatrix watched the longing in the shifter's eyes. And just like that, a plan formed in her pretty little head. You see, Bellatrix hadn't become the top candidate to be the next most powerful witch in her Coven based on her powers alone. She was also cunning and an opportunist. She saw a way to build up her repertoire and she took it.
Just like she did now…
"Tell you what," she said, using her most persuasive and seductive tone that always managed to lure in her prey, "I'll help you out---" That got the cat's attention. "If you help me escape this cell."
Bellatrix knew exactly what to do with the desperate little feline. She was going to use her. Use the fated intertwinement with this shifter to fuel the powers she'd lost. Oh, she would help the little cat get her mate and just at the right time---
She was going to tear them apart!
Nothing was more devastating to a shifter than losing their fated mate! She would use their agony and pain to regain her strength. After that, the mission was simple…
Save her sister!
Kill the Shadow!
"And you'll help me?" the shifter asked, surprise sounding in her voice. "Can you lift the curse?"
"No, only you can do that as per instructed in the curse itself. But," she answered truthfully, knowing that overselling herself wouldn't get her anywhere. "I can help you become human."
"Really?"
Now the cat sounded skeptical at best.
"Yes," she replied, indignantly, not used to people questioning her like that. "I'll need my Hut, but that's easily accessible if I'm let out of here." She watched the cat, who hadn't taken her narrowed-eyed gaze off her.
"So, what do you say, kitty-cat?" she tried to lure her with a promising smile. However, the feline wasn't stupid either. She didn't reply and instead seemed to be studying her for what felt like ages. And not used to such scrutiny, Bellatrix felt herself grow restless. She was a witch for Pete's sake. People didn't question her. People came to her, already desperate and always agreed before she'd spoken half a sentence.
So why was the shifter looking at her as if she'd suddenly grown another head?
"What's in it for you?" Kat asked, knowing that it was all in the fine print with witches. They might promise you everything you ever dreamed about and hell, they usually also delivered. But there was always a price to pay and normally something that soured the whole deal considerably…
"For me?" she gasped, acting all surprised, although Kat's senses told her she knew better. "Well, I need help navigating this brave new world that I've somehow landed in."
She wasn't lying at least, but---
"Landed in?" she questioned, confused. "What? You're some sort of alien?"
"I do believe Colten used the world Time Traveler," she said, with an annoyed sigh and if her eyes didn't deceive her, the witch blushed a little. "I did a spell and obviously something went a little wrong and instead of yesterday, I ended up here." She then frowned and looked at Kat. "When is here?"
"The 21st century," Kat replied in awe. "When was yesterday?"
"Salem, 1693!"
WHAT---?!
"Oh---Key!" she gaped, and while suddenly the dress and accent made sense, nothing else did! "You're--- a long way from home."
Kat was pretty sure that that line belonged in some famous movie, but hell, it was fitting.
"Well, no shit," she snorted--- and immediately frowned as if instantly regretting it. "That's something Colten said a lot. Am I not using that phrase correctly?"
"You nailed it," Kat confirmed. "But why did you need to go back to yesterday?"
"That's none of your business!" she hissed, sounding every bit the cat that Kat was. So, now she was getting defensive! Which meant that Kat was getting closer to the truth and a decision about helping her or not. Because if it meant putting her mate and his pack in danger, she wasn't going to do it!
Even if it was her only chance to ever become human again…
"You tell me, or I'm not helping you," Kat said sternly, her protective instinct giving her the courage she needed.
And the iron bars helped too…
"You'd rather be a cat?" the witch said--- and to her credit, she sounded actually surprised.
"At least I'd be a cat with a clear conscience," the shifter replied firmly--- and to her credit, Bellatrix sensed she meant it. Mentally she groaned and rolled her eyes. Humanity, it seemed, remained humanity no matter the time period. But what if she told the cat the truth and she decided that Bellatrix was the one to blame for her sister's death? What if she rejected her and---
Only one way to find out…
"Someone broke into our house and murdered my baby sister," Bellatrix replied, the truth feeling strange, but sweet on her tongue. "I feel responsible for that."
"What happened?" the shifter asked softly and without even really thinking about it, Bellatrix found herself telling the small feline everything that had happened that night. About the strange magical connection, she felt with her sister, and who she'd seen the Shadow in the nursery. And how, when she screamed for help, she'd opened her eyes to see herself with the murder weapon in her hands…
"I'm so sorry," the cat purred and the sympathy in her voice felt like a gentle caress against everything bruised and broken inside Bellatrix. For a second, she wished that it were emotions like those that witches thrived on – because it felt so damn good – but as her Coven had taught her, she pushed them away, and refused to acknowledge them.
"I don't need pity," she said, putting as much ice in her voice as she could. "What I need is to regain my strength and redo the spell; properly this time."
Damn it!
Why did her heart ache?
"I need to save my sister!"
Not that she expected the feline shifter to help her out now. She'd been an idiot once again and put all her eggs in one basket. Hadn't the Coven taught her that nothing good ever came from honesty? Hadn't Remy told her all about how humans preserved that as weakness and preyed on it? Putting yourself out there made you weak, it made you a target and it ended with you dead!
Just like her mother had…
"What's your name?"
The question brought Bellatrix back to the present and she looked up--- realizing that the cat was sitting there with a plastic card in her mouth.
"Bellatrix Phips," she replied, a little surprised and confused now. "Why?"
"I'm Kat Weldon," the cat-shifter replied, pushing the card towards her. "And I'm going to help you."