The full moon's light filters through the dense canopy, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor. My heart pounds, a mix of adrenaline from our recent victory and unease about my bizarre transformation. Liam walks beside me, his presence both comforting and unsettling. The pack follows behind, their hushed whispers a constant reminder of the changes we're all grappling with.
"Skye," Liam's voice is low, meant only for me. "We need to talk about what happened back there."
I clench my jaw, not ready to face the implications of my feathered shift. "Later," I growl. "Right now, we need to secure the territory and make sure everyone's safe."
He opens his mouth to argue, but a sudden chill in the air makes us both freeze. The forest goes eerily silent, even the insects falling quiet. A thick mist begins to curl around our feet, unnatural in its movement.
"Everyone, stay alert!" I command, my senses on high alert. The pack forms a defensive circle, eyes glowing in the darkness.
That's when I see her.
A figure emerges from the mist, her long silver hair floating as if underwater. Her eyes, completely black, fix on me with unsettling intensity. Power radiates from her in waves, ancient and primal.
"Who are you?" I demand, stepping forward. "You're trespassing on pack lands."
The woman's lips curve into a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "I go by many names, little Alpha. But you may call me Moira."
Liam moves to stand beside me, his body tense. "You're a witch," he says, not a question.
Moira inclines her head. "Indeed. And I've come with an offer you won't want to refuse."
I narrow my eyes. "We're not interested in making deals with witches."
Her laugh is like breaking glass. "Oh, but you will be. You see, I know about your little... predicament."
My blood runs cold. How could she possibly know about my transformation?
"I don't know what you're talking about," I bluff, but my voice wavers.
Moira's gaze slides to Liam, then back to me. "Not just the feathers, dear. I'm talking about the mate bond you so callously rejected. The one that's causing ripples throughout the supernatural world."
Liam stiffens beside me, and I feel a pang of guilt. Our past is complicated, and his return has stirred up feelings I thought I'd buried long ago.
"What do you want?" I ask, wary but curious.
Moira extends her hand, and a glowing orb materializes above her palm. Within it, I see swirling images – Liam and me, younger, happier. The moment I rejected him. The pain in his eyes.
"I can break it," she says softly. "Permanently. No more pull, no more complications. You'll both be free to choose your own destinies."
The offer is tempting. So tempting. To be free of the constant awareness of Liam, the what-ifs that plague me. To lead my pack without this complication.
But Liam speaks before I can. "And what's the price?" he asks, his voice hard.
Moira's smile widens. "Smart boy. The price is simple. A favor, to be named later."
Warning bells go off in my head. "No deal," I say firmly. "We don't make open-ended agreements with witches."
"Are you sure?" Moira asks, her voice taking on a hypnotic quality. "Think of how much easier things would be. No more conflicted feelings, no more pack whispers about your rejected mate. Clean slate for you both."
I falter, the temptation growing stronger. To my surprise, it's Liam who squeezes my hand.
"We're sure," he says, his voice steady. "Whatever this is, we'll face it together."
Moira's eyes narrow, the air around her crackling with energy. "You don't know what you're passing up. The changes coming... you'll need this. You'll beg for it."
"We've made our decision," I say, finding strength in Liam's touch. "Now leave our territory."
For a moment, I think she'll attack. The mist swirls violently, and I hear my pack growling, ready for a fight. But then Moira's shoulders slump, the menace fading from her posture.
"Very well," she sighs. "But remember, I offered you a choice. What comes next... that's on your heads."
She begins to fade, her form becoming translucent. But just before she disappears completely, she locks eyes with me one last time.
"Oh, and Skye? That new form of yours? It's just the beginning. When the time comes, remember – the offer stands."
With that, she vanishes, taking the mist with her. The forest comes alive again, crickets chirping as if nothing had happened.
I turn to Liam, my mind reeling. "What the hell was that about?"
He shakes his head, looking as confused as I feel. "I don't know. But I have a feeling we just dodged a bullet."
I nod, but uncertainty gnaws at me. Did we make the right choice? The memory of my feathered transformation still haunts me, and Moira's words about changes coming send a chill down my spine.
"Skye?" Jake, my beta, approaches cautiously. "What do we do now?"
I straighten my spine, pushing my doubts aside. My pack needs me to be strong, to have answers. "We double the patrols. No one goes anywhere alone. And we need to research everything we can about witch deals and..." I hesitate, glancing at Liam. "And mate bonds."
Liam's eyes widen slightly, but he nods in agreement. The pack disperses to carry out my orders, leaving Liam and me alone in the clearing.
"Skye," he starts, his voice gentle. "About what she said... about the rejection..."
I hold up a hand, not ready for this conversation. "Not now, Liam. We have too much to deal with."
He looks like he wants to argue, but respects my wishes. "Alright. But we can't avoid this forever."
"I know," I sigh. "Just... give me time."
Liam nods and turns to go, but I catch his arm. "Thank you," I say softly. "For backing me up with Moira."
A small smile plays on his lips. "Always."
As he walks away, I'm hit with a wave of longing so intense it nearly knocks me off my feet. The mate bond, I realize. It's getting stronger.
I shake it off and start back towards the pack house. We have work to do, and I can't afford to be distracted by feelings I'd thought long buried.
But as I walk, a strange sensation starts in my chest. A tingling that spreads through my body, growing more intense with each step. I try to ignore it, but soon it's impossible to deny.
Something's happening. Something big.
I break into a run, desperate to reach the safety of the pack house. But I only make it a few steps before the pain hits – searing, all-consuming agony that brings me to my knees.
"Liam!" I cry out, my voice strangled. "Help!"
As the world starts to go dark around me, I see Liam running towards me, his face a mask of horror. The last thing I'm aware of is his arms around me as my body begins to change once again.
But this time, it's not just feathers erupting from my skin. This time, it's something much, much worse.