The Witch And The Wolf

Closer Than Before

She awoke later in the evening, feeling groggy and a little sore. All she could recall was Adrian making the vow and being marked. Looking around the room she was in, her best guess was that she was somewhere medical, a hospital maybe?

She was alone in this room, and grateful for the moment she had to herself. She looked down at her arm where she felt a stinging sensation, noticing that the IV needle wasn't hooked up to anything, she could go to the bathroom without anything attached.

Splashing water on her face, Georgia chanced a look at her neck, grinning at the sight. It was still a little swollen and looked a little raw, but she knew it would settle down in a day or two and reveal the pattern Adrian's bite would have left behind.

Drying her hands, she shifted uncomfortably in the hospital gown and fought against the urge to remove it before leaving the bathroom, only to be met by the sight of her parents and mate all wearing a similar expression of nervousness.

She felt awkward in front of them, not really knowing what to say or do, so she went with her usual attempt at humour. "Did you guys hear about the fire at the circus? It was in tents."

No one laughed. Peasants. She thought to herself. That was a comedic masterpiece.

Adrian gestured for her to sit down. "Was I supposed to pass out?" She asked. "Because nobody said anything about it." She was slightly defensive.

He shook his head, sitting next to her and holding her hand. "No, that wasn't supposed to happen." One quick look to her parents and his eyes were back on his mate. "It was the effect of an Alpha marking a prideful creature."

Georgia was confused, even more so than usual. "Prideful creature? What does that mean?"

She knew she could be stubborn at times, but prideful?

The silence in the room felt too heavy, like it was going to suffocate them.

Oscar cleared his throat. "It's what you inherited from your birth father." He said. She could always count on her dad to be straight with her. "His being of faerie and demon blood, transferred to you. Though you are more witch, it appears an inate part of you, the demon-faerie part, is still very stubborn not wanting to be dominated by what those races deem to be less than them."

Georgia groaned. "At least it's over and done with, right?"

Penelope moved to sit next to her daughter, holding her hand. "We're not so sure about that." She took a deep breath. "Because we're not sure, your father and I feel that it is time to find your birth parents."

Her eyes went wide as she ripped her hand free from her mother's grasp. "Find them?" She said, standing abruptly. "Find the people that abandoned me? Why? So they can explain why they didn't want me?"

She was seething. Adrian was at his mates side, wrapping his arm around her. It did calm her down, but still she pushed his arm away, feeling over stimulated. The lights became too bright, the hospital gown became itchy and the room felt hot.

Penelope stood up. "You need to find them to take that part away from you, only they have the kind of power necessary to remove those rancid demon and faerie genes."

Georgia was surprised, she'd never heard her mother say anything bad about another species before.

"What do you mean rancid?" She questioned, an eerie feeling of disdain filling her. "Speak mother." She spat, not feeling like herself.

Adrian noticed the shift in his mate, holding her hand again and giving it a gentle squeeze. She squeezed back.

Georgia didn't know this, but when she made her vow using the last name she hadn't grown up with, it hurt the Winthropes deeply. They knew she wasn't biologically theirs, but nonetheless they loved her immensely.

"The way to contacting them is in that house, as soon as you're discharged figure it out." Her parents left the room, not bothering to say goodbye.

----------

"She shouldn't be with that mutt." A voiced shouted over an arguing room full of witches and warlocks. "She should be with her own kind, maybe then we could un-taint the line we worked so hard to preserve!"

Sounds of agreeance filled the air.

"How we knew nothing of Elviras spawn sickens me, we could've worked to try and remove the cursed side of her while she was young!"

A long oval table took up most of the room in the witches hall, surrounded by almost all coven members. At the head was its leader, Contessa Sinclair, also known as Tessie. Though she was older than most of those in attendance, she still held command over the men and women gathered here.

She raised her hand, causing them to fall silent.

"I watched my daughter ascend at the age of 10, far too early for any witch, and she handled that power better than most of you." She said. "Last week I watched my grand daughter ascend at the age of 21. Earlier today, I watched as an Alpha marked her, and heard the vow he made."

She rose from her chair with the help of her cane.

"I also heard the vow that she made to him and the mark she left on him. For too long I hurt my child for doing what none of us were brave enough to do, for choosing her fated consort over a chosen cousin." Her voice was level as she walked the length of the table towards a specific couple.

Penelope and Oscar averted their gazes, unsure of what was to come.

The old witch stood in front of them. "For too long my grandchild was kept from me, hidden by cowards." Her voice was angry now. Speaking so that only they could hear she said, "My Elvira never would have given her up, and I will stop at nothing to find out the truth."

She turned to the congregation. "She is a Sinclair and a Nightingale, and it is up to us to help her, if you refuse or attempt to sabotage anything that would help her, you will not need to worry about your lineage."

The room was silent. No one dared to speak out against The Supreme.

"Dahlia failed in her selfish power hungry mission to steal her heart and consume it for its power, do not think you won't face the same fate she met at the hands of the Alpha should you attempt to go after her. The Lupine pack have their Luna, and they will not hesitate to protect her."

-----------

Georgia and Adrian had returned to the house a few hours after the Winthropes left. It was dark now, much too early in the morning to be awake and far too late to get a proper rest.

He helped her up the stairs, letting his mate have the space she clearly needed.

"I'll be right across the hall, shout if you need anything." He'd said as he went to close her door.

She couldn't help herself. "Adrian." His head popped around the partly open door. "Please can you stay with me? I don't want to be alone."

His heart swelled.

She wants us to stay with her.

Bout time. Let's get jiggy with mate.

You're so embarrassing.

"Just tell me what you need."

They spent the remainder of the dark morning in silence. Georgia and Adrian were in her bed, wrapped in the blankets and in each other's arms.

Her mind was occupied, the scent and feel of her consort helped to comfort the war within, while Adrian with his eyes closed listened to her breathe and the rhythm of her heart. Sure they'd be tired during the day, but he wouldn't miss this for the world, and she wouldn't give this up for anything.