The Witch On The Mountain

Chapter 1

After months of harsh winter the songs of bird were welcomed. It was spring on the mountain. The once desolate terrain slowly returning to it's former glory.

Spring meant rebirth on the land, a time for growth and renewal. It also meant herbs like Sage and Rosemary would need to be planted. My role as the reaper in the covent meant the responsibility of gathering herbs fell to me. The Covent leader would soon ascend the mountain with her list stating her needs. After the past difficult season I expected the list to be a long one.

The good thing about spring was that the melted snow made the land soft and digging mounds was made a bit easier. So my current task wasn't so difficult. Forming the soil into rows I laid seeds ever so often. I would need water form down hill, gathering my tools I made the short journey to the river.

As I walked my thoughts wondered. Being alone on this mountain wasn't so bad, I had plenty of things to do. Reading and expanding my I knowledge, planting and picking herbs or just laying in the grass taking in nature. Sometimes Covent leader would visit and leave gifts like new books or new dresses once I outgrew my old ones.

Dipping the small bucket in the water I exhaled. Whether or not I was content didn't matter. My eighteenth birthday had just past and that meant my awakening would happen soon. I would get my offensive power. No more toiling away in seclusion or sitting knee deep in mud.

My awakening would mean real power.

Sinking back I felt eyes on me, which was strange. No one ventured this far up stream. My eyes caught those of a large black wolf. It's frame hunched forward slightly a light mist coming from it's nose. It stared at me from across the river, it's gaze strangely humane.

I blinked.

In the place of the wolf was a man. A very naked muscular man.

I blinked again.

He was standing right next to me.

I shrieked grabbing the first thing I could reach from my tools. I stumbled with a shriek trying to put some distance between us.

"Who are you!" I yelled panicked, he most certainly didn't visit here often.

The man didn't say anything as he assessed me with his eyes. His dark irises roamed over me taking in my appearance. I pointed my trowel at him and asked again.

"Who are you?!"

His eyes settled on my face and he took a deep audible inhale.

"Nathaniel"

His voice was like a disturbance unnaturally deep to my ears. He said his name as if it was meant to ease my panic.

I took in his features as he still gazed at me. His tan skinned well defined physique was accentuated by hard muscle. His hair as dark as midnight falling damp against his face as heat radiated off him in waves. It served as a reminder that he was far too close. The sound of the river rushing to my eardrums made me hyper aware of his unusual presence.

I hit him in the face with the trowel.

He made an inaudible sound falling away.

He held his nose looking up at me. The anger I had expected was vacant in his gaze and the fear I was hoping for wasn't present either. If anything he was staring up at me with admiration.

It made something move within me, I didn't like it. I resumed my questioning. " What are you doing here? " I asked getting to my feet. If I didn't like his answer I could just run away.

He let go of his nose wiggling it a bit. I'm sure whatever damage I had inflicted was gone, afterall form what I had read about his kind they healed quickly.

He opened and shut his mouth before finally answering. " I'm lost. "

Science fell between us again.

He didn't have any reason to lie, he had nothing to gain from being here. I remembered the Covent leader saying a pack lived on the other side of the mountain but they weren't enemies. She didn't say they were allies either the voice whispered.

She also said I wouldn't have to worry about encountering them because crossing the summit of the mountain was nearly impossible and yet here sat a werewolf looking up at me. I lowered my makeshift weapon.

" If you go back up the mountain you'll find your way back. "

He looked across the river, his eyes following the land's natural elevation. He seemed to contemplate for a moment.

"What's your name?"

His sudden unrelated question surprised me slightly. I paused as I reached for my forgotten water bucket. Should I tell him my name? I glanced at his eager dark eyes bearing into me. I didn't like the curiosity swimming in his gaze so I ignored his question. The less he knew the better. He didn't take the hint.

"Why are you in the middle of nowhere?"

I picked up the bucket ready to begin the trek back to my cabin. I stepped past him ready to forget he even disrupted my day. He reached out trying to grab my arm.

" Go away! " I yelled as half the water spilled from the bucket. I would have to refill it again because of him. " Look what you did! "

He rose from his position on the ground and I was reminded he was naked. For some reason I wanted to let my eyes wonder but I looked away.

"You're one of the werewolves from the pack on the other side of this mountain. This is outside your territory. You can follow this river it leads to the top of the mountain then you can get back from there." I couldn't look at him, my face was getting warm but I could feel him staring at me again.

I would have to go around him to refill the bucket. I glared a him trying to will this obstacle away.

He reached out taking the bucket from my hands and filled it without a word.

He turned to me and took in my entire frame yet again before a beaming smile overtook his features. His body angled towards the water as his sharp canines dazzled in the daylight, I found myself inhaling a sharp breath.

"You're the perfect mate."

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