The Witch On The Mountain

Chapter 2

I could feel my brows crumple in confusion. "Mate?" Wasn't that a werewolf custom? I would have to look up the term further in the library.

His dazzling smile was blinding and distracting , it made me feel all mixed up inside. If anything he made my confusion deepen. It must have shown on my face.

He walked towards me bucket in hand then reached down and picked up my tool basket.

"The only time you can go over that summit is at Dawn." He fell into the space next to me.  "So I'm stuck here until tomorrow. "

I was sceptical about his answer but scaling the mountain side was a monumental task even for a wolf such as himself. It was noon almost so the timing made sense.

He started scenting the air around us bringing his nose inches away from my skin for a moment.

"You smell so weird. What are you?"

I looked up at him in disbelief. Wasn't that an offensive thing to just ask a stranger? A strangers who's covent's land you were trespassing on at that. Ignoring him wasn't proving to be effective and he had seized all my weapons.

" A witch "  I finally gave in and answered.

His dark eyebrows rose in surprise. " You don't smell like a witch, already not like those ice met."

Was it my job to make sure I smelt like a witch for him? I discreetly tried to catch a wiff of my dress. When was the last time I had taken a bath? I suppressed the urge to ask what I smelt like as one of the abilities of a werewolf was enhanced senses, including smell. Did I smell bad?

" What's your name? " he brought me out of my self conscious dilemma.

His irritating angular face was looking down at me. He was like a giant over shadowing my small frame, lean yet imposing. He had given me his name should I give him my own? Studying his completely relaxed stance I could see even with his hands occupied he didn't perceive me as a threat.

I would definitely not tell this strange wolf my name.

"Just call me the witch on the mountain." He smirked at my reply.

" I'll make you tell me eventually. "

" I doubt that. "

I had had enough of this wolf's questioning so I reached for my belongings. His grip was like a vice holding my targets hostage.

" Let me carry these back for you. " his hold did not falter despite my pulling at his arms, in fact they didn't shift at all. I should have expected the outcome after all I could never hope to overpower a werewolf. I paused in though feeling his eyes bear into me waiting for my reply.

I remembered he was strong enough to hurt me and fast enough to do it quicker than I could react. The speed at which he crossed the river was a demonstration of his overwhelming abilities. Yet he hadn't tried to hurt me at all.

I bit my lip fiddling the pendant of my necklace. I had to trust him because he didn't appear to be going away or leaving me alone. But I didn't want some stranger knowing were my home was, it was my scared space.

'Trust him.'

He didn't seem to acknowledge my lack of reply as he filled the bucket with water once again. He walked back over to me taking in deep breaths, his nose almost touching my skin for a moment. I opened my mouth to tell him to leave but he started walking in the direction of my cabin.

I hurried to catch up to him, his strides quicker and covering more ground than mine. " Once I noticed your scent it became impossible for me to ignore" He continued his questioning.

" Why are you this far up the mountain alone. It doesn't smell like anyone has been here with you recently. " he was somehow looking over at me without spilling a drop from the filled to the brim bucket. He didn't seem out of breath with his fast paced steps either. I indulged him once more.

" I'm the reaper for the Covent at the foot of the mountain. I forage and grow all the herbs they might need. " his face showed mild surprise.

" I didn't expect someone so young to have such a high duty in a Covent, that task usually falls to a senior witch. "

My face contorted in surprise, I didn't expect a werewolf to know that, but I wasn't going to let him know he had managed to shock me. Usually that would be the case but I had gathered all the knowledge needed to excel in my tasks. I was confident and proud in my ability as a reaper.

My cabin came into view the mounds of disturbed earth exposed to the harsh midday sun. He dropped the bucket and tools mumbling to himself " such a unique scent ". He turned to me taking me in in a glance all at once.

" How long have you been on this mountain? " my answer came almost immediately .

" All my life, as long as I can remember. " he pulled his eyes away looking up to the sky.

" Weren't you lonely all this time? "

Was I lonely? I had never though about it, life had always been this way toiling, gathering. sowing, reaping. The season's changed , I grew, Covent leader would visit taking herbs or requesting them or leave new dresses once the old ones didn't fit.  My life had a purpose, serving the Covent gave me a purpose.

However if i said everything was ok it would be a lie.

Ever so often a voice from deep inside the back of my mind would surface telling me something was missing in my life. That being here all alone wasn't normal, that there was more to life than toiling away in seclusion. The voice would make every negative thought I ever had surface and bubble over playing on repeat until I getcouldn't breath.

The werewolf was still looking at the sky as if all the answers he needed would fall and hit him in the face. I looked up hoping the right answer would fall for me too.

Finally he looked back at me, his expression as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. It was scary how much this wolf had made me venture into my dormant subconscious in such a short time. The first coherent thought that formed in my scattered brain spilled out.

" These seed beds need watering. "

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Funnily wattpad decided to delete this chapter's draft and I had to rewrite it ❤