The Unwanted Mate: The Bond

Chapter 1:

Hannah POV:
I close my eyes and let my thoughts wander. I think about the forest outside my village: the big oak tree near the river where, as a child, I spent many hours practicing spells and dreaming about the powers within me. I can almost feel the damp forest soil under my feet, the crisp afternoon wind in my hair, and hear the rippling sound of the river and the birds in the treetops. The familiar sounds calm me as I let my thoughts drift away.

"You're not focused!"

I'm ripped from my daydream and instantly snap my eyes open to see Victor staring into my eyes, rage filling his eyes, making them seem darker than usual. He shakes me hard, making the back of my head hit the wall. His hands never leave my neck as I try to steady myself. It takes me a second to regain a clear vision.

He pulls me so close to him that I can smell his hot breath on my face. "You belong to me. To this coven. You can relax and daydream when I give you permission to do so!" He shouts, and a few drops of spit land on my face.

I feel a chill run down my spine. Councilmember Victor is not a man you want to piss off unless you are ready to deal with the consequences, and I certainly am not. Victor is in his fifties. He is a rather large man with broad shoulders and a round belly. His narrow eyes are a cold gray, and his nose is large and red. He has a great temper and no empathy for anyone whatsoever. His large frame is awfully terrifying as he squeezes me against the wall.

"I'm sorry, sir," I say in a low voice, looking down at my feet to avoid any further eye contact. I'm not allowed to make eye contact with the elders or any other person with a higher rank than me - which is everyone. My place is below them all, and I better remember that.

"We have to finish the spell before we leave, so focus, you little bitch!" I can feel his big hand tighten around my small neck. The air is getting thicker, and it gets harder to breathe. I try to stay calm, but it gets harder by the second as my lungs crave oxygen.

"There is no time. We have to leave now if we want to talk to the alpha before the other guests arrive. Take her with you. She might come in handy," Councilmember Andrea says as she walks towards the door leading out of the chamber in which we had performed the spell. Victor lets go of my neck and slaps me across the face, making me fall to the floor. I inhale sharply and let the air fill my lungs as a tear drops from the corner of my eye.

Come in handy. Like a tool. That's all I am. A tool they use to their own advantage. To strengthen their own powers. That's all I've been doing for five years since I was elected by the council to be an amplifier. I was chosen by the council to sacrifice my powers to the coven and let them use my body as an amplifier so that their magic becomes stronger when they perform spells. They let their magic run through me, and my body returns the power enhanced. It also means I can't use my powers myself.

I was 16 when I was chosen and still waiting for my powers to surface. But now they never will.

"Fine, she can come along. But don't you dare speak a word to anyone! Do you understand?! You will not embarrass us!" He looks at me with a warning look. I quickly bow my head and nod. I need to avoid eye contact and remain submissive at all times. It includes no talkback or any disrespectful tones. I can't speak unless I am asked a question, and I have to keep my answers short and direct. I can't say no to a command or argue over the orders I receive. If I break the rules, there will be consequences like no food, working through the night, or actual physical punishments. A broken rule often equals a broken bone. I once tried to negotiate a day off on my birthday, which resulted in a big bruise on my stomach. It was, however, pretty ungrateful of me to ask for a day off. The coven provides me food and a place to sleep, so I owe them my time. All of my time.

Our coven lives in a small village at the edge of a large forest. Our coven has more than 150 members, but there have been fewer newborns over the last 30 years. Most women in the age 18-40 are trying to conceive due to the orders of the council. If the population drops too much, the coven won't be as strong, so choosing not to want children is not an option. Or at least not unless you are an amplifier. We can't have children at all.

I'm packing a bag for the trip, but I don't own a lot of things, so the bag contains basically everything I own, which isn't much. Most of my belongings are already in my bag as I don't own any furniture to put my things in. The bag used to be my dad's. It's one of the only things I have left from him.

All amplifiers have to wear a white dress as a uniform so everyone in the coven can identify us easily. The dress is thin with long sleeves and stops just above the knee. It is quite plain with no details, patterns, or lace. I always wanted to wear a lace dress. A beautiful blue color. But it will remain a dream because we're not paid or allowed to work for others. I am also not allowed to wear anything other than my uniform. So the blue lace dress will remain only in my dreams.

The sun is high in the sky, and the smell of smoke and dust fills the air. Three black SUVs are being packed with all the bags and suitcases belonging to the three council members: Victor, Andrea, and Tom. Tom's wife, Alexa, is standing next to her husband as she orders the two young men loading the suitcases to be careful with her belongings.

"I'll also need a bottle of sparkling water with a slice of lemon for the trip," she says, looking directly at one of the men. Not long after, he stands next to her with a bottle. He keeps his head bowed and hands out the bottle so she can take it. She takes it without looking at him and gets into the back seat of one of the cars.

"Don't just stand around. Put your bag in the trunk and get in. We're leaving now," Victor says without waiting for me to catch up.

He gets in the car and tells the driver to make sure we arrive quickly. I'm putting my little bag in the trunk. It looks so dirty and old next to the big shiny suitcases belonging to Victor. I look around the small crowd for my mother, but she is nowhere to be found. I feel a knot in my stomach but try to hide it as best I can. This is the first time I'm leaving our little village. Normally it's only council members who are allowed to leave the village. So this is a big deal, and I would love to hug my mother before leaving. But at least it's only until tomorrow and then we will be back.

Given that it is my first time leaving, it's also the first time I have to meet werewolves. I'm not sure which of the two things I fear most. The village is my home, even though it is not a place I feel particularly safe or loved; it's all I have, and it is more than some people have, so I'm grateful.

The wolves are scary creatures that we have learned to fear. As a child, I was told scary stories about the creatures in the forest. Every child in the coven has been told the stories. The wolves are violent creatures with sharp teeth and a lust for blood. We were told how they chase their prey and kill without remorse. And suddenly, I'm heading into the werewolves' territory, with no one to protect me.