Stepped Up [COMPLETE]

30

Hope's POV:

In the aftermath of Elena's birthday and the tumultuous scene created by Rick, I found myself again immersed in the confines of my office. The weight of the impending trial bore down on me as I meticulously combed through the ancient journals, desperate to uncover the truths hidden within the pages. Simultaneously, I delved into the journals I had taken from my parental side when I left at 18.

News of Rick's brazen violation of the court order reached Christopher, igniting his furious response. Swiftly, he returned to the Judge, presenting Rick's blatant disregard for the rules and the potential risk it posed to Elena. In response, Rick was charged with contempt of court, facing the consequences of his actions. Despite the attempts by Rick's lawyer to have the charge dismissed, Christopher was determined to bring the evidence to light during the upcoming trial. As a result, Rick was placed under house arrest until the trial date arrived.

I had read over entries about pregnancies, babies, matings, and general days. Then I saw the word I was looking for: witch. It was an entry in Cristian's journal about three months before the attack on Edward Kane. It also matched up with a journal entry in his mate's journal that mentioned the word magic.

"SON OF A BITCH!" I yelled, and Jack came running into my office at the sound.

"What? What is it?"

"He used a witch! He used magic!"

"Who?"

"Cristian Franks! That was how a small pack was strong enough to take on the Head Alpha, Edward Kane! Fucker!" I growled.

"Does his journal explain what the witch did?"

"Vaguely, he's a bit of an idiot," I made a face before sitting back down behind my desk. "He says something about the witch binding his pack to him and making their link work like a mate bond. The more he added to his pack, the more his strength was bolstered."

"Do you know what kind of spell that would be?"

"Possibly, I am going to have to do something I haven't done in just over six years,"

"Which is?"

"Look at my mother's spellbooks and journals," I said sadly. "I packed them away when she died, not wanting to read her words and miss her,"

"So, what is the plan now?"

"Figure out the spell and try to undo it. If he is big bad Rick, perhaps someone else can take him on,"

...the witch weaved our souls together...

...I could see strings weaving us together...

...the witch returned every two years...

...we have persuaded a witch and her daughter to stay...

...the witch, Celeste, is mating with Greg Mayson...

...Celeste repaired the weave...

...Celeste birthed the hybrid, called her Hope...

...Celeste and Greg have died...

...Hope needs to be the weaver...

The weight of the Franks family's revelations echoed in my mind, leaving a lingering unease that infiltrated every facet of my thoughts. My parents, their involvement in magical practices, and their untimely deaths all played out in the words of the journals. The journals hinted at a desire to exploit my magical abilities, following in the footsteps of my mother and even my grandmother. A sense of dread settled within me as I contemplated delving into my mother's journals.