"Hmmm what I want," she pondered. "Your soul but since you won't let me have that let me think,"Elira told Cal.
Natalie was there standing behind Jax and Cal till she knew what to say when suddenly, "wait you witches can't survive without Iris. So you have to try to save her either way," she smirked. Jax and Cal's wolf eyes widened.
"Why you," Elira screamed as she stormed up to Natalie. Jax tried to get in between but Elira used her magic to push him to the side with Cal and put a barrier up between them and Natalie and Elira. "How do you know that, you're just a mortal."
Elira was now in Natalie's face, Natalie took a step back because she got uncomfortable and answered, "I have my ways," she giggled. Now are you going to save Iris before she dies then shortly after you all die?"
Still shocked with the information Natalie knew, Jax and Cal both went back into their human form and watched
the scenes unfold.
Elira sighed in frustration knowing Natalie was right. The witches, cloaked in their dark, shimmering robes that whispered with ancient secrets, gathered around the ornate, rune-inscribed circle etched into the ground. With expressions of grim determination etched on their faces, they began to chant in a low, rhythmic cadence, their voices blending into a haunting melody that seemed to vibrate with the very essence of magic. Each witch held a delicate, intricately carved wand, and as their incantations grew louder, the air crackled with palpable energy. They meticulously performed the intricate gestures required by their spell, their movements synchronized with a precision born of countless hours of practice and esoteric study. The ground beneath them pulsed with a faint, eerie glow, and the shadows around them seemed to dance in response to their mystical ritual. As the final words of their spell were spoken, the energy surged into the center of the circle, creating a dazzling display of light and power that illuminated the darkened forest with an otherworldly brilliance.
As the witches finished their spell Elira slowly put Iris to the ground and let the barrier that blocked Jax and Cal go. Cal quickly ran and picked up Iris then got out of the witches territory. Jax quickly ran up to Natalie, grabbed her by her wrist and ran, pulling her.
——————
"Ow Jax stop" Natalie pleaded. Jax let go of Natalie's wrist. They both took a look at her wrist and it was beat red.
"Oh my gosh, Natalie I am sorry!" Jax gulped.
"It's alright but why did you run?" Natalie asked as she hid her wrist so Jax wouldn't feel bad.
"Witches never do that, even when they need something to survive. There's always a price." Jax explained.
Natalie looked to the ground and thought, but her thought was shortly interrupted by a wolf call, Cal's call.
"That's" they both said as they looked at each other. Both of them ran to Cal's house, Jax a bit ahead of Natalie but stopping every so often to make sure Natalie wasn't too far behind. As Natalie ran with Jax to get to Cal's house she couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being followed the whole time.
———————
Natalie and Jax ran through the forest, the air seemed to grow thicker with each passing moment, shadows shifting unnaturally. Natalie kept glancing over her shoulder, a growing dread knotting in her chest.
"Jax," Natalie whispered as she caught up to him. "I think we're being followed."
Jax slowed, his senses heightened, eyes scanning the treeline. He let out a low growl, but before they could react, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Lily," Jax breathed, stunned. Cal's sister had appeared out of nowhere, her sharp features cloaked in mystery. She looked different from the last time he'd seen her. Her dark hair was cropped short, and she had a fierceness in her eyes that hadn't been there before. She was no longer the naive girl who had stayed out of the conflict between wolves and witches. Now, there was something dangerous about her.
"Don't growl at me, Jax," Lily said with a bite to her tone. Her voice held the same roughness as Cal's, but there was a softness underneath, a vulnerability that was easily overlooked. "I'm here to help."
"Lily, what the hell are you doing here?" Jax asked, glancing back at Natalie, who was now staring at Lily with curiosity. "It's dangerous out here."
"I know it is. But there's something you need to know," Lily replied, stepping closer. She cast a wary glance at Natalie before looking directly at Jax. "It's about Isabella."
Jax stiffened at the name. "What about her?"
Lily hesitated, as if she was grappling with the weight of what she was about to say. "Isabella... that's not her real name. She's a witch. Her real name is Iris."
Natalie's eyes widened, and Jax froze. His mind raced as everything started to click into place. Isabella—no, Iris—had always been elusive, never fully revealing herself. But a witch? That was something he hadn't seen coming.
Lily pressed on. "And there's more. Iris isn't just any witch. She's connected to something far more powerful than any of us realize."
"What do you mean?" Natalie asked, stepping forward. "What is she connected to?"
Lily's eyes darkened, her expression grim. "She's tied to an ancient force. It's been lying dormant for centuries, but if awakened, it could wipe out all the witches—and wolves too. Iris... she's the key."
Jax shook his head, disbelief warring with anger. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"I didn't know how," Lily whispered. "Not until recently. But now... now I've seen things. I've learned things. Iris has been hiding more than just her identity."
Jax clenched his fists, his thoughts swirling with confusion and betrayal. "Where is she now?"
"She's with Cal," Lily said softly. "But we need to act fast. Whatever this force is, it's stirring. And if we don't figure out how to stop it..."
Natalie looked between Jax and Lily, her heart pounding. "What do we do now?"
Lily took a deep breath. "We find Iris—and figure out how to sever her connection to this power before it's too late."
Jax nodded, determination settling in. "Then let's go."
