Wolves Without Hearts

☾ Chapter 39 ☾

☾ T Y T O ☾

Ryder continued to investigate the control panel and he came to the conclusion that it must've been hacked from an outside source. The firewalls on the control panels in each tower were strong but not unhackable.

"Let's go home and check on Teva," I said, hoping we were done investigating this eerie building.

I wasn't scared for me, just my mate. She was back at the pack house but my wolf felt restless, like she was in danger again or on the move.

Ryder nodded and shut down the panel, "Yeah, I tried to mind link her but I got no response. She might be sleepin-"

"I'm right here."

We both turned to the sound of a new voice in our conversation and found that it belonged to... Calixa!?

"I'm back," she smirked, leaning against the door with a book in one of her hands.

I stared at her in shock for a moment before scooping her up in my arms. I inhaled her scent and buried my face in her neck, making sure she was in fact there. I felt her stroke my hair slowly and I growled softly in reply, enjoying the feeling of my mate running her fingers through my hair.

She sighed and tried to get out of my arms, saying, "Tyto, I'm real. It's okay, now can you put me down? I need to talk with you and Ryder about something you missed at the south tower."

I immediately set her down and Ryder and I looked at her intently, hoping she found just the clue we needed.

She took a deep breath and opened the book to a hollowed out section that contained a smaller, tattered book, "This was hidden inside this book that was out of place at the south tower. There's a quote from Ryder and I's father on the first page but this book belongs to a witch. It has dark magic inside and one of the spells has to do with necromancy."

"So some witch brought Alistair back to life!?" Ryder exclaimed in disbelief.

She nodded and closed the book, "I wouldn't recommend touching this book because there is a magic residue left behind from spells which can corrupt a person just by touch. I opened it earlier because I have my necklace."

I tilted my head, "Necklace?"

"It's been passed down in our family on our mother's side," Ryder explained, "She gave it to Calixa before she died and it can cancel tangible spells such as the one on that book."

Calixa nodded and untucked the necklace from under the collar of her black v-neck. It was a crescent moon with intricate spirals and a spider dangling above with a pattern of its own. I looked at it in awe and Calixa let me stare at it a moment longer before she tucked it back under her shirt.

"So that little crescent can cancel magic spells?" I questioned, still shocked that a tiny necklace could do such a large task.

Calixa nodded, "Yes, but only the ones cast on items such as the one on this book. If a spell were to be cast on myself, I would not be immune to its power."

"Now, it's all fine and dandy to keep talking about Calixa's necklace, but now the bigger question is who does that book belong to?" Ryder interrupted, looking at the two of us.

Calixa shrugged, "I have no clue, but I was thinking we could go through our father's old study to find some clues. If this book has a quote from him inside then it might help to start there. Or we could always head back to the tower and see if we can find more clues. I left as soon as I found the book so I might've missed something."

Ryder and I nodded and we decided to head back to the south tower to see if Calixa could find anything else. I had not been in the tower long and neither had Ryder so we had no idea what to look for.

Calixa did.

As soon as we entered, she walked passed the first few rooms and began her search. I watched as she scented the air and scanned the room for anything out of place. She glanced at me every once in awhile and my lips twitched up into a small smile.

'Teva says Calixa is beginning to accept the bond. Just don't push it too hard.' Ignis remarked, also feeling happier.

I nodded at his words and kept my distance from my mate although it was difficult. She looked healthier since the incident and I couldn't help but notice that she seemed to be breaking through her walls on her own.

"I think there's nothing else here," she stated after looking around, "Let's head back to the pack house and check our father's study."

Ryder nodded, but he had a sad look in his eyes. I glanced at the two of them and sighed. I didn't really know what happened to them other than their father abused them but I couldn't help but wonder what exactly happened. 

Calixa seemed to pick up on this and walked beside me on the way back, saying, "I'll tell you about Ryder and I's father if you really wish to know."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to Calixa." I told her, not wanting her to do this if she wasn't comfortable.

She shook her head, "No I'm ready but you better brace yourself because you're in for a long tale."

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A/N: Well sorry for the late update but I recently got into a little fender bender so I've been a bit stressed and not in the mood to write. Luckily I already had half of this written before the... well you know. Anywho, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you all for your amazing comments and support, I really appreciate all of you.