The Imprint: Night Shift (Complete & Editing)

Chapter 18: Bewitched?

I blink and the whiteness of the room blinds me. I shut my eyes on impulse from the glare.

“She’s back!” I hear Brian saying overjoyed.

“What?” My head feels like it’s pounding, “I think I’ve got a migraine… why so loud?”

“You fainted,” he kissed my forehead and held my hand, “it’s been eighteen hours, I almost thought you…” he drifted off.

I held onto his hand, “I’m good, you worry too much.” I look around and I’m not somewhere I’ve seen before. “Where the heck am I?”

“We’re still at the Mitz territory. This is their pack infirmary.”

“Oh…”

My mother and father walk in with Xavier and Dylan not too far behind them.

My mother kisses my cheek, “I was so worried.” She said with a relieved look on her face.

“Well mum, I’m a werewolf, I won’t die that easier.” I say trying to lighten the mood.

She laughs, tears welling up in her eyes and places her hand on my shoulder. I smile at her and look over to my father who’s behind her with a worried smile on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him.

He sighed, “You had a minor heart attack.”

I look at him wide eyed but I don’t say anything.

“We had to get a witch to come and check on you. Luckily it was nothing serious, she just gave you some herbs and said you would wake soon.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek, “I was scared for a moment, sweet girl.”

I smiled at him, “Wait…” suddenly last night’s events hit me and I remember everything. Mark basically told me that Brian wasn’t my mate. My chest instantly tightens again and I try to breathe slowly.

“What’s wrong?” Brian asks me touching my forehead.

“I just remembered last night.” I say trying to calm myself down, “Mark said witches help the hunters, so why did you call one over?” I look at my father confused.

“Not all witches side with the hunters.” He sighed and cleared his throat, “This one has been watching out for you since you were born… and I have a feeling that you know who she is.” He smiled smugly at me.

I racked my brain for a while and then I gasped, “No way!” I shouted sitting up. “Maree is a witch?”

My parents nod at me and I’m baffled of how weird my life actually is. I rest back a bit feeling a bit light headed from sitting up too fast. Brian touches my shoulder and I nod at him to let him know I’m okay.

“Good to see you’re awake.”

I look at the door way shocked to see Maree standing there speaking in her thick Trinidadian accent. She was in brown wedged heel sandals, an African inspired dress, and her graying hair was accessorized with a scarf matching her dress.

“I’m assuming you know who I really am now.”

“Uh…” I’m a bit dumbfounded at the situation, “I guess I do.” I say smiling nervously.

She walks over to me and examines me, “I’m glad you’ve recovered.”

“We can’t thank you enough.” Mum says smiling at her while my father just nods his head agreeing.

“Don’t mention it,” She touches my mum’s shoulder, “it’s an honor to be assisting your daughter.” She says to the both of them.

I’m so confused at this point all I can do is look at Brian. He’s looking at back me affectionately and I sigh.

“What’s wrong, Cee?”

“Nothing.” I pout, “I’d just like to find the rest of the knights right now so I can at least have some peace of mind for the first time since the summit.”

He rests his head on my stomach and holds onto me, “I wish I knew where they were.” He says defeated.

I rub his head trying to comfort him, but I know I can’t because none of us seem to know… plus now I just found out that he’s not my true mate…

“Before you start acting like it’s over,” Maree interrupted our pity session, “I’ve heard from some credible sources where the other knights are.”

Brian jumps up excitedly, “Where?” I laugh to myself at him but I’m curious as well.

“They’re in Florida. It’s where the other packs are who strayed away from the four here, and far enough from you to not draw suspicion.”

I furrow my brows confused at what she means, “What do you mean? Were they more than four packs?”

“Yes. Any werewolf at the hierarchy of a pack knows about the eight original families of werewolves.”

“I’m sorry what?” I ask looking at my father.

“I didn’t think of them until now.” He looks at me apologetically.

I roll my eyes looking over to Brian who I’m equally disappointed in.

“It’s not something you think of straight away, Cee. Besides asking you to go to Florida wasn’t possible at the time we found out… and the whole Max thing.”

“Max knows!” I growl, “He was in Florida for a whole month for college, he must have made contact with them while he was there.”

“I hadn’t even thought of that.” Brian, Dylan, Xavier and my father exchange looks, “I think it’s time we go to Florida Parker.”

My dad nods in agreement, “I’ll let John know and make the arrangements right now.” He kisses my cheek and leaves the room.

I look at my mother who doesn’t look like she wants me to leave, but she’s nods at me weakly knowing she has no choice but to let me go.

“I guess I’m going to Florida.” I smile at her.