The Scarlet Witch

Aeriis's P.O.V (Meeting Max... Again)

There was something in the way he moved that told me that this tall, stocky, arrogant and blue-eyed man was the alpha of the Venice pack. An internal part of me wanted to run from such a dangerous being but the O'Connor's don't run. We never have and I won't be the first to do so.

The room was separated by his kind and mine; his leaning against the wall and mine daintily on the chairs provided. I scanned the room for him, but the prince of the pack was nowhere to be found. It was dead silent, even his footsteps didn't make a sound yet I'm sure my heart was a drum in the ears of his pack.

I was so nervous that I was finding the ability to cap my magic a challenge. Unlike other witches, my magic flared at intense emotion and has gotten me in trouble multiple times already. Including right this moment. Once he'd reached me, I felt like I'd completely underestimated his build. He was almost 8 feet 12 inches tall, and I had to crane my neck up to look at him. His biceps were the size of my damn head and those blue eyes turned to ice as he looked down at me. They were cold and calculated.

  "YOU are Aeriis O'Conner? Daughter of Dieadren O'Connor? You seem...small."

His voice was a deep growl even in human form and I felt my cheeks heat at the insult. A member of my own coven snickered. I turned to look at who made the sound. Liliana Trey: a girl who, talented as she was, had questioned my authority one too many times. A cast out a quick jolt of magic and suddenly Liliana's snicker turned to a gasp. I watched the pack leader's eyes flicker from me to her and back to me with a little bit more respect. I could tell he hadn't expected me to use magic so close to his pack, especially against my own kind.

Her chair kicked back, and her palms slapped the concrete floor of the sacred room as she fell to her knees. Her gasps for air were the only sound in the small room. Hand on her throat, she glared up at me and using her own magic, pushed at mine. I grinned and in response, cut her off completely. Surprise raced across her features and then the fear took hold. She crawled to me, hands reaching out. I kneeled in front of her and stroked one finger down her ebony cheek. Her face was turning a shade of purple, and her mouth kept opening and closing, desperate for air.

Cupping a hand behind my ear mockingly, "I'm sorry Lily, what did you say? I can't seem to hear you."

Her fingers tugged at the sleeve of my sweater weakly; eyes pleading. I grabbed the back of her head, my fingers in a tight grasp on her dark hair and yanked her head back.

"You EVER question me or mock me again; I'll rip those vocal cords out of your pretty little neck and keep you alive long enough so you can watch me feed them to the wolves."

With a shove I sent her sprawling back and snapped my fingers, releasing her. Her immediate intake of air had her choking, fingers pulling at the collar of her shirt. I waved for two of my witches to escort her out. Rising to my feet I turned my gaze back to the pack leader. He bowed his head slightly.

"My apologies Princess. You are certainly your mother's daughter. Shall we start?"

He held an arm out to me and I bowed my head back to him in respect before taking it.

"We Shall."

With a flick of my wrists the candles on the wall sparked to life and he led me to the courtyard. As soon as the air hit my nose, I smelled HIS scent and everything in my stiffened. The pack leader responded to my reaction and looked at me with heated eyes. He pulled his arm away and crossed them across his chest.

  "So, what my son tells me is true. You were the one, years ago that bewitched him and led him away from us." He said it with disgust in his voice.

 Before I could defend myself, Max stepped out of the darkness. Not in human form, but as a wolf. I still recognized him. He crept forward, blue eyes vibrant against his black coat and circled me slowly. His father watched him hesitantly. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what to do. I just stood there, frozen in time.