noun
a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles 

Dark storm clouds quickly moved across the pack lands as we drove towards the border to meet with Kye and the Witches.  River of course insisted that it was an omen to what was about to come.  I pushed her to the back of my mind.  I didn't want to go into this with any expectations, good or bad.  

We parked at the old log cabin that sat on the border.  My already heightened senses were on high alert as I opened the door of the black SUV and stepped out.  Witches always travel with a hum of electricity around them.  A human wouldn't be able to pick up on the shift in the air, but we can hear the crackle of it.

Kye and Helenea stood side by side.  The other witches I could smell but couldn't see.  No doubt they were hiding in the shadows of the large trees or had used subs magic to hide themselves.  That was the problem with witches, they were just too damn secretive and sneaky.

I crossed the small distance and walked up to Helenea and extended my hand. 

"I appreciate you coming Helenea.  I had asked for you to come alone, but I see that request wasn't able to be granted.  Where are the rest of them?"  I asked.

My patience was already thin with everything going on, and to be honest witches just give me the "ick".

"She the safety of the other witch guaranteed before she reveals herself" Kye said looking down at the ground. Again, still not looking at me.

"I told you to bring Helenea.  Only Helenea.  She is here on my invitation as the Alpha.  Her safety is guaranteed,  but for the rest, they're here on their own accord." I stated.

"Ebony, there is a reason she isn't alone.  Promise me you won't freak out." Kye said.  I could sense the apprehension rolling off of him.

"This should be good." River huffed.

"What is it then? And what is wrong with you? You're being weird."

My patience was at its end.  I was taking a huge risk inviting a witch here.  I'd already guaranteed her safety, and I didn't have time for these games. Even though I was desperate to save Alpha Knox I wouldn't open up my pack to a bunch of witches that didn't have the decency to show themselves.  It was a witch that put us in this situation to begin with. 

Kye took a deep breathe. 

"The other witch, Layla. Well she is.. well.. she is.. she is my mate." Kye said. l

"What did he just say?" River growled.

"I'm sorry. What?" I asked.  I couldn't control the look of shock on my face.  I had surely misheard him.

"When I arrived at the coven Layla was waiting on me. She said she knew I was coming.  And when I saw her, I... I just knew.  My whole existence made sense  the moment I laid eyes on her. "

I could tell that Kye was trying to sound professional and very matter of fact, but his voice betrayed him, it was laced with  excitement, as were his eyes.

"Well this is just fantastic.  Just freaking GREAT! Now we have to kill Kye and the witches.  He is obviously under a spell." River said matter of factly.

"Would you please shut up!  We are NOT killing anyone,  least of all Kye!"

I stood there for a few moments processing the information.  It was rare for a wolf and a witch to be paired as mates, but it wasn't completely unheard of either.  I wasn't exactly estatatic at the idea of a witch being mated to my Gamma or possibly becoming a part of our pack, but I also couldn't deny my friend a lifetime of love and companionship.

This definitely wasn't something I needed to be dealing with right now.  I had been the acting Alpha for all of two seconds and I've already invited a witch onto pack lands and now my Gamma is mated to a witch.

I thought to myself, " Maybe if I just go in and slap Knox really, really hard he'll wake up and I won't have to deal with any of this."

Of course it wasn't going to be that easy.  I was going to have to make the tough call.  Do I banish my Gamma to live the life of a rogue with some witch or do I accept her into the pack and hope she doesn't decide to kill us all.

Decisions.  Decisions.

I spared a glance at Kye.  He stood there shifting from foot to foot.  I could tell he was genuinely torn and scared. It was was a far cry from his usual demeanor.

"Kye. Look at me." I ordered using my Alpha voice for the first time. 

Like the soldier he is he straightened himself and looked directly at me.  His face now blank of all emotion.

"What if I asked you to leave your mate behind for the well being of this pack?" I asked.

"I would have to ask you to reconsider, Ebony. " he said.

"And if I'm not willing too?"

His eyes dropped to the ground as he said, "I would ask that you allow me to leave the pack and live as a rogue."

"Okay then that settles it, I..." I started but before I could finish a hum of electricity filled the air around us and a bright yellow light shot in between where Kye and I stood. 

The light faded as quickly as it came and in its place stood a beautiful young woman with long blonde curls flowing freely down her back.  

"Stop... please STOP!" she begged holding her hands up in the air as if she was surrendering to an army.

"Don't banish him because of me.  Please." she said with tears in her eyes.

"So you must be Layla, Kye's witch." I stated, crossing my arms and giving my best death stare.

"I am." she said meeting my gaze as she stepped back grabbing Kye's hand.

"Well then, as I was saying before I was almost blinded by your little magical  entrance and rudely interrupted, I as the acting Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack offer my protection and my packhouse to you and Helenea. " I said with a smirk.

"You've got to be kidding me." River huffed as she turned her back and walked into the back of my mind.

"We will talk about this later." I said as I closed off my mind.

This wasn't what I was expecting when I came to meet Helenea and Kye.  Even though everyone knows you can't trust a witch, I also know that the greatest gift God can give us is our mate.  So if God has given Kye a witch as a his mate, there has to be a reason.  I mean it could be worse... he could be mated to a vampire.  

I walked with Kye, Layla, and Helenea towards the SUV that waited to take us back to the pack house.   Kye and Layla held hands and couldn't stop smiling at one another.  I felt a smile creep up onto my face as I watched them.  It was nice to see something beautiful come out if this shit show.

As we drove back to the pack house Helenea looked worried. 

"Hey, you're safe here.  You don't have to be worried. " I said reassuringly.

"I'm not worried about my safety, dear.  I've seen the future in many different scenarios and I am safe and sound in all of them." she smiled.

Oh, so not only can she see the future, but she is also a smug witch. Great, just great!

WC: 1301