Hagatha laughed, watching Ashlee leave that stupid house after losing everything. She had tried to protect her from it, but maybe it was actually favoring her in one way or another.

“It’s time for joy, Brennus.” Hagatha got up, walking around her room and opening an old box with a unique liquor inside. Something no human would have ever seen.

“We might be winning without even trying. We’ll wait patiently until the day comes.” She sat back, relaxing, filling her glass with the liquor, and sipping it.

The crow started cawing at her, irritating her all of a sudden. “Will you ever shut up? Do you always have to ruin my celebration with your stupid grating?” She hissed and took out her old, rotting stick. The older it was, the better it worked.

“Let’s go and get that idiot of an elf out of there.” She placed her glass on the table. Sighing, she disappeared into thin air, appearing in front of The Warbit Pack’s living place.

Hagatha stood on the muddy ground silently as the crow, with his keen eyes, glanced around. The guards were all over the place, not a bit of ground was free. Their security had increased; she was amazed.

“This might be a bit difficult, Brennus. But I know I can trust you with this.” She smirked, staring at the doors of the mansion. No matter how strong and secure these prudent beings got, witches would still have their ways with them.

“Go!” she shouted, pushing him into the air. He flew higher, shrieking his soul out, gathering a group of crows in the sky, shrieking and irritating everyone.

All the guards started to fight the crows. They were too busy to even spare a glance at Hagatha entering their base. Soon after she entered, Kyle and Ashlee reached home.

Kyle was stunned to see what was going on. He asked Ashlee to stay in the car while he went out to take a look. As he reached his men, he struggled to throw the crows away.

The night was surely eerie with so many crows attacking werewolves. “What is all this?” Kyle shouted at one of his men.

“We don’t know. They came out of nowhere,” a guard replied, nodding to him.

“Where is Derion?” he asked, trying to figure out the situation as everyone was fighting the crows. How ridiculous they looked fighting crows, being werewolves.

“He went to rest,” the guard replied. Kyle sighed; he knew Derion needed some rest after so many restless days and nights.

He glanced at Ashlee in the car. She was scared, seeing so many wolves and crows fighting, but she was holding back and following Kyle’s lead. He turned around to find a safe way to get Ashlee into the house.

Instantly, his eyes fell on one of the red-eyed crows. He stared at it for a complete minute without blinking, and neither did the crow. It was Brennus, challenging him to make his move.

“To the base, NOW!!” Kyle shouted, realizing these crows were from the dealmaker. Someone was here to get the elf back. That person had been waiting for an opportunity, and now he knew it was a witch who had made a deal with her.

“Close the gates! Any odd-looking person shouldn’t be allowed to leave!” He yelled the command to his men. Everyone was confused, but they followed his orders without question, as always.

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In the moment of this much bigger crisis, he totally forgot about Ashlee. The gates were closed, and the car was outside with Ashlee in it. He hadn’t even noticed where he parked.

Rushing to the base, he changed into his wolf form. Luckily, the elf was still there. He and some of his men stopped at the entrance, watching as a figure covered in a cape from head to toe performed spells to break the powerful chains made of tungsten. She was here to free the elf. She was the one who had made a deal with her. Kyle was eager to see her face, but it was covered with a long, meshy black hat.

“Do you think you can take her as you want to?” Kyle growled, changing back to his human form. He thought he had the witch and elf under his control. But it was quite the opposite.

“Do you think I can’t?” Hagatha smirked, breaking off one of the chains and freeing the elf’s arm.

“Show yourself!” Kyle demanded sternly, positioning his guards. There was no way he’d let her escape.

Hagatha chuckled mischievously. “You ask and I will?” She exhaled deeply with a dramatic sigh, “The strongest among all. Full of mystery. Hate towards humankind. Egotistic, self-centered, and vigorous Alpha. Let me tell you a fact, as no one else will,” she turned, her face still covered.

“This world doesn’t revolve around you! And things won’t always go the way you want them to.” Her teeth were nastier than Kyle could have expected. Her dried, blackish lips smirked, as she spat her words.

Kyle scoffed, “My ego bothers you?” He slowly stepped forward, “You think you’ve found my weakest moment? That I’m scared of you? Your stupid words will tear my heart?” He smirked, approaching her.

Hagatha didn’t move from her position. It was odd, but she was a fearless witch, and Kyle just wanted to see her face to know where she belonged.

“I think I might have your weakest nerve splitting through my fingers,” she smiled evilly, extending her hand to the side. A green-bluish light shimmered out of her hand, revealing Ashlee’s face.

“Isn’t she your weakness?” she whispered, laughing at her hold over him. She had Ashlee’s life in her hands; she could kill her with just a flip of her fingers.

“One scratch on her! And I won’t wait for you to reveal yourself!” Kyle growled, getting impatient and bitter, watching her threaten him with Ashlee’s life.

The truth, known only to Hagatha, was that she couldn’t kill Ashlee even if she wanted to. She couldn’t get Ashlee under her spells, and killing her was impossible.

“Let me leave, and I’ll consider sparing her,” Hagatha smirked, thinking how clueless Kyle was about Ashlee.

Kyle backed off along with his pack. Everyone stayed silent, letting Hagatha out of their base with the elf. The elf smirked at Kyle, licking her lips.

“Told ya!” she winked, tilting her head, laughing in victory.

As soon as they left, the crows vanished into the starry night sky. Kyle wasted no time and, at the quickest pace, reached where Ashlee was. He saw her clutching her hair tightly, sobbing under the dashboard of the car.

“Ashlee!!” he shouted, smacking on the door. Damn it! He had forgotten to unlock it before leaving her alone.

“Ashlee! Open the damn door!” he shouted, his heartbeat racing with worry. He was being reckless, leaving her alone there.

With shaking hands, she opened the door, crying her eyes out. He grabbed the handle, almost breaking the door as he opened it wide to get her out.

“It’s alright! It’s okay. I’m sorry.” He swiftly took her into his arms while she kept punching him lightly, mad at him for leaving her alone outside.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, but she didn’t stop hitting him. He took her inside as everyone watched. Esyn was surprised by the rapid growth of their connection.

Didn’t he dislike her just days ago? And now, he was letting her hit him?

“What’s wrong?” Esyn muttered, reaching them slowly, as Heather and others entered the room.

“Let’s talk later. Can you all vacate the room?” Kyle said, keeping his attention on Ashlee.

“Stupid human chick is scared,” Heather mocked, whispering to Diana. Kyle clearly heard her, though no one else did. He flinched but didn’t react.

Most important now was Ashlee. She was already going through so much, and this event must have terrified her.

“I said I’m sorry.” He kept apologizing, but she didn’t stop.

“You’re a jerk!” she sobbed, clinging to him while hitting him with her small fists.

“Alright! Alright! I get it. I’m sorry for being a jerk,” he muttered, wrapping his arms around her, which instantly stopped her.

“Stop crying. You’ll get sick,” he whispered, stroking her back. He was really changing for her. The self-centered man who never listened to anyone was now under her influence.

Even if it was slight, a spark of love was beginning to kindle between them.