Chapter Five – Witchcraft and Trickery

The moment of truth was near. Theodore stared into the pine forest below, his mind filled with dark thoughts. Although his hands remained steady, he could tell that what he had been living for was about to become reality. Revenge was near. He could almost taste it in the back of his throat like ashes from an urn. Cassandra – that was the only name on his mind now. His pack would be avenged and maybe, just maybe, he would find his peace.

“Where does the clairvoyant live?” he asked, without paying any attention to the endless chatter that seemed to be taking place between the other people onboard. “I will face her immediately.”

Nothing else mattered. He had no reason to care about the Luna’s Sentinels or Asherman and his gaggle of friends. Especially the field mouse who kept throwing strange looks at him. Whenever that happened, it was only with great difficulty that Theodore maintained his composure.

The rodent was a clairvoyant. It wouldn’t be impossible for him to attempt to throw a curse on Theodore, just to flex his witchcraft. Whatever he claimed those cards were saying, it had to be another ruse to keep him from his path.

Theodore had no plans to lend the clairvoyant an ear. No matter what his wolf wanted.

“You must first meet my pack,” Ryder said in a cutting tone. “You need allies, because Cassandra is powerful. She might not be acting alone. Must I remind you, alpha, that she also tried to destroy me and my pack? She is still trying. This isn’t only your fight.”

Theodore pursed his lips, ready to put this alpha in his place. The rage growing inside him was blind. He needed to find an outlet for it and soon.

“Easy, easy, alpha boys.” That was the city clairvoyant with his grating melodic voice. It was music to Theodore’s ears, and he hated himself for thinking so. “My cards say that we must proceed with extreme caution. This isn’t something you should rush into.”

“I do not believe your bloody cards,” Theodore grunted.

He would kill Cassandra, and then, he would proceed to punish Jack the clairvoyant for his audacity to assume that those cards ever told the truth. In his heart, there was no room for hope.

Only fury and desire for revenge.

***

Theodore watched with indifference as Ryder Asherman, followed closely by his mate, hurried to meet his pack. The calling howl made his heart squeeze painfully in his chest. It reminded him that dallying here was pointless. And he didn’t need the alpha of this pack to tell him where Cassandra lived.

The smell of ashes tickled his nostrils. He knew that smell because of the nightmares endlessly plaguing his nights. They reminded him of why he could and would only live for revenge every single day of his life.

His wolf growled quietly, warning him that the enemy couldn’t be far. Slowly, he walked backward, step by step, his eyes still trained on Asherman and his pack. No one would get in his path.

“And where do you think you’re going all by yourself?”

Theodore frowned as he took in the human called Vince. No matter how good-looking they were, humans didn’t interest him. But there was something about this one that irked him to no end. He was strong for a human with his broad shoulders and thick arms. Also, he was tall and built like he would be able to withstand a storm. Something about him made Theodore think of an old oak that would never bow to bad weather or lightning or years.

He was overthinking things. This human had no ancient magic in him. He just happened to be there because he was friends with Asherman’s mate.

“Move out of the way if you care about your life,” Theodore growled at him.

“I don’t think so. If you’re going to face Cassandra, you’ll need help.”

Theodore got in the human’s face. He had deep warm eyes. They reminded Theodore of a distant thing called home. If he cared about his wellbeing, he needed to stop staring into those eyes that promised things that a lone alpha would never have again.

“Suit yourself. You’re a mere human, and you’re about to face a witch. It’s your funeral. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Far be it from me to say anything like that,” the human said.

“Is your name Vince?” Theodore asked. He had heard the others calling him that. Only the clairvoyant called him something different. It made his blood boil to know that those two shared a special relationship. Theodore wanted to know why. The curse had to be strong.

“Yes, it is.”

“Very well, Vince. You will soon die. Don’t expect me to lift a finger to save you. My only goal is to destroy Cassandra.”

“I understand.”

Theodore’s lips curled into a manic smile. “I don’t believe you do.”

***