AERAN

I knew it.She cannot be trusted.Ever.She can fool Granna but not me.Today I'll catch her red handed.I'll prove it to Granna that she made a big mistake in bringing that witch here.

When I saw her hurrying out the door I was instantly alert.I got up and followed her down.I'll give it to her that she was good at it.Her footsteps light.It was only my wolf senses that helped me keep track of her movements.

Every night as I entered I always found her in the same position near the fire with that old quilt covering her whole.I knew she pretended to be asleep so I never failed to make as much noise as possible.It felt as if she waited for me to come back because only then would she fall in deep sleep.What did she intend do gain from that..?Was she waiting for the right moment..?To catch me off guard and spew her disgusting magic.?

Did she really think I'll sleep unguarded with her around.?

That was the one thing my wolf hated the most.Magic.You had no control over that vile stuff. No one could estimate its extent or the effect it will cause.? Good or Bad.And that witch was full of it.How can you trust someone when one is capable of making you do whatever one wills with just a swipe of wand.?

Not me.That's for sure.I don't know what she did to fool Granna but I'll uncover her plan today and no one will be more pleased to kick her out of our lives.

As she disappeared in the kitchen,it piqued my interest.What,is she hungry..?

I scratched my head as I saw her gathering things.Putting the saucepan on the stove she added some leaves and flowers and stood as the water boiled.

She stood there stirring the pot and I kept my eyes on her.What is that..?

Occasionally she would look up and around but other than that she kept stirring the pot.I started getting irritated.What the fuck is she doing.?

I checked my surroundings as well.I didn't want anyone to find me here,like this.An hour had passed but she maintained her position by the stove.It was getting chilly.

As she kept stirring with that small smile on her face,I wanted to know what she was thinking..?Always she had this silly smile that sickened me.What made her smile like that after everything that has been done to her.?!

She smiled that day when I spied her in the cabin.I wanted to apologise for that demeaning incident to her.I was raised better than that but when I saw Ravine crying I just lost it.I didn't like her crying,in pain.

Ravine is my everything.We have been together since we were children.I always hoped for her to be my mate but when the time came she was rejected by my wolf.I cannot forget that day.All my dreams,all my hopes were just dashed to ground and I remember how hard I tried to not cry for the huge loss. No one can understand what Ravine means to me.She was the one who was always there.Who cared about me, as Aeran and not the Alpha Aeran. Who knew me better than I knew myself.Who was able to understand the burden I was supposed to carry, being the Alpha and who was willing to share that burden.My other half.

Even if she isn't my true soul mate,she'll always remain my heart mate for as long as I live.She deserves that much after the blow we received from Fate.I had decided that I won't ever try to even find my true mate and marry Ravine instead but even that small mercy was denied when Granna announced her decision for me to marry that witch.Someone who wasn't even allowed to enter our lands.I don't know how she even reached that conclusion..?What did she expect from me..?She knew how much I loved Ravine,how much I wanted her to be my Luna.Despite everything Granna asked for my compliance and I was shredded.I agreed dishearteningly,I could never refuse her.She knew it and she took advantage of it perfectly well.

Still I had hope.My crazy brain was ready to do anything as long as I could have Ravine.

I went to her.I tried talking to her.I asked her to refuse.But what did she do..?Fucking threw it right back at my face.I was aware of her little stalking habit.I always used to feel her eyes on me but thought it harmless.I decided to let her enjoy it as much because that was the only thing she could get.The cursed outcast.A little sympathy from me was nothing.

Oh how wrong I was.!The little bitch had managed to bind my Granna in her spells.That was the only reason that could make Granna force me to marry that abhorrent outcast-ed bitch.She was not even allowed in our territories and now she was expected to rule it by my side.The gall of her.Only because Granna suffered a moment of insanity and I have to suffer for it.Every.Fucking.Single.Day.

It sucks to know that your whole life you were ignorant of the cruel game, your fate would play in the end.

So tell me why should I not Hate her.?Loath the sight of her.?

I admit I was wrong in raising my hand at her.But she deserved it.I made no qualms to let her know how sickening she was to me.How repulsive..She made Ravine cry.?!How fucking dare she..?Even now it boils my blood thinking about it.It made me feel euphoric in the beginning to sense her fear even at the sight of me.I had warned her that I will carve those eyes out and I cannot say that I was jesting in the least.I was serious.The hate that I feel towards her is immense.

Although my wolf desires something else entirely.I don't even want to think about it.I ignore him.His desires are not mine so he can deal with them himself.The once deep connection we had now rests on a fragile thread.He doesn't talk to me anymore and I don' t try coercing him out.

It's only when she is around that he comes out and that only to glance at her.It's strange I didn't used to feel these emotions for the witch earlier from him but nowadays this sense of hesitation on his part is making me curious.Its as if he wants to be in her company but something stops him from doing so.His pleasure at the sight of her bombards me every time that blue gaze captures me.I fucking freeze.Me,Aeran Kranis,The future Alpha of the Kranis Clan, gets speechless at the sight of a mere witch.How insulting.?! And this fucker inside isn't much help either.And that then ignites my anger.It is then I lash out at her.Even Ravine is not capable of bringing out such a reaction from me.Then what is it in her..?

It's those blue eyes of her.They make me feel something strange that I don't want to feel.I don't want those fucking eyes trained on me .I won't let her entrap me as well.

I random see her inside the house and that too when she is with Granna. Spewing her magic spells on my kindhearted Granna. She has my Granna so enchanted that Granna never tires of singing her praises. I know Granna has already embedded that witch in her heart.That's all she talks about when I am with her.It will tear her apart when she knows the ugly truth about that lying witch.

I followed her once to that little garden of hers.One thing is for sure.She is a hard worker.The entire pack had neglected that garden,left it to rot.Now the garden flourishes under her watchful eyes.It was only when she was in that small garden or talking to Granna, that I found some life on that otherwise poker face.I have taken a tour of that small garden when she leaves it in the evening, to talk to Granna.It was peaceful.To just sit on those tree stumps and look over at the new shoots sprouting.To amaze at the incredibility of the Earth to produce such delight.

I looked at her as she made a face as she tasted the brew.It was the first time I saw this playful side of her.My wolf was happy to bask in her presence much to my disgust.

I never saw any kind of emotion crossing that face.I was very well aware of the treatment that the pack was dishing out to her.I could understand their hatred and their mistrust related to her.Mom and Aunt Leann always had been good friends and wanted to turn that relationship more concrete by having their children marry each other.Every one had waited for that day.Our pack was not like the others.

We were all a big, tight- knit family.Everyone looked out for everyone else.Every decision in the pack was taken keeping the other's happiness in mind.And that has been the way since the start.Accepting someone from outside their circle was bound to raise questions about his/her loyalty among-st other things.Their vexation and indignation was justified.Moreover her not being a wolf but a witch didn't sit well with anyone.They felt left out when Granna suddenly decided the fate of their lives by bringing that girl here,excluding our wishes.She thrust that witch upon us and wished we would accept her as one of our own.How wrong she thought.?!Although no one dared raise their voice before Granna.I could sense their sadness and devastation at Granna's determination to have that witch be a part of our family.They showed their rage at every opportune moment.But the thing that puzzled me was her reaction.She never did anything back.She didn't even rattle it all to Granna who was blissfully ignorant of the witch's circumstances.She tolerated the insults ,boldly faced the disgrace to her dignity.I have never seen her cry once,never complaining,no matter what is being done to her.Her fighting spirit is her tolerance.She fought back by being silent.Not by words, not by actions but by remaining resilient.Standing back up after falling down.She was not weak.A trait I begrudgingly admired.

A shuffling noise from inside has my ears perking.I glance inside as she pours the thick liquid in a bottle.I must say the fragrance that now emanates from the kitchen has me inhaling deeply.She yawns then and I know she'll be coming out any second.I wait a moment for her as she starts cleaning the kitchen and then make my way back to bed.

Soon the sun will rise.The sky was leaving behind the darkness and readying itself for the sun to light the world.I closed my eyes as she entered quietly,looking in my direction.Soundlessly she kept the glass bottle and pulled back the covers to get inside.As soon as her head hit the ground she was out.I guess anyone would be tired after standing still for so long.My eyes closed as well and I let myself drift knowing full well that I won't find her there ,come the morning light.