Hadley's POV

Nolan had been standing in his cell staring us all down. He must have heard us coming. He looked rough but he was still breathing. Something sparked in his eyes as he spotted the strawberry blonde witch among us.

"Morgan, lovely to see you again. I would give you a hug but," He said sarcastically lifting his shackled hand.

"I heard you've been dragging my name through your mouth. Care to explain why you felt the need to bring me into this," Morgan said glaring at Nolan.

Nolan moved closer to the bars resting his hands on them as his voice purred "I was only being honest Morgan. There's no point in playing these games anymore," his eyes flickered between all of us.

Nolan's body went stiff as he was slammed to the floor by an invisible force. He grunted in pain. Morgan had barely lifted her hand and he had been taken down so easily. I made a mental note not to get on Morgan's bad side.

"Sit up,"Morgan growled. Raising her hand. Nolan moved like a puppet. His body went rigid shaking as he tried to fight the hold Morgan had on him. A low sinister laugh escaped his mouth.

"Nice little performance Morgan but if I go down I will take you with me, mark my words".

"Stop lying," Morgan tightened her invisible grip. Pain flashed across Nolan's face. "I don't know what game you're playing, Nolan. Whatever it is I am not interested in it. Open the cell." Morgan said, turning to Tate.

"Are you sure?" Tate asked, making sure. He was already moving to the door of the cell though.

"Very," Morgan said, walking through the cell as Tate opened the doors. Nolan was still sitting on the floor and the shackles would make it hard to escape. The rest of us were ready though in case anything went awry from whatever Morgan's plan was.

Morgan stood above Nolan. Her hands moved to his temples. Nolan's eyes turned fully black. A recoil came off of Nolan and physically pushed back Morgan. Whose face flashed in total surprise.

"Was that you?" West asked.

"No, that was a block," Morgan said, moving cautiously back towards Nolan. "There's something leached onto his mind. Like a passenger to his soul," Morgan said she slowly moved her hands over Nolan's temples not touching his skin. His eyes were black his body stiff. "I think.... I think I can get through it," Morgan said as she pushed both of her palms onto Nolan's chest hard. Fighting the recoil as it threatened to throw her off of him again.

She grunted at the pain only pushing harder into Nolan. The room grew darker and a static seemed to feel the air. Morgan and Nolan's hair ever so slightly lifted at the static. The energy was rippling from Nolan as a silent scream broke free of him.

It was like pure blackness was being extracted from his chest. It was seeping between the cracks of Morgan's hands. I grabbed onto Tate's hand. He gave me a calming squeeze. The power emitting from both of them was unexplainable. It filled the room.

Nolan and Morgan both fell to the floor landing on their sides. The blackness that came from Nolan having just vanished.

"Morgan!" West ran to her side. Scooping her head into his lap.

"Is she?" Devin asked slowly.

"Sorry to disappoint you. Not quite dead just yet," Morgan coughed. West sighed in relief as Devin just rolled her eyes. I could tell though she was equally relieved the witch was fine.

"What was that coming off of Nolan?" I asked.

"It's a binding spell. A witch put it on him. It was attached to his essence," she said, still trying to regain her strength. West held onto her. I was honestly surprised she hadn't swatted him off yet.

"Like what they did to me?" I didn't dare let my voice go into that quiet shame I still felt.

"No it's different. What you had was total control. A binding spell is more permanent. It doesn't totally take over. It just influences you and your choices into whatever the binder desires. It's more like a parasite," Morgan said, sitting up leaning into West.

"Wait. Are you saying that Nolan was being controlled by a witch?" Tate asked.

"He was certainly being influenced by one. How much I don't know. We'll find out when he wakes up. Although that could be a few days. Extractions are a nasty process," Morgan coughed again. She looked exhausted. The process clearly took a lot out of her as well.

"So he could be innocent?" I was shocked.

"I'd hardly call Nolan innocent. Influence can only go so far it builds off of your darkest desires that are already within you. Nolan might have been a very willing participant," Morgan said looking at Nolan in disgust. "It takes an extremely powerful witch to perform the bind".

"Do you know who it was?" Tate asked.

"I do. I thought she was dead. I first sensed her on Jillian but I had to be sure," Morgan said.

"Ok we get it. Big bad scary witch. Who is it?" Devin asked impatiently.

"Jade". Morgan said. She looked uncomfortable even just muttering the name.

"Jade as in-" West said, holding onto Morgan.

"The high witch. Yes. That would be the one," Morgan said.

"There's a high witch?" I asked.

"I thought that was just a rumor?" Tate said.

Morgan finally moved herself off of West. She struggled to stand up still weak. West lifted her up leaving a steadying hand on her. I caught West's eye but he brushed it off.

"After the last high witch was killed by a wolf we decided it would be best to keep that information within our own circles. That still didn't stop Jade from being a target within our own kind. She was rumored to have been killed two years ago. A new witch hadn't been chosen yet. Trials are a nasty test," Morgan said.

"How do you know then that Nolan wasn't binded before she died then?" Devin asked.

"This kind of spell work is a living part of the witch who casts it. If they die so does the spell," Morgan said.

"Why would she be interested in Nolan. Why would she want him to find me. If witches are usually against wolves why would she help one?" I asked Morgan.

"She probably was helping herself. Whatever it is she wants to accomplish Nolan is a small part of that plan. Jade hated wolves more than most," she explained.

"Morgan I want you to stay here while we figure this out. We will need you once Nolan wakes up," Tate said.

"I'm not a part of your pack, I don't follow your orders..... But since you are my friend I'll stay," Morgan said.

"Thank you. I am sorry I accused you," Tate said searching Morgan's eyes.

"It wouldn't be totally out of my nature," Morgan winked at Tate. Just like that all was forgiven. "What room do I get since I clearly won't be staying with this one this time," She said playfully shoving West whose face burned red. Devin mumbled something under her breath.

"You can have the guest room on the lower level," Tate said.

Everyone headed back to the pack house chatting. I lingered around the back and fell off the pack. I wandered to the woods. Taking a seat on the floor of the forest. Nestled in the pine needles. I took a deep breath in trying to relax. It was a lot. This whole other world. I was still so new to it all yet I had been thrust into it. Luna to a world I barely knew anything about.

I sensed Tate before he even sat next to me in the pine needles. He kissed my cheek not saying anything. My whole body relaxed at just being near him. It was crazy the effect he had on me.

"You know I never would have thought that this whole other world existed. I could have just lived my whole life without ever even knowing it was here," I said. Tate watched me closely as I spoke, not saying anything.

"In a matter of a few months I went from being just a normal college student to all of this," I said.

"Is that ok?" Tate asked carefully.

"It's. It's everything. I can't believe I almost missed all of it. Missed all of you. I'm so grateful for it. Despite how messy and challenging it can be".

Tate pulled me towards him kissing me softly. It was a lingering kiss.

"This is your home. This is where you belong. I'm stupid for everyday I wasted and didn't just tell you who you were. What you meant to me," Tate said in an almost whisper.

"I'm scared to lose it. I thought I almost did," I said.

"We will get through this. Together. I promise Hadley I will do whatever it takes," Tate said.

"For our home," I said admiring the beauty of the woods.

"For all of it".