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The hut stood in front of us, the door covered in moss. As we approached I could feel my heart beating. I could feel my pulse in my fingertips.

Klayton looked at me and I almost saw regret pass through his eyes. The door wouldn't budge but I knew why —it was spelled with magic, and I was the key.

"What do you think I have to do?" I look up nervously at Klayton. His hand was gripped in mine.

"Normally most magic starts with a sacrifice to nature," he looked a little puzzled as he ran his hand over the door as if he was looking for something.

"I don't even know what that means! Stop being cryptic," I snapped, not meaning to, but being here was putting me on edge. I could feel the power.

"Do you trust me Adira?" Klayton said while staring down at me.

"Of course," I whispered back. Klayton motioned for me to give him my hand. He laid it in his palm while reaching down onto the ground and picking up a jagged rock. Confusion struck over me but it was too late. The rock pressed into my hand, cutting open the soft skin, blood began to pool.

Klayton gave me no time to think as he grabbed my hand and placed it against the door.

And then the world was spinning.

I felt vomit rise in my throat, the contents of my stomach— turning. When I came to, the bright sun filtred though my eyes. I was standing with Klayton in the middle a road, one that was clearly far from where we just were.

~

When Klayton said 'witch' I wasn't sure what to expect, but it certainly was not the scene laid in front of me.

We were in the suburbs, a densely populated subdivision to be exact. I could feel Klaytons calloused hands squeeze against my own. There were kids playing, happy for this warm fall weekend. I looked down at my hand but there was no cut, not even an indication of what just happened.

Klayton pulled towards a house that looked like all the others, there were even two little girls drawing with chalk on the hot black driveway.

My head and eyes tilted up to meet Klayton's face, I squinted my eyes as if to say, 'Are you sure?' His response was just a brief nod of his head and a pull on my arm. I thought we were going to walk up to the door but he stopped, looking down at the two little girls outside.

He gulped as if he was nervous and then he bowed, his hand pulling me down with him. I was so used to Klayton being in charge that the move threw me off, my feet stumbling at the action. Of course, he caught me, his other arm shooting out to steady me.

"Lady Eleanor, I am sorry to bother you while you work, but I need to request a consult."

Again Klayton's word and formality threw me off. Confusion rang through me. Was one of these little girls the powerful witch? Didn't Klayton say she was old?

One of the girls stood up, brushing off her knees. Her appearance made me gasp. I had never seen such a beautiful girl. Her green eyes popped against her skin, which seemed flawless in every right. Her presence seemed to demand my respect. I felt like I should be bowing again.

Her little arms wrapped around Klayton's legs, hugging him. At the moment she chose to spoke I knew I was right... this little girl was the witch.

When she next spoke, her voice was raspy as if she hadn't taken a drink of water in years.

"Ah, Klayton. I have missed you," She smacks his leg as if chastising him lightly. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen, a little girl telling off an Alpha male. "And please, call me Elle."

For the first time, she looked directly at me, her sweet smile growing. "I've been expecting you Adira."

~

As I sat on the couch inside the house, my head span with 100 questions, but I knew it wasn't the right time to ask. A cup of tea sat in front of me but I wasn't eager to drink the hot funky-smelling liquid.

Klayton sat beside me, and there was a table separating us from the witch who sat cross-legged on the ground.

She was waiting for us to break the silence.

"Elle, I brought Adira here today so you can show her the truth. She seems to think that Artemis is trying to kill her, and has killed all of her heirs... to prevent them from capturing her soul and overthrowing her! It is quite a story Destiny has whipped into her head, and I need you to show her the truth," He sighs. "Her eyes have changed colours —this I can see, however, it is absurd to think Artemis has anything to with this."

My heart stopped. I think it didn't beat for many seconds as I turned to Klayton. I felt betrayed, sick to my stomach. I fought the urge to cry as my nails dug into the fabric of the seat cushion. I snapped my head back to the witch in front of me, and I don't think anyone spoke for several seconds. I could feel today's breakfast threatening to make an appearance.

How dare he?

"Oh Klayton, you and your species loyalty to the Moon Goddess never fails to surprise me," and then she started to hum. She closed her eyes and continued to create an unfamiliar tune that rang through the silence. When she opened her eyes they were no longer green but clouded over with white. It was an eerie sight to see but I couldn't pull my own eyes away from it. She blinked once more and her eyes came back to the garden green.

She looked sad as she stood and made her way over to Klayton. I couldn't even look at him right now, the feeling of betrayal coursing through me, but I watched her outstretched hand connect with his face. Her raspy voice never failed to surprise me.

"You may have just made the gravest mistake Klayton."

He stood. Towering over the both of us.

"What do you mean? That Adira is right? Artemis would never hurt anyone!" His exclaims break my heart silently.

It was my turn to be mad, so I stood up, only meeting Klayton's chest but I didn't care. I pushed at him and of course, he didn't budge.

"How dare you chose her over your own mate," my voice seethed out, the words having the desired effect. Klayton took a step back and he looked down at Eleanor, hurt swimming through his eyes.

"I-I can't," he choked out.

"You must. Artemis has never been the woman that you have thought. This is just the beginning of a long list of things she has done to keep her power," Elle states calmly.

Klayton sank back into the couch looking dejected. I paid him no attention. There was no way I wasn't going to leave here without getting what I wanted to know.

"I found Hana's pocket watch, but I've read Artemis's books a thousand times and I don't know what I should do next. Destiny is no help," I plead to the little girl.

Eleanor just laughed.

"Oh Destiny, always so cautious! I do miss her, next time you see her tell her she must pay this old witch a visit."

Eleanor took her place on the floor again. I stayed silent, waiting for her real response. Her smile quickly faded as she too became serious. Her response was quiet as if someone may be listening. It made me whip my head around to check my surroundings. Of course, there was no one there, except a depressed Klayton, who still hadn't recovered from the shaming of his Goddess.

"I have heard tales, but my powers are always fuzzy when it comes to the Goddesses —their power almost blocks mine. The most concrete thing I have seen is a wolf; one of Artemis's most loyal servants. The story goes as such, Artemis was hunting and she came across a wolf in the woods. She had never killed one as she had a soft spot for wolves; having created the werewolf. However, it didn't stop her from shooting him with her arrow. As the creature lay dying, she felt the overwhelming need to save him —so she turned him into one of her creatures, another werewolf. His life is forever indebted to her and now he serves her eternally. I would say your next piece of Artemis lies with him, you must finish the task that she could not —you must kill him."

My heart sank — I had to kill someone, but not only a person, a werewolf. The task seemed nearly impossible. I stood and without thinking, I curtsied.

"Thank you, Eleanor."

"And I can see that Destiny has told you about where to find another," her eyes twinkled towards Klayton, who had yet to move from his spot on the couch.

"Um, yes, but she blocked the bond and seemed to have put some kind of curse on me that has made us... cautious," I look over at Klayton, expecting him to feign interest in the topic, but the only movement I saw was the rise and fall of his chest.

I rolled my eyes as I looked back at Eleanor. She seemed to be concentrating, her eyes digging a hole into my chest. And then I felt light. I could feel the energy buzzing in the room, one that I couldn't feel previously and it was coming from Klayton.

The bond. My bond. Our bond was back.

Klayton finally sat up. He looked alive and he stood, turning towards me, a smile outstretched on his face, he started to walk towards me but I stopped him as a raised my hand.

"Don't you dare," knowing that if he touched me I would cave to the bond. I wasn't ready to forgive him yet.

I turned to Eleanor and I deflated in a small voice, "Thank you again, you didn't have to do that."

"It was my pleasure, I am a servant of nature and I was just restoring the natural balance. It is why I wish you to put the pieces of the moon back together. It is so unnatural for them to be apart."

I bow again as I make my way to the front door. Klayton is silently walking beside me, no longer attempting to touch me. He too bows and kisses the little girl's hand.

As the front door opens I am met with the bright sun. Eleanor follows us outside and takes her place again colouring on the driveway, the other girl not even having noticed her disappearance. We begin to walk but I realize that I wasn't sure how to get back.

When I turn around to ask Eleanor already had anticipated my question. She stood up and instantly grabbed Klayton's and my hand. The witch pulled a knife out of her pocket and cut our hands, right across the palms —I winced at the pain of the blade against it. Eleanor cut both of hers and connected the blood flow by pressing our hands together.

I could feel myself starting to get dizzy, and I barely made out her last words as the house behind her began to melt.

"Be careful of the observatory Adira, those spooky tales do have an origin and I do not wish you to find out why!"

The words sink into my brain as the spinning sensation hit me. I shut my eyes tight to avoid becoming any more motion sick.

I think back to one of my very first days in Myserdale. I was on a tour with Issac, before I knew the truth about anything. He had told our group about the rumours that the university used to lock creatures up in the basement for experiments. Now I was a little more inclined to believe the possible truth behind those words.

We arrive back at the front door of the hut as if no time has passed whatsoever.

~

We made our way back to the road by the woods where we had left the car. The drive was silent. I refused to be the first one to talk and I wouldn't let Klayton lay a hand on me.

It went against every instinct in my body.

I wanted to feel the bond so badly but I still felt his betrayal coursing through my heart.

He hadn't brought me to the witch to help, but to prove me wrong and protect his Goddess. Jealously struck through me at the thought.

I think he got the hint when he dropped me back at my apartment rather than bringing me to the packhouse. I'm sure he could feel my anger. I didn't even say goodbye. I got out and slammed the door.

He rolled down his window his words made me freeze on the spot.

"Adira, please," his voice was dry and filled with hurt. "I don't know how to show you how sorry I am."

I turned back around to face him, "I'm sure you'll figure it out Alpha," I spat out.

Even my own words hurt, striking pain through my heart, so I knew they had the desired result. I turned back around and this time I didn't look back.

I made my way upstairs to my apartment but instead of opening my door I knocked on Lenna's, as I could hear music blasting inside.

The door swung open and I came face to face with my best friend who was dressed in a dress that was more like a piece of fabric. It left little to the imagination.

She beamed as she saw me.

"Oh my Goddess. Addy, you have to come out with us tonight! A brand new club opened up in town and we are gonna get wild!" She opened to door wider to reveal my favourite group of people. Issac approached me with a drink in his hand and gave it to me. I accepted it with a smile and downed the contents in a matter of seconds. My chugging was followed by cheers from inside the apartment.

I stepped inside without even thinking. I could feel the alcohol warming my stomach. I had forgotten what it felt like to be a real college student.

"You have never had a better idea, Lenna!" I say with a smile.