Forgotten Magick

Chapter 3: Faith. Pt, 3.

Part 3: Celeste’s Plan.

Celeste nodded confidently towards her mother and started, “ well, I was going to send Luno over to the werewolves, if my consort truly is the Alpha he’ll be alerted first about the ‘stray dog’ on their turf.. If he was really there the other day then he’ll recognize Luno and look him over, when he does he’ll see my secret message I embroidered on the inside of Luno’s collar and hopefully he’s intelligent enough to decipher it. It’s not very complicated.” 

Raven chuckled and nodded encouraging her daughter to go on, to which Celeste continued “I will meet with him at the river, I will go alone and hope he does the same. I’m sure he hasn’t started talking about his mate being a witch for the same reasons I haven’t.” Raven frowned and interjected “He’ll bring his Beta, I’m sure. If he brings no one else, his Beta will insist. That’s their job after all, to keep the Alpha safe no matter what. Even against their Alpha’s own mate if need be.” Celeste looked at her mother curiously, who then grabbed a book from the end table next to the couch. She held it up and the title read ‘Werewolves; Who, What, Where, When and How.’ Raven then laughed as she added, “I had a feeling a few nights ago this information would be helpful, let’s just say your father guided me to it.”

Celeste looked onto her mother adoringly before going back to the conversation being had “I’m sure I can take on a werewolf or two on my own if things get ugly” said Celeste casually and shrugged. Raven frowned and shook her head dramatically “oh no! Mama’s coming with you! I said I would welcome him with open arms if he was nice! If this man is not nice and comes after my daughter, well, lets just say I am an animal witch who has mastered her craft! But don’t worry my dear, I will stay out of sight unless I am needed..” 

Celeste conceded, there was no way she would be able to dissuade her mother from her mission to protect her daughter whenever she could. This was more than just a physical threat, if it were only that then her mother wouldn’t be needed, but more so she wanted to shield her daughter from the potential heartbreak her daughter would be subjected to. “Alright, you can come… don’t interfere unless it gets dangerous! If it does get dangerous set off a warning flare and call the guardians and at the first sight of a guardian you come back home got it?” 

Raven chuckled and hugged her daughter a new “you’re so bossy… Just like your dad, he would be proud of you my little star..” Celeste nodded and nuzzled up against her mom before checking her watch, they had been talking for about an hour she only had half an hour to figure out how they would get to the clearing without raising suspicion. “I’m sending Luno out at 10 to deliver the message, we need to be able to reach the clearing shortly after then.. How in the hell our we going to get out there with out raising suspicion, we can’t have any one following us..” 

Raven chuckled and got up with her daughter, she looked over to her daughter with a smirk “you got your bossiness from your father, but where do you think you get your quick wit and mischief? Just let me put everything away and we’ll head out! Oh! And make sure Luno is prepped and ready to go! If he’s going to be running with the wolves he’ll need to be quick!” Celeste was taken aback by how jovial her mother was being, like a new air of youth had reinvigorated her soul. Celeste watched her mother for another minute, springing about her home humming excitedly. 

Celeste then turned to Luno, she beckoned her pup to her side as she made her way to the fiery hearth. Luno padded over to her and laid down on his side, Celeste smiled and nodded. “Time to give you a little boost buddy, stay calm, it wont be long until I’m done. Mama taught me this so you can trust that you’ll be right as rain when I’m done!” Luno responded to her with a quick bark. Celeste nodded and got to work, she reached her hand into the fire and pulled out a small beating flame. Dividing it in two between both hands Celeste started to wave the flames over Luno’s legs, slowly wrapping them in the warmth. 

“Burn away the old, make room for new, rejuvenate the body and replenish the soul. I beseech you, mighty element of fire, gift this animal with your life.” Celeste could feel the calm and relaxed nature of the pup as she worked her magick, true this has always been her weakest subject but she worked very hard to make sure she was at least competent in the matter. 

After a few minutes, Raven was done putting away her things and Celeste was done prepping Luno for his big mission, Raven came back to her daughter with a basket on her arm. Celeste quirked her eyebrow at her mother who stated “my brilliant daughter is going to lend me her expertise in herbology and help me reinvent familiar medicine!” Celeste chuckled and nodded. Luno quickly got up and gave a determined bark or two. It was time to put everything into motion.

Zena and Celeste emerged from her childhood home, linking arms with her mother the two women walked side by side throughout the coven territory. Freesia came out of nowhere as she always did and sat on Celeste’s shoulder, Raven’s familiar was an Owl and also perched itself on Raven’s shoulder. The two girls were one of a kind, a mother-daughter duo that resembled each other in more than just looks. 

As they walked through the covens lands they smiled and spoke with everyday witches, explaining themselves to as many people as casually possible. They needed alibis and witnesses who saw them leave together, Raven had spun a story how she was growing bored with the same healing techniques and that the magickal art had grown stale. 

Celeste kept an eye on her watch under the guise that she didn’t want to be late to meet back with Supreme Zena, but in reality she was waiting for the right time to send Luno. As 09:55 came around Celeste patted Luno’s hind leg twice and just as planned Luno bolted off, Celeste opened her eyes widely and started to shout after the dog. “Meet me at the clearing mama! I’ll go get Luno and we can get those wild herbs for you!” She shouted behind herself as she chased after the dog. Celeste could hear her mother apologize to the young witches they were speaking to and then call after her to wait up. 

Celeste didn’t slow down until she was well out of the driveway for the coven house and she confirmed no one but her mother was following her, shortly after she slowed her pace her mother was by her side again breathing heavily and holding her side. “I.. Am too old for these antics…” Her mother lamented with a cheeky smile before both women erupted in jovial laughter. They both watched Luno as his body shrunk into the distance, a knot started to form in Celeste’s stomach as she realized what she was doing.

Her baby, her precious furry friend, was carrying out a potentially lethal mission and she was the one who sent him on it. “He’ll be fine.. You’ve raised a very smart dog, he wont do anything rash or foolish. He will come back to you..” Raven said gently trying to reassure her daughter, Celeste sighed heavily before saying “I hope so.. I hope I’m not doing anything foolish.. Maybe I should have told Zena about this, we could have just set up an official meeting!” Zena chuckled softly combing her fingers through Celeste’s curly mane as she replied “but where would the fun be in that? Besides, something tells me Zena already has an idea or two as to what’s going on.. Have faith my girl, have faith in yourself. All will be well.” 

Celeste steeled her nerves once again and nodded confidently towards her mother, come what may she knew she was making the right decisions. Each step she took were difficult ones, her heart pounded in her chest and she was terrified more so than anything else, and that is how she knew. Anything worth doing in life was never easy, anything worth going after would always be difficult, may it be love, inner strength, or facing ones fate. 

Celeste and her mother walked in silence the rest of the way, they did not hurry as to give Luno and the werewolf more than enough time to meet and get to the clearing on their own. Though Celeste was sure about what she was doing, she still wanted to give herself as much time as possible before potentially having her heartbroken and body affected by the rejection. As she walked she practiced breathing techniques that would help her build up and store as much additional magick as possible, she thought that if she built up enough magick in her soul it could act as a sort of emergency medical rations that she could use to heal herself as quickly as possible. 

Regardless of the outcome, Celeste refused to show weakness, if her consort was an Alpha it was even more important that she stands strong and proud after a rejection. Her neighbor would need to know what kind of Supreme he’d be dealing with.

———

Seth woke up that morning feeling fine, he was tempted to open the bottle of oils gifted to him by his mate but thought against it. He could blame the odd scent coming from his room yesterday on a weird air freshener Missy gave him, but he doubted the excuse would work twice in a row. Thankfully he had her blanket that still had her essence all over it, but he could tell that it was already starting to fade. “Please.. Stay..” He whispered as he curled up with his face buried in the black fleece. 

After a little while longer, Seth gave up his grip and got up, folding up the blanket and tucking it away safely. It was time for a new day, but again he was growing tired. The blanket was already growing to not being enough, Seth could even feel Regal becoming more irritable than normal. He couldn’t tell if it was because of the conversation that had been had the day prior, or if it was because of Celeste’s absence. 

With each passing day that he spent away from Celeste just kept confirming to him that she was his Luna, the loneliness and physical toll this was taking on him could only be explained by the mate bond. His patience was running thin, he needed to do something and quick but he still felt so underprepared. Regal spoke to him for the first time since his outburst “you will never be prepared enough for the mate bond, you will never be prepared enough to be the Alpha Guardian. I wasn’t. It is not something you can prepare for, you must simply have faith in yourself and bring your people one day further into the future..” 

Regal then receded to the back of Seth’s mind again, Seth nodded. He understood, he needed to get out of his head and trust in his instincts. He was a werewolf, after all, an Alpha to boot, his instincts were stronger than most people and had rarely led him astray. He steeled his nerves, re-centered his focus, and braced himself for the day. For it was on that day he would take action. 

Seth had then decided it wouldn't be a terrible idea to take a walk outside, steering clear of the loud chaos of the morning. He went out through the back then made his way over to the front, taking in the freshness of the morning dew in the air. As he made his way around the house he could hear a small commotion taking place so he quickened his pace slightly until he saw something he never would happen, a silky gray Great Dane had found its way onto the pack grounds. 

Seth walked up to the small group of men who had gathered around it, they were holding the canine by the collar around its neck. Seth greeted the men before dismissing all of them but Arys who was already present, his Beta gave him a knowing grin and an exasperated head shake "she's either really smart and brave or calculating and cunning just like you.. and I'm not quite sure which is worse in this case..." his voice was hushed as the both crouched in front of the dog to examine it. Seth couldn't help but chuckle at that thought, he wondered whether this was a gift or a message.

"well.. from what I gathered the other day this is her dog, not her familiar. Her familiar is a black cat, Freesia I think it's name was.. this guy I think his name was Luno.." the dog gave an enthusiastic bark at the mention of his name, Seth gave him a head pat before continuing "He's wet so he's must've come from the river border.. and it looks like there's something under his collar.." Seth muttered quietly to himself and his Beta. Seth lifted and twisted the collar around until his heart stopped in his chest, embroidered in the collar with white thread was one word:

Mate?

Arys gave Seth a stern look, he was trusting this witch less and less. Seth knew his Beta suspected a love spell of some sort had been cast on him, and now she knew about mates even though she wasn't a wolf? "She wants me to meet her at the river border.." Seth said to Arys, Arys narrowed his eyes at his friend as he said sternly "I'm coming with you" Seth shook his head "no, some one needs to be here for the pack" "dude! My job as your Beta is to keep you alive, warriors are here to defend the pack and the border is only a 10 minute run from here. I'm coming with you, I don't trust her." 

That was something Seth couldn't argue with. As much as Seth would have loved for this moment to be private there was no telling what would happen and if the girl was as special as he thought she was there would be people with her, he couldn't justify going alone. Seth nodded to Arys giving him his approval. "We should get going then, there's no time or anything so it's safe to assume the sooner we get there the better..." 

The two boys got up and started acting as though they had just found a new pet and started arguing about who was going to keep him, Seth released the collar and gave the dog a silent command to run to Celeste. As the dog ran off the two ran after it, taking off their clothes so that they could shift as soon as they were out of sight. It would have been a rather odd sight for any human to see, two wolves about 4.5 feet tall in shoulder height and 6 feet long from nose to tail tip chasing a 2 feet tall dog through the forest. Seth noted that Celeste took excellent care of her animals considering he and Arys were running close to their top speed yet the canine had no issue keeping the lead. 

Within ten minutes the dog slowed down considerably as they had arrived at the clearing, Arys and Seth shifted back and slipped on their clothes as they assessed their situation. Luno the dog was barking up a storm, pacing back and forth in front of the river presumably looking for his master. "No ones here!" Shouted Arys slightly frustrated, Seth was a bit calmer "no, but she's supposed to be look at her dog.. It's okay boy, I'm sure she just got hung up on something.." Seth pet the dog's head and scratched behind his ear trying to calm the anxious pup. He understood the dog's anxiety, Seth had expected Celeste to be there waiting for them. The anxiety continued to rise until all three of them lifted their noses to the sky and a voice was heard…

———

Morgana was sat up in a tree as usual, she hadn’t been keeping track of time. There was no use, all she needed to pay attention to were her surroundings and the information she was collecting. Her surveillance of the grunts was proving to yield little to no results, it seemed like both parties involved were keeping these happenings secretive. 

Morgana was starting to get impatient, the boredom of being out in the woods with little to nothing to do was starting to get to her. She hated these jobs, often she would be relegated to meditating intensely for hours just to have something to do. If she was on her phone too much it would die, and she needed to be able to contact her father at a moment's notice. 

“Patience is a virtue… good things come to those who wait… this is the essence of a hunter… you are the strongest hunter…” Morgana muttered her mantra to herself as she sat upon the branch of her great tree, her ears then started to twitch as the winds brought her a reward. The Alpha and his Beta were running after a little dog, the scene was obscene and she couldn’t help but chuckle. Her prey had finally arrived. 

Morgana’s serene face started to twist in a mischievous grin, finally, she could get what she was here for and go home. Better yet since the Beta had shown up she was more than sure he would take care of this mess for her, there was no way in hell his Beta would let a witch become their Luna and if this was a love spell the Beta would rip the witch in two. 

Morgana pulled out her binoculars and her stationary ready to get every single detail needed, peering down she could tell that the men were frustrated that there was no one there. Though, from her vantage point, Morgana could see two witches coming around the bend of the forest trails. It was the Prime and her mother. Just as the women came into range the wind blew and carried their scents to the wolves, they raised their noses to the sky. “They really are dogs... Jeez…” 

There was a thick tension in the air, the boys were still as statues. Their muscles tense, especially the beta he was ready to pounce at a second's notice. There was no care in his eyes for the fragile treaty between the two tribes, he was focused on protecting his Alpha. “Go on you big mutt... Finish this so I never have to come back..” Morgana whispered silently to herself, but that tension was quickly released as the Prime started to screech…

"LUNO! LUNO WHERE ARE YOU BABY?! MOMMIES HERE!" 

Morgana steeled herself, this meeting would determine the fate of the world as they knew it…