MINI STORY: A Beta and His Mate

"The Beta and his Witch" Chapter 2

The ruby was glowing brightly around Ethan’s neck and he knew he was getting close; it was burning against his skin and he used that warmth to push forward. For seven months he followed the glowing light of the Mother Witch’s ruby up and down the country. It was like Sybil knew he had an advantage so she was moving quicker and in a zig zagging pattern across the states. But, Ethan was closing in. The ruby had never been so bright or burned so hot like it was now, in the state of Kansas.

Ethan shifted into Jesse as he entered some sort of nature preserve, the ruby pendant still dangling from the strong silver chain they wore around their neck. Jesse ran past a sign and slowed so he could read it: The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Jesse started running again, in a blinding blur of tan fur. He bounded through the thick trees and grasses, avoiding the groomed hiking trails and open plains so he wouldn’t be seen by any humans in the daylight.

The further into the preserve he ran, the brighter the ruby became. Eventually, he burst through the other side of the preserve and came to a skidding halt. We were standing on the outskirts of a small town with busy streets and historic buildings.

Jesse gave up control and shifted back into Ethan, who carefully ran through the backyards of some of the houses until he found someone who had their laundry outside on a wash line. He yanked down a pair of shorts and a T-shirt that was way too big, tugging them on over his naked body. As he walked through the sidewalks of the town, he finally came upon a sign that told him where he was: Cottonwood Falls, Kansas.

Never in his life did he think his witchy mate would be living in a small town in Kansas.

Ethan picked up the pendent and used it like a GPS to find his mate. He walked into a small diner and looked around, thinking that the glowing ruby was going to set fire to the entire place soon because of how hot it was burning. Finally, there in the very back of the diner shoved into a small booth, was the woman he had been dreaming about for an entire year.

She was looking down at the table with her head resting in her hands. There was a worn looking book opened and she seemed to be engrossed in its words. She looked just as she did in the visions Rhea had given Ethan.

Her short chestnut waves were falling over her hand as she leaned forward, her blue eyes scanning the pages of the book, and her caramel colored skin seemed to be calling out to Ethan, urging him to caress her. She had a delicate jeweled headband that wrapped around her head, pushing her hair down over her ears and keeping her bangs off of her forehead. She was the picture of beauty and grace.

Ethan carefully moved through the diner, not wanting to spook her and risk losing her again. He was nearly at her table when she seemed to sense his presence, her head snapping up from the book. She narrowed her eyes on Ethan and then they went wide. Sybil jumped up from the table but before she could run, Ethan reached her and wrapped his hand around her arm.

Sparks exploded around them, literally. Ethan suspected the electric tingles that all mates experienced, but he didn’t expect the shower of sparks that rained down over them. The lights in the diner flickered and burst, light bulbs shattering all around the humans. Ethan and Sybil acted like they hadn’t seen it, frozen in time as they gazed into each other’s eyes.

“I finally found you.” Ethan purred, pulling her against his chest.

Sybil’s eyes zeroed in on the ruby pendent resting against his chest. Ethan followed her gaze and smirked.

“I had some help from a coven in Canada who seemed to think that I was worthy of finding you.” He said,

Sybil’s eyes slowly trailed back up his body and locked with his. She licked her lips and Ethan resisted the urge to growl.

“You’re beautiful, Sybil.” Sybil was surprised when he said her name, shocked that he knew it.

“Why have you come?” She finally spoke, her voice soft like tiny bells.

“For you, of course.” Ethan knelt down so he was eye level with his short mate.

“To reject me?” She squeaked and Ethan’s eyes grew dark.

“No, never. I accept you as my mate, Sybil. I want you as my mate. I’ve been running after you for 12 months just to get the chance to tell you how much I want you.” Ethan’s gaze refused to relax as he looked upon her with a fiery, passionate expression.

“I helped the witch who attacked your pack.” Sybil said,

“And we learned that most of her followers weren’t doing it because they wanted to.” Ethan argued.

Sybil had long since grown tired of trying to convince people that she wasn’t a dark witch, that she wasn’t evil. She no longer sought validation and, instead, kept to herself. She wouldn’t give this man an explanation, even if he was a Beta and her mate. She would make him take her at faith and only then would she know he was worthy enough of her trust.

“I’m Ethan, by the way.” He said and Sybil finally knew his name.

“You clearly know who I am.” Sybil said in a snarky tone and Ethan chuckled at that.

“The coven of witches I mentioned told me your name and showed me what you looked like.”

“Who were these witches?” Sybil asked curiously.

“A coven that recently settled outside of the Green Mountain pack in Canada. I only know the name of the Mother Witch's daughter, Rhea.” Ethan replied.

“The White Witch Coven. It’s made up of many of the witches who escaped Marlow’s control. Mayze helped create it.” Sybil answered, nodding her head.

Marlow, otherwise known as Victoria, was the evil witch who had invaded Ethan’s pack; the same dark witch that he told Rhea and the Mother Witch about. Neither one of them had made any indication of knowing who she was, Ethan thought.

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” Ethan finally asked, desperate to be alone with his mate.

“I’m staying in a tiny cottage in the nature preserve.” Sybil sighed, knowing that she would never get away from him now.

She had never met a werewolf as persistent and stubborn as Beta Ethan. He was determined to see her and so see her he shall. Sybil would show him who she truly was and watch as he ran for the hills, just like everyone else.

“Perfect! I left my car on the other side of the preserve.” Ethan grinned, offering Sybil his elbow.

She frowned at his gesture and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she picked up her book and tucked it against her chest, ignoring his arm and walking ahead of him. Ethan didn’t let that damper his mood. He moved quickly to her side and followed her from the diner.

Sybil didn’t have a car, she preferred to walk everywhere or take the train, so she and Ethan had to walk the twenty miles back through the nature preserve and towards her small cottage. It was a tiny two room cottage made of stone that had been aged and was covered in moist green moss. It was Sybil’s version of a suitcase, something she could zip up and take with her wherever she went with the help of her magic.

The door was crooked and made of tree bark, curved at the top and featured a large iron handle. Sybil touched the handle and it glowed under her hand, clicking open with a loud creak. She gestured for Ethan to go inside first. They walked into the small living room and kitchen. The only other room was the bedroom which had a small, full sized bathroom attached to it.

The living room had a simple sofa and coffee table which faced a stone fireplace that featured burning logs and a black cast iron pot; a radio sat on the fireplace’s mantle, there was no TV. To the left was the kitchen which had apartment sized appliances including a stove, oven, fridge, and microwave along with a hollowed out rock that served as the sink. There was an L shaped countertop with lower cabinets and open shelves that ran the length of the two short walls in the kitchen area.

Sybil kicked the door shut behind her and watched as Ethan looked around her home. He was huge, completely dwarfing the space, and Sybil couldn’t help but laugh at the image; he looked like a giant inside of a dollhouse. Ethan spun around when he heard the sound, grinning,

“What’s funny?” He asked.

“You make my home look so small.” Sybil shrugged, controlling her face.

“It’s a lovely home. How long have you been here?” Ethan asked, looking around.

The cottage was very homey and obviously lived in. There were worn handmade blankets, framed pictures, and knick knacks that showed obvious signs of age. It certainly didn’t look like a place that Sybil had just showed up to a day or two ago.

“My entire life,” Sybil shrugged, “But, it’s only been in Kansas for three days.”

“The house moves?” Ethan shouldn’t still be surprised at this point, but he was. Sybil smirked at his expression,

“It shrinks and fits in my pocket so I can take it with me anywhere.” She explained.

“Oh, right, that makes so much more sense.” Ethan said sarcastically.

“Listen, Ethan,” Sybil was interrupted when Ethan growled low and deep from his chest. She jumped at the sound and clamped her mouth shut, staring at him with wide eyes.

“I’m sorry, baby. That’s the first time you’ve said my name and it’s just….it’s the most amazing sound in the world.” Ethan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself. When they opened, his eyes were warm and brown again and Sybil could relax.

“I was going to say, I think we should just get this over with.” Sybil sighed.

“Get what over with?” Whatever Ethan was thinking, it certainly wasn’t what Sybil had meant.

“The rejection. So we can both move on.”

“I already told you, Sybil….” He started to argue but Sybil shook her head,

“I know what you said. What about what I want? I don’t want a mate.” She said stubbornly.

“You mean you don’t want another mate.” Ethan clarified and Sybil sighed loudly.

She would need to have a very long conversation with the White Witches and their big mouths.

“Yes. One is quite enough.” Sybil said,

“I don’t know what happened with your first mate and, whatever it was, I’m sorry that it caused you pain. But, I promise that I won’t hurt you.” Ethan said, his eyes warm and kind.

“You cannot promise that.” Sybil shook her head.

Ethan closed the space between them in a single stride and wrapped his large hands around her skinny arms. She flinched at first but then settled into the startling sensation his hand on her skin brought.

“Yes, I can. You are my mate and I will die before I let anyone harm you and I will die before I let myself harm you.” He spoke truthfully and sternly.

“I’m a witch and you are a werewolf.” Sybil stated.

“Yes, and I’m a werewolf who is in love with a witch.” Ethan smiled.