MINI STORY: A Beta and His Mate

"The Beta and his Witch" Chapter 5

It had been two weeks since Sybil and Ethan shared that passionate kiss. There were many more kisses but Ethan never let it get out of control; Sybil wasn’t ready for that yet and Ethan was determined to move at her pace. Other than leaving to collect his Jeep and some supplies from in town, the two remained together in Sybil’s small cottage.

“Whatever happened to your coven, Sybil?” Ethan asked as they sat in front of the fire in her living room.

Sybil was stretched out on the small sofa with her back against the armrest and her feet laying over Ethan’s lap. She was reading a book while Ethan was rubbing her petite feet. All he needed to keep himself entertained was his mate. He could watch her read for hours, engrossed in the expressions she made as she lost herself in the pages.

She closed the book, leaving her finger inside to mark her page, and looked up at Ethan.

“It’s gone,” She shrugged, “Marlow burned our village to the ground and took the few survivors into her ranks. Most of them are dead now.” Her face was void of emotion but her eyes revealed it all.

“How does the Mother Witch thing work? Are you still it or was it Victoria….Marlow….whoever?” Ethan waved his hand around as he tripped over the evil witch’s many identities. Sybil smirked at him,

“There’s a ceremony that has to be performed to transfer the rank of Mother Witch. It was never done so, technically I’m still the leader of the Emerald Coven.”

“Why don’t you go back?” He asked, startling Sybil.

“Go back?”

“Witches draw power from the land right? I’m assuming there’s a reason that the Emerald Coven settled where they did. Why don’t you go back there and restart it?” Ethan asked, completely serious.

“I….” Sybil opened and closed her mouth, not sure how to reply to that.

If she was honest, she had never thought about it, not once. She never thought she would live long enough to have the sort of freedom she was experiencing now.

“Your people might be gone but you’re still here, Sybil. You can rebuild your coven, it’s never too late.” Ethan said with a sympathetic look.

“I never thought about going back there.” She admits in a small voice.

“You’ve been with Marlow this whole time?” Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he thought about what his mate had been through in the last century.

“Yes. Elm kept me at his side and I could never get away. Honestly, I was never really strong enough to try. Not until that day on the battlefield.” She mumbled.

“Why then?”

“I sensed you and it was like the spell was broken. I’m not sure what kind of enchantment Marlow used, but I guess finding my second chance mate officially broke it.” Sybil shrugged but it seemed like she was holding something back. Ethan didn’t push it, though.

“Well, if you want to go back and you want to restart your coven, I’m with you.” Ethan threw his offer out so casually, like it was nothing. But, to Sybil, it was everything. Just….everything.

“You’re the Beta of your pack….” She gawked at him.

“Yeah, and my Alpha and Luna have already have their hair and a spare,” Ethan chuckled, “Things are under control there and I’m sure they’ll be able to find my replacement. You’re my priority, Sybil.”

Sybil couldn't respond, all she could do was stare at him. It was not an attractive look at all, Sybil thought, with her wide eyes and gaping mouth, but it was all she could manage at the moment. Ethan snorted at her expression,

“What?”

“No one has ever done that for me.” She whispered.

“Done what?” Ethan honestly didn’t understand what the big deal was and that only made Sybil fall for him more.

“Give up something for me, be selfless for me.”

Ethan’s eyes scrunched together as he sat up, leaning towards Sybil and closing the space between them on the couch.

“I literally cannot be selfish when it comes to you, little witch. I told you once and I’l tell you a thousand times, I’ll do anything for you. I’m not giving up anything, not when I have you.” He cupped her face in his hands and smiled at her pouty lips, leaning forward to claim them with his.

When Ethan released her mouth she gasped at the emotion that was swirling in his eyes. She reached a shaky hand towards him and pressed her palm against his cheek. Ethan froze but allowed her to touch him, never wanting it to stop. Sybil felt her eyes begin to glow and then she slipped inside of Ethan’s aura, surrounding herself in his emotions.

She couldn’t read minds, but she could sense emotions, feelings, truth, and lies. Ethan didn’t fight her, not for a single second, instead he exposed himself to her; his raw emotions bared open for Sybil to consume. She felt so many emotions so completely and so quickly that she felt dizzy.

Desire.

Possessiveness.

Protective.

Pride.

Admiration.

Love….

Love.

Sybil’s eyes snapped open and sank into his. She swallowed the lump in her throat and said the only thing that she could, the only thing that was acceptable after feeling all the things he felt,

“I love you.”