MINI STORY: A Beta and His Mate

"The Beta and his Witch" Chapter 6

“Are you sure about this?” Sybil said for the umpteenth time. Ethan laughed at her, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her quickly but deeply.

“Yes, little witch. Come on, I’ve been dying to see this.” He was jumping up and down like a kid at Christmas, looking up at the cottage.

Ethan and Sybil were standing in front of her cottage, a backpack slung over Ethan’s shoulder and an overnight bag for Sybil in the back of his Jeep. Sybil sighed at him, shaking her head, before she waved her hand in a sweeping motion. A glittering gold stream followed her motions and then the cottage disappeared before them.

Except, it didn’t disappear. Ethan walked towards the space where the house had once stood and bent down, picking up the miniature version of the cottage and examining it.

“Careful, don’t shake it around. It makes a mess.” Sybil said with an exaggerated expression, indicating that she was speaking from experience.

Ethan gently carried the toy sized house to the Jeep and handed it off to Sybil. He didn’t want to be responsible with keeping her entire home safe. She snickered at his timidness and then stuffed the house inside his glove box.

“Ready?” He asked her and she nodded, twisting her hands nervously in her lap.

Ethan reached across the Jeep and laid his hand on top of hers, rubbing his thumb comfortingly over her knuckles.

“You okay?” He asked.

“I am with you here.” Sybil answered honestly, revealing a rare bit of honest emotion.

Ethan grinned widely and couldn’t help himself as he leaned over to kiss her loudly on the mouth. She laughed and swatted him away. Ethan started up the car and backed out of the abandoned gravel road they had lived on for four weeks. They took off on their journey to North Dakota.

Surrounded by some of the oldest trees in the country, the ponderosa pine forests near the Theodore Roosevelt National Park was home to what was left of the Emerald Coven. Near Madera, North Dakota wasn’t just one of the oldest witch covens in the world, but also a very old werewolf pack known as the Gold Pack.

Ethan had already given the Alpha, Evan, a call to inform him of their arrival. The coven was just outside of his pack’s territory and, prior to its destruction, the Gold Pack and the Emerald Coven had a strong alliance. Alpha Evan was more than happy to welcome them into his pack lands and to help them with whatever they needed to resurrect Sybil’s old village.

“Should you call your Alpha?” Sybil asked as they drove out of Kansas.

“Not yet.”

Ethan hadn’t spoken to August in months, something he wasn’t particularly proud of, but he wasn’t ready to come home yet and he wasn’t ready to share his mate with anyone. He knew that it might’ve not been rational and that August and Josie would have supported whatever decision he made, but his guilt kept him from making the call. He was afraid that if they said the wrong thing, just one little thing that made his guilt flare up, he would be forced by loyalty to run back home and he knew that would threaten his growing bond with Sybil.

“Ethan….” Sybil’s voice sounded concerned but Ethan just clung to the way she said his name. She often did and he loved it like it was the first time, every time.

“It’s okay, baby. August and Josie understand.” He shot her a crooked smile and squeezed her hand, which was still clasped in his and resting on her lap.

“Whatever you say.” Sybil shrugged but he could tell that she wasn’t convinced.

“So, what do we do when we get here?” Ethan asked.

“I’m not even sure what’s there, so I guess we’ll start by exploring the coven’s territory.” She said, looking down at their hands.

She was nervous and a bit terrified about returning to her coven, a place she hadn’t been to for a hundred years. The last time she stood on the sacred grounds of her village, her mother was dead, her coven was in shambles, and she was forced to bow at the feet of a dark witch.

“I’ve helped with the construction and reconstruction of houses and buildings on my packgrounds since I was a kid, but something tells me rebuilding a coven doesn’t require a hammer and nails?” Ethan said, smirking as he looked at her from the corner of his eye.

“Not exactly. It’s quite a bit faster.” She laughed.

“How do you recruit witches?” Ethan asked another question and, this time, Sybil laughed at him.

“It’s not the military, there’s no recruitment.” She mocked him.

“Well I don’t know.” He grumbled playfully.

“The witches who belong will come. The sacred grounds will call to them.” Sybil answered easily.

“I can’t imagine the international roaming fees for that phone call.” Ethan scoffed and Sybil couldn’t help but snort with laughter.

Ethan’s face lit up at the sound of the most wild and freeing laugh that he’s ever heard from his mate. He thought back to the memory she shared with him, the memory that he made her feel over and over again; fun and freedom. Two things Sybil hadn’t experienced in a long, long time. Ethan was more than happy to be the one to show them both to her again and safeguard her right to them for the rest of his life.

It took them half the day to reach the Gold Pack’s territory. Ethan wanted to check in with the Alpha and Luna before heading to Sybil’s old coven. He pulled up to the simple iron security gate and rolled down the window, leaning out of it to speak to the man in the guard tower.

“Beta Ethan here to see Alpha Evan. He’s expecting us.” Ethan said,

“Of course, head on through, Beta. Just follow the road straight back to the packhouse.” The guard nodded and pressed a button that opened the creaking gate.

Ethan followed his directions and ended up parking in the covered driveway in front of the packhouse. He hopped out and jogged around the other side to help Sybil down from the lifted Jeep. She accepted his hand and allowed him to hold on to it as they approached the packhouse’s front door. Ethan knocked on the door and another guard wolf pulled it open.

“Beta Etha, welcome to the Gold Pack.” The man said, motioning them inside.

He led them back through the moderately sized farmhouse and knocked on Alpha Evan’s door before opening it. Alpha Evan was sitting behind his desk while Luna Lia was pacing the office, holding a binder in her hand. They paused what they were doing when the door opened and looked at their guests.

“Beta Ethan! Welcome.” Alpha Evan said in a cheery voice, jumping up to shake Ethan and Sybil’s hands.

“This is my mate, Sybil.” Ethan said,

“And this is mine, Luna Lia.” Evan motioned for his mate to join his side and she smiled politely at them.

“It’s nice to have you both here. We’re excited about the Emerald Coven’s return.” Luna Lia said,

“Thank you.” Sybil replied in a small voice, nervously tugging on the hem of her shirt. Ethan gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

“Yes, thank you for allowing us into your territory and for the continued alliance between the coven and your pack.” Ethan said,

“I was surprised to hear that you, the Beta of such a strong pack, would leave it for a witch’s coven.” Alpha Evan said, sizing Ethan up. Ethan just shrugged, not at all offended by his statement.

“My pack is well handled, Sybil and her coven need me now.” He said,

Sybil glanced up at her mate and smiled brilliantly at him. She couldn’t help herself. Every time he pledged his support to her it sent her heart fluttering away in shock.

“That’s so sweet.” Luna Lia gushed but Alpha Evan didn’t look as impressed.

“Uh-huh.” Evan mumbled.

“Anyway, we just wanted to let you know that we’ve arrived and to meet you personally. We should get going to the coven, Sybil hasn’t been back in a while.” Ethan said, sensing the tension as it began to bubble up inside of the room.

“Right, well, if you need anything let us know.” Alpha Evan said, shaking Ethan’s hand again.

“Sure thing. Thanks again.” Ethan tugged on Sybil’s hand and led her out of the packhouse.

“Was it just me or was that awkward?” Sybil whispered once they were back inside the Jeep.

“No, that was weird.” Ethan confirmed, “I’m not sure about that Alpha Evan.”

“He didn’t seem so sure about your decision to leave your pack.” Sybil said, looking carefully at Ethan.

“He doesn’t have to.” Ethan shot her a crooked grin, picking up her hand and planting a smacking kiss on the back of it. She laughed at him and pretended to be grossed out by his slobbery kiss.

On the other side of the packgrounds, about twenty miles from the packhouse, was the sacred grounds of the Emerald Coven. It was hidden inside a thick grove of trees, protected by one of those invisible bubble barriers Ethan learned about in Canada. Sybil didn’t even pause as she walked through the barrier, dragging Ethan in with her. He blinked in astonishment as the remains of the village appeared before him.

Astonished and mortified.

Before him were the scared and burnt remains of cottages, other buildings, signs, and other things too blackened to recognize. Even after all this time, the charred skeletal remains of Sybil’s brothers and sisters were buried under vines and tall weeds. It was as if the magical barrier had frozen the village in time.

“Sybil….” Ethan’s voice was worried as he watched Sybil walk ahead of him.

Her steps were small and her body wavered as she examined her home. Ethan was so attuned to her body that he sensed it when her heart rate increased and her breathing became more shallow. He hurried to her side and rested his hand gently on the small of her back.

“I….I didn’t think it would be like this.” She whispered, “I must’ve blocked out the memory. I didn’t know it was this bad.”

“It’s okay, it’s normal to forget something as scary as this. What do you need me to do?” Ethan’s voice cracked with emotion.

He was trying to stay strong for his mate but the main on her face was almost too much for him to bear.

“I just…..need it to go away.” She whimpered.

Her hands were shaking at her sides, sparks shooting from her fingers but it was like she was too weak to raise her hands or pull any more magic from her body.

“What if I take care of the….remains? I can bury them the old fashion way, respectfully. We can have a ceremony, you can teach me what witches do with their fallen. Then, you can clean up the rest of the camp.” Ethan suggested and Sybil teary eyes fluttered up to meet with his.

“You would do that?” She hiccuped.

Ethan smiled at her and used his thumb to dry the fat teardrops that had begun to fall down her cheeks. He pecked her lips sweetly,

“Of course, my love. Just tell me what to do.”

“Gather up all the bones. We’ll put them all in a pile.” She said,

“You stay here. I’ll do it.” Ethan ordered, grabbing her arm when she tried to step forward.

It was hard for Sybil to swallow because of the lump forming in her throat. She nodded, gratefully. Ethan moved around quickly and delicately, being careful not to miss or step on any of the remains. He gathered up every last bone and gently placed them in a large pile. It was unsettling how large the pile was. Once he was finished, Sybil joined him and they stood silently in front of the remains.

After a few minutes, Sybil finally spoke,

“We have to bless them.” She said,

“Okay, what do we need?” Ethan asked, eager to do whatever she needed him to do.

“Benedicite fratres meos. Vitam celebrant quam vixerunt et suum sacrificium honorant.” Sybil’s eyes glowed as she spoke in a foreign tongue. She translated her words into English,

“Bless my brothers and sisters. Celebrate the life they lived and honor their sacrifice.”

“Bless my brothers and sisters. Celebrate the life they lived and honor their sacrifice.” Ethan echoed her words.

“Redi ad Terram, in qua venisti.” Sybil said next and then translated, “Return to the Earth in which you came.”

Ethan repeated her words again and then Sybil raised her hands, aiming her palms towards the pile. A golden shimmer spread across her hands and danced towards the bones, setting them ablaze. A warm, enchanting fire burst from the bones and shot up towards the sky, embers floating down to the ground like rain.

Ethan and Sybil stood there until the bones had been reduced to ash. Then, Sybil waved her hands again and the ashes began to glow green. A few seconds later, flowers began to grow, covering the blackened earth completely. She looked at the closet tree and started moving her finger around in front of it. The next thing Ethan knew, words were being carved into the trunk of the tree: Here lies the sacrifice of the Emerald Coven.

“That’s beautiful.” Ethan said, feeling a little emotional.

Sybil smiled softly up at him and then closed her eyes. She focused all of her energy on imaging the rebirth of her home. Her fists began to shake and glow, begging to be let loose. Sybil’s fingers snapped open, her hands flatting with her palms facing the ground. She slowly began to raise her hands upwards. With each inch, the ground shook more and more violently. A shower of powerful golden sparks rained down from her fingers and reached out across the debris, setting fire to the remains of her old coven and turning the ash into soot.

From that soot, new grass and flowers grew. Roots sprouted from the ground and snaked around each other to form new cottages. The ground shook itself free of holes, stones, roots, and grass as it created dirt paths twisting and turning through the new village. Rocks shimmed themselves across the ground, forming a well defined perimeter around the paths.

An acre of land beside the newly formed cottages flattened itself and began to sprout vegetables, herbs, and fruit bushes in perfectly even rows.

Ethan disappeared for a second and then returned with Sybil’s toy house sized home. She smiled at him and nodded, motioning towards the earth which was still rearranging itself. Ethan carefully looked around the acres that belonged to the Emerald Coven and picked out a spot he thought would be perfect for their home. He sat it down and then backed up.

Sybil’s golden magic reached out towards it, wrapping around the five inch cottage and forcing it to grow to its full size. Finally, Sybil began to relax as the magic retreated back into her. Ethan was quick to her side, wrapping his arms around her waist to support her weight as she sagged against the exhaustion.

“You’re amazing, little witch.” Ethan praised her, kissing her temple gently, “Let’s go home.”

He swept her from her feet and carried her, bridal style, to her cottage. Ethan carefully kicked open the door and took Sybil into the bedroom, laying her down on the soft mattress. She smiled up at him, her eyelids heavy.

“Stay with me, Ethan.” She asked in a defeated voice.

Ethan didn’t need to be told twice as he pulled back the comforter and kicked off his boots, snuggling into bed beside her. She buried her face into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her.