Scarlett Redd

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**Elijah's POV**

My bride, Scarlett Redd, lay next to me sound asleep. I found myself unable to keep my eyes away from her. She was beyond anything I could have imagined. Now I see why my brother would talk about her nonstop. You can sense that she was different, can feel her pure heart. 

I shook my head and tried to clear my thoughts. I could not be distracted, it was dangerous. She was dangerous. As much as I wanted love, and wanted a happy marriage, I wasn't sure if I could have that with her. The way my body and my wolf wanted her confused and terrified me. Why was she becoming so important to me and I knew nothing about her? I had to consult my mother. If my father thinks that I am trying to get out of finding a Luna, it will cause problems I do not need. 

The drive was passing slowly, and I needed to get as much work done as possible. Welcoming new members to the pack will take a lot of my time, so whatever is on my plate now needs to be cleared before we arrive. I busied myself with returning more emails and setting up meetings for a few weeks from now. 

"How are you up there, Travis?" I asked. He has been driving for over five hours and has not complained once. "You're a good soldier, but even good soldier's need their rest."

"Yes, Alpha. I am feeling I need to rest." He sighed. 

"Very well. Pull over I will drive. You rest for a few hours." He did as he was told and when we switched places I remembered my Scarlett was sleeping as well. "Do not touch her, Travis." I warned. I did not mean to use my Alpha voice, but my wolf, Asher, wanted his claim known. 

"Of course not, Alpha." He obeyed and leaned against the door to rest. 

We started back on our journey, and soon I could hear Travis snoring behind me. I smiled and turned on the radio, connected my phone and played Pandora. I didn't put it loud, not wanting to wake anyone. I just needed something to keep myself entertained so I did not get sleepy as well. 

An hour passed and we had made good time. I liked to speed and of course I do not get pulled over. The authorities know what day it is and know not to interfere with us taking our new brides home. I went to change the song when someone stopped me. 

"You change that song, young man, me and you get off to a bad start." She coughed and I handed her a bottle of water. "So, Alpha, you chose my Scarlett?"

I chuckled and looked over to the frail woman next to me. Her body may be tired, but I can see her heart and spirit is strong. I know she will be okay. "Ma'am, you can call me Elijah, and technically she chose me." 

She scoffed and slapped me on my arm. "Ma'am? Dear, no. Call me Granny or call me Josie. Short for Josephine." I smiled at her and she sat up a little more. "My granddaughter is special, you know. And I don't mean what every grandmother means. I mean she will be a great leader, and an even better partner. She just needs to tap into who she is meant to be."

"You look stronger." I commented. Remembering how fragile she looked just a few hours ago. 

"It comes and goes, Elijah. I have my good days and bad." She smiled and looked out the window. "I haven't been out of that village for almost forty years."

"I thought the villagers were never allowed to leave?" I asked her. 

"Do I look like the type of woman that follows rules?" She laughed. "I left for a while before I married and had my daughter. It was an... enlightening experience."

I could feel there was a hidden meaning behind her words, but decided not to question it further. "You should rest, Josie. We still have a long road ahead of us."

She looked at me from the corner of her eye and smirked. "I can make it pass faster if you would like." 

I laughed and shook my head. "I wish."

She shrugged her little shoulders, sighed, and then leaned her head against the seat. "So be it."

I felt a buzz in the air. Like a powerful energy that made my hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my wolf start to pace in my head with anxiousness. I have only heard stories of this feeling, but it could not be. Witches were hunted down and killed over a hundred years ago. I chanced a look her way and saw nothing different. She looked as if she could be sleeping. 

The energy in the air grew stronger and stronger. I felt my vision blur, but then it was clear suddenly. I looked around. This couldn't be. How were we already on the road that led toward my pack's front gate? I looked at her in shock and she smiled to herself, her eyes still closed. A part of me was scared and wary of her but a bigger part of me was fascinated. We have only heard stories of witches and the things they could do. We were also told they were very powerful and dangerous. Should I fear her? 

"No, you shouldn't." She whispered. I looked at her again, my eyes wide and my mouth open. She looked over and saw my face and began to laugh hysterically. "I cannot read your mind dear, but like you wolves we witches have heightened senses. I can smell your anxiousness and uncertainty. You have nothing to worry about, I do not practice the dark magic."

I calmed down a little bit, but something else came to mind. Witches powers are passed down from mother to daughter. However, if Scarlett is the only family, then she would be the one to inherit her powers. I looked in the rearview mirror to see my bride still sleeping. Josie noticed and she placed her small hand on my shoulder. 

"She does not know." She removed her hand and shifted in her seat to face me. "I grow weak because I have already started to transfer my powers to her. I was worried about her safety with the gathering growing closer, there was never a way to know what wolf would chose her and if he would hurt her."

"I would never." I immediately said. I didn't know why I wanted her to know that I was not that type of man, but I also wanted Scarlett know that I would never hurt her. 

"I know. That is why I didn't hesitate to show you who I am. I can feel the type of heart you have, and know the heart of your wolf. You would never hurt my granddaughter." She looked out the window, and the conversation ended. 

Soon we were driving into the long road that led to the iron gate that protected our people. I started to wonder how Scarlett would think of everything. My pack was pretty big. We had everything we needed so there was hardly any need to go out into the human world. Even though humans know of us and we live in peace, we like to keep to ourselves. 

I chanced another look at Scarlett in the rearview mirror, and I unknowingly smiled. I don't know what it is about her that draw me in. Wants me to connect with her and protect her. Cherish her. Even though she is a witch, she knows nothing of her lineage so I doubt she is practicing magic. If this feeling is not caused by a witch's magic, then what is this?

We were nearing the gate, so I mind linked the pack border patrol to open the gate. They were of course completely surprised at our arrival, they were not expecting us until afternoon the next day. I still could not believe that Josephine and Scarlett were witches. I wonder if that means there could be a coven of witches somewhere secretly practicing. If there is, why aren't Josephine and Scarlett with them? Witches never liked to be on their own, they were stronger together. Those questions would have to be answered later, we were pulling into the gate of my pack. 

I drove in about a mile and parked in front of the pack house. I looked in the back seat, and Travis started to stir. He looked around and looked at me confused. I will admit his expression was rather humorous. I shook my head and climbed out of the driver's seat, and Travis got out as well. 

"Take Grandmother Josephine to the guest room downstairs and mind link the pack doctor to meet me in my office first thing in the morning." He nodded and began to help Josie out of the front seat. 

When her eyes caught a complete glimpse of him she smiled. "My, oh my." She said in a completely different voice, eyeing him from head to toe and back up again. "I think I am going to like it here just fine."

Travis was not one to shy away from being flirted with, no matter if the woman was over twice his age. "I am confident we can make you very comfortable here, Miss Josephine." He winked at her and lifted her easily into his arms. 

"Careful Travis. That woman can break you like a twig." Myself and Josie started to laugh, being the only ones who understood the joke. 

As they walked up the stairs of the pack house, I opened the back door carefully to reveal my sleeping bride. I lifted her carefully into my arms and stood there for a moment admiring her. Then her arms wrapped around my neck and she tucked her head into my chest. She was drawn to me too, even in her sleep. That fact made my wolf, Asher, very happy. Like a puppy wagging his tail. 

I walked up the front stairs into the pack house and headed for the third floor to the master bedroom. Carrying her up the flight of stairs was no problem, and I actually enjoyed it. Like this moment was always meant to happen, and this woman in my arms was always meant to be mine. Once inside the room, I laid her down on the mattress and took off her heels. The dress she was wearing, thought it was rather flattering on her, did not look comfortable. 

Elijah: Catherine, can you please come to the master bedroom. 

Catherine: Right away, Elijah. 

I heard the door open and close and turned to see Cathy standing there with a sleepy grin on her face. "You're back earlier than I assumed." She yawned and dragged herself over. When she saw Scarlett on the bed, her sleepiness vanished and she was the bouncy seventeen year old that grew up annoying me. "Brother, have you found a bride?"

"Indeed." I smiled. "Please dress her into something more comfortable to sleep in and please do not wake her. I will, um, step out." 

She smiled at me proudly. "Always the gentleman." I stepped out of the door and waited until Cathy told me I was allowed in again. After a few short moments, her head peaked out of the door. "She is dressed." I walked in and was immensely pleased with the view. "You did not lay anything out for her, so I took one of your shirts and a pair of boxers. I will send out a maid to do some shopping for her."

"No." I stopped her. Though that is how things were done, I knew Scarlett well enough to know she would like to pick her own things. "If she is up to it and if you wouldn't mind, you will accompany her shopping." Before she could say anything else I rushed her out of the room. Once she starts talking, there is no stopping her. "Goodnight Cathy, thank you for your help. See you in the morning."

I closed the door and sighed. Exhaustion started to set in, so I stripped down to my boxers, put on a shirt and crawled into bed. I had to resist the strong urge to pull her close. I wanted nothing more than to cocoon myself in her scent. What are you doing to me Scarlett Redd?