Love & Hate with Alpha Mate

Chapter 6

Liam led Ava to a small, secluded clearing deep in the castle gardens. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of birdsong filled the air.

"Okay, first things first," Liam said, his eyes sparkling with intensity. "We need to get you in touch with your inner power."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "My inner power?"

Liam nodded. "Yes, every witch has a unique source of power within them. It's what sets us apart from non-magical people."

Ava thought back to her lessons with Edward. "You mean like my magic?"

Liam smiled. "Exactly. But it's more than just magic. It's a deep, inner energy that drives us and connects us to the world around us."

Ava felt a surge of curiosity. She had never thought about her magic in that way before.

Liam closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, Ava. I want you to close your eyes and focus on your breath. Feel the air moving in and out of your body, and let go of any tension or stress."

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. She closed her eyes and began to breathe deeply, focusing on the sensation of the air moving in and out of her body.

As she breathed, Ava felt a strange, tingling sensation begin to build inside of her. It was like a buzzing in her veins, a humming in her bones.

Liam's voice whispered in her ear. "Let it build, Ava. Let the energy grow inside of you."

Ava felt the sensation grow stronger, until it was like a roaring fire inside of her. She felt powerful, connected to the world around her in a way she had never experienced before.

And then, in an instant, the sensation was gone. Ava opened her eyes to find Liam standing in front of her, a look of approval on his face.

"Well done, Ava," he said. "You're a natural."Liam smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Now that you've tapped into your inner power, we can start working on some real magic."

Ava's heart skipped a beat as she felt a surge of excitement. She had always dreamed of being able to cast real spells, and now it seemed like that dream was finally within reach.

Liam led her to a nearby table, where a variety of strange objects were laid out. There were crystals, herbs, and small, intricately carved wooden boxes.

"Okay, Ava, for your first spell, we're going to try something simple," Liam said, picking up one of the crystals. "We're going to make this crystal glow."

Ava's eyes widened as she took the crystal from Liam. It felt strangely warm in her hand, and she could sense a subtle humming energy emanating from it.

Liam guided her through the spell, teaching her how to focus her energy and channel it into the crystal. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but then, to Ava's amazement, the crystal began to glow with a soft, pulsing light.

Ava gasped in wonder, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. She had done it! She had actually cast a real spell!

Liam grinned, clearly pleased with her progress. "Well done, Ava," he said. "You're a natural-born witch."

As Ava basked in the glow of her success, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. What other magical wonders lay ahead for her? And what secrets would she uncover as she delved deeper into the world of magic?As the days passed, Ava found herself growing more and more confident in her magical abilities. She spent hours practicing spells and potions with Liam, and she was amazed at how quickly she was progressing.

But despite her growing confidence, Ava couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She kept sensing that someone was watching her, and she would often catch glimpses of a figure lurking in the shadows.

One night, as she was walking back to her room, Ava saw the figure again. This time, she got a closer look, and she was shocked to see that it was a woman with long, flowing hair and piercing green eyes.

The woman vanished into thin air before Ava could react, leaving her feeling shaken and confused. Who was this mysterious woman, and what did she want with Ava?

Ava couldn't sleep that night, her mind racing with questions and fears. She knew she had to talk to Liam about what she had seen, but she was afraid of what he might say.

The next morning, Ava sought out Liam in the castle gardens. She found him sitting on a bench, staring out at the sea.

"Liam, I need to talk to you about something," Ava said, her voice trembling slightly.

Liam turned to her, his eyes narrowing with concern. "What is it, Ava?" he asked.

Ava took a deep breath and told him about the mysterious woman she had seen. Liam listened intently, his expression growing more and more serious.

When Ava finished speaking, Liam stood up and took her hand. "We need to talk to Edward about this," he said. "Now."Liam led Ava to Edward's study, his grip on her hand tightening as they walked. Ava could sense the tension in his body, and she knew that he was worried.

When they arrived at the study, Edward looked up from the book he was reading. "What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he took in Liam's serious expression.

Liam explained what Ava had seen, and Edward's face grew darker with each passing moment. "I think we have a problem," he said when Liam finished speaking.

Ava felt a shiver run down her spine. "What kind of problem?" she asked.

Edward hesitated before speaking. "I think we may have a traitor in our midst," he said. "Someone who is working against us, and trying to harm you, Ava."

Ava's eyes widened in shock. "Who?" she demanded.

Edward shook his head. "I don't know yet," he said. "But I intend to find out. Liam, I want you to increase the guards around Ava. I want her to be protected at all times."

Liam nodded, his face grim. "I'll take care of it," he said.

Ava felt a sense of fear creeping over her. She had never felt so vulnerable in her life. But as she looked at Liam and Edward, she knew that she was in good hands. They would protect her, no matter what.

But as she turned to leave, Ava caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye. A piece of paper, tucked away on Edward's desk. And on that paper, a single word was written: "Run."Ava's heart skipped a beat as she saw the word "Run" scrawled on the piece of paper. She felt a surge of fear and uncertainty, and she couldn't help but wonder who had written it and why.

Edward seemed to notice her gaze and quickly covered the paper with his hand. "It's nothing, Ava," he said, his voice firm but reassuring. "Just a note from one of the guards. Don't worry about it."

But Ava couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She felt like Edward was hiding something from her, and she didn't know what to make of it.

Liam, sensing her unease, put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Ava, trust us," he said. "We're here to protect you. We won't let anything happen to you."

Ava took a deep breath and nodded, trying to push aside her doubts and fears. But as she turned to leave, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets were being kept from her, and what lay ahead.

As she walked back to her room, Ava felt like she was walking on eggshells. She was constantly looking over her shoulder, expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows.

She quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched, and she didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. Ava spun around, her eyes scanning the corridor. And that's when she saw him - a tall, dark-haired man with piercing blue eyes.

It was the same man she had seen in the garden, the same man who had been watching her. Ava's heart skipped a beat as she realized that she was face to face with the mysterious stranger.The stranger's eyes locked onto Ava's, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. He was tall and lean, with broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline. His dark hair was messy and unkempt, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to bore into her soul.

Ava tried to step back, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. The stranger didn't move, either. He just kept staring at her, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her feel like she was the only person in the world.

"Who are you?" Ava demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

The stranger didn't respond. Instead, he took a step closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers.

Ava's heart was racing now. She was scared, but she was also curious. Who was this mysterious stranger, and what did he want from her?

As the stranger took another step closer, Ava felt a surge of adrenaline. She raised her hands, ready to defend herself if necessary.

But to her surprise, the stranger didn't attack her. Instead, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

Ava's eyes widened in shock. What was he doing?

The stranger's eyes locked onto hers, and Ava felt like she was drowning in their depths. "You're in danger, Ava," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "You need to come with me if you want to stay alive.