Ella's Heart (Sequel to The Curse Of Violet Wraith)

Chapter Two

Ella

We jogged into the packhouse, trying to catch our breath as soon as we hit the foyer. “You once again got us all in trouble. I’ll be lucky if my parents don’t ground me.” Kellina scolded, tying her hair up into a ponytail before she rushed to her room.

I saw her disappear up the stairs, wondering why she hated me so much. She has never been nice to me, not a single time, and getting her in trouble with my aunt and uncle would make it worse.

“Don’t even mind her, Ella,” Daviana mentioned, out of breath. “That girl has a disturbed soul.”

“No, she just hates the fact she’s not a wolf. Like the rest of us.” I sighed, feeling sorry for Kellina. But being a witch, and honing her powers surely makes up for it. Aunt Amara was powerful and she could help her become just as strong. “You will all have your wolves eventually, but she won’t. Ever.”

“You might be wrong. Many wolves shift late. And your uncle is a very powerful one, so I doubt she didn’t get the genes,” Duncan replied, standing between me and Daviana. As we stood there, knowing our parents would scold us soon, we all headed to our rooms.

I closed my door, hugging myself while I shivered against the cold breeze of the night, the sight of that strange creature in the trees made my skin crawl. It had been the same one I’d seen when I had first shifted into a pup and ran through the woods with my father.

I might have been just a baby, but my memory was as sharp as an axe, and more than fear, it was curiosity that made me want to find out who that hooded figure was.

I walked towards the arched stone window, looking out at the full moon while listening to the loud howls of the pack members enjoying their celebration. The scent of sulfur in the air announced my mother’s arrival while tendrils of obsidian smoke surrounded me.

“I know what you will say.” I scoffed, Violet appearing behind me. I could feel her eyes on me, scolding my actions.

“You need to learn to mind your father, Ella. We will not always be there with you, so keeping yourself and your friends safe is your duty as the future Alpha.”

“I guess I am as stubborn as you. Right?” I teased as I sat on the edge of my bed, holding onto the wooden posts. “Mother, I don’t think I want or am fit to be the Alpha. My father expects too much of me, and I just want to be wild and carefree.”

Violet, shifting into my mother, sat next to me, holding my hands in hers as she pushed a strand of my dark hair behind my ear. We were silent for a moment, taking in the comfortable presence she gave me. She might be protective, but she was loving and caring.

“I was just like you, and being that way had turned me into this. I can’t say you are mean or selfish like I was when I was a teenager, and I don’t regret staying with your father. We love each other so much, we can’t live without the other. But you still need to be careful of your actions. Your father wants the best for you and he trusts that you can lead this pack just as well as he has. That’s all.”

“I know, but still…”

Our conversation was interrupted as growls echoed in the distance, my mother standing alert before shifting back into Violet.

“Stay here and lock yourself in. Don’t open the door for anyone.” She ordered, not giving me a chance to answer when she disappeared in a black cloud of smoke, leaving me alone and concerned. I was more confused than before, and it was annoying me.

A whole pack of warriors, shifted and ran through the trees. Duncan followed by foot, being fast even without his wolf, and it made my heart ache. What if something happened to him? What if he died protecting the pack from whatever threat was out there?

‘He’s the future Beta, Ella. His sister is a warrior as well, so they’ll be fine.’ Azandra, my wolf said.

“I know, but I can’t help it. I worry about them. About him.” I replied, fidgeting with my hands while looking out the window again. Kellina appeared at the entrance, wearing a hooded cloak as she ran to the woods.

“No, not you,” I whispered, leaving my room in a hurry and hoping to be able to catch up with her. She was fast, I had to give her credit for it, so I had no choice but to shift into Azandra and follow her.

My wolf ran as fast as she could, finally catching up to Kellina and jumping on her, knocking her to the ground while I pinned her with my paws.

“What the bloody hell are you doing?” She shouted, punching me on my snout, making me growl. “I’m trying to help the pack. There’s an evil woman out there trying to kill everyone!”

Not sure what she meant by it, I lifted my head and scented the air, the putrid scent hurting my nostrils. That’s when I saw her, a woman dressed in a black torn dress, her ebony hair moving about as she floated in the air and landed a few feet from us.

Her obsidian eyes, without a hint of white, looked straight into mine, and her pale white skin was covered in dark veins. Standing in front of Kellina, I growled at her, Azandra in a protective stance.

“Who are you?” I asked through my wolf’s mind, making the witch laugh evilly.

“Well, well. I finally have you where I want you, Princess. Your father has been keeping you too protected, and he has the right to do so. I am no good.” She replied with a shrieking voice. “My, what a beautiful black wolf you are. Wait, not a wolf. A wonderful Lycan. What will your blood look like when I spill it all over your fur, and on the ground.” She stared at my chest and gasped. “Oh, your heart looks so innocent and delicious.”

My heart was beating rapidly, and Kellina for the first time was trembling. I could feel it. Not sure if it was fear for her own life or mine. But one thing I knew, she wanted to get out of there.

“Let’s go, Ella. Don’t listen to this witch. I heard many things about her,” she pleaded. As the witch tried to charge towards us, Cathal and Connal appeared out of nowhere, ready to charge while she had disappeared in thin air.

“Who is she?” I asked after shifting into my human form, shivering at the cold night. Connal glared at me, growling low and threatening. I lifted my chin and challenged him, when all of a sudden, he grabbed me, tossing me over his shoulder, covering my naked buttocks with his big paw, and taking me back to the packhouse.

“Let me go, Connal! I can walk!” I shouted at him, punching him several times on his back, but he wasn’t budging.

“You’re in trouble, young lady.” Uncle Evander mind linked and I didn’t have a choice but to fall limp on my father’s shoulder. Kellina walked by her father, her hand on his wolf’s fur as she looked down ashamed.

He scolded her for leaving the packhouse and putting herself in danger, but contrary to what my uncle had been in the past, his eyes were tender towards his daughter.

I wished my father was less strict and more understanding.

As soon as we made it to the packhouse once again, Connal set me on the floor, his eyes glowing, hinting that he was upset. Mother approached us and handed him a soft towel, covering the bottom part of his body before he shifted to his human form while she handed me a robe to cover myself.

Oh, boy. I am in deep trouble.