2. Slade

Whispers had reached my pack late this afternoon about the Order"s witch being in town. It wasn"t all that surprising, given the recent trouble with a rogue vamp. What surprised me was she was here in the compound but hadn"t immediately introduced herself to the council. That act alone told me she was either remarkably foolish or incredibly dangerous. Maybe both. Not that her recklessness or power would deter the council from asserting our dominance, but a witch with the backing of the Order and no respect for our protocol could be a formidable adversary when playing by her own rules. It was this very reason that had me heading over to my sister"s apartment tonight, a warning to keep her wits about her and to steer clear of the witch.

I wasn"t worried about my ability to protect Gi-Gi or the other shifters from the blasted witch, but I preferred my sister, who had a habit of being too kind and trusting, to stay as far away from trouble as possible. And one thing was for certain: this witch was trouble.

As I approached the door of my sister"s apartment, the first thing that struck me was the loud music spilling out into the corridor. Gi-Gi was most definitely still awake, and I sighed at her penchant for late nights. The second thing I noticed was the overwhelmingly intoxicating scent that lingered in the air.

The scent was unlike anything I"d encountered before, a heady mix of magic and something else, something that stirred a primal reaction in me. It was as if my senses had been awakened, heightened to a level that was impossible to ignore.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself before knocking on the door. Moments later, Gi-Gi opened it, her purple hair disheveled and a mischievous grin on her face.

"Hey, big bro," she greeted me with a hug that was as warm and effervescent as she was. Gi-Gi was a force of nature, and her vibrant personality was the complete opposite of my nature.

"Hey, Gi," I replied, my tone more serious. "We need to talk."

She arched an eyebrow, her grin fading. "Talk? What"s got you all serious, Slade?"

I felt the tension in the air from the doorway to her apartment. My sister had a knack for attracting trouble, and the presence of the Order"s witch nearby was a storm waiting to break.

"Have you heard about the Order"s witch being in town?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

Gi-Gi"s eyes widened, and she nodded. "Yeah, I know about that. Look, Slade, you really needn"t worry about that."

I sighed, unable to shake the feeling of foreboding that had settled over me. "Gi, I need you to promise me something. Promise me you"ll stay away from that witch. Don"t go near her, don"t get involved with her. She"s dangerous, and I don"t want you anywhere near her."

Gi-Gi"s expression turned serious, and she tilted her head slowly. "Why are you so worried about this witch?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Let"s just say she"s not someone to be taken lightly. And with your habit of trusting people, I"d rather you err on the side of caution."

Gi-Gi smiled, her fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You worry too much, big bro. I can take care of myself. Besides, Remi would never hurt me."

My brow furrowed at the name. Remi? It sounded familiar, but I couldn"t quite place it. Was this the friend Gi-Gi had mentioned was staying with her? Why was she bringing her up?

I couldn"t hide my confusion as I asked, "Remi? Who"s Remi?"

Gi-Gi turned to me, her eyes wide, and I could see the hint of guilt in her expression. She glanced inside her apartment and then back at me. "I was meaning to tell you, Slade, but it"s a bit of a complicated situation. You see, Remi is the Order"s witch, and she"s the friend staying with me."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. The Order"s witch. The dangerous and enigmatic woman who had been the topic of whispers among the supernatural community. The very witch I had warned Gi-Gi to stay away from.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" I bellowed as I pushed my way past Gi-Gi.

My steps faltered when I was met with the presence of my sister's friend standing in the living room. An unfamiliar mix of emotions swirled within me. Rage and distrust, of course, dominated my thoughts. But beneath the seething anger, there was an undeniable element—want.

The witch was an ethereal beauty, and I couldn"t deny I instantly wanted her beneath me. She stood tall, a willowy figure that seemed to carry an air of otherworldly grace. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall, the inky waves shimmering under the soft apartment lighting.

Her skin was porcelain pale, which highlighted her dark locks framing her face. The enchanting lilac eyes that met mine held a captivating depth.

The combination of her alluring eyes and striking features created an aura of mystery that surrounded her, a quality that made her all the more captivating.

As much as I wanted to focus on my anger, I couldn"t deny the undeniable pull of her beauty. It was as if she possessed an allure that was impossible to resist, a magnetic force that drew me in despite the circumstances.

The witch was dressed in dark clothing. Her long, flowing dress was a deep shade of obsidian, with intricate lace patterns that added a touch of gothic elegance. Silver jewelry adorned her delicate wrists and neck, a shimmering contrast to her dark attire.

She was a mesmerizing vision, and I found myself momentarily entranced.

But the admiration I felt was overshadowed by the knowledge of who she truly was—the Order"s witch, a dangerous force in our world. I couldn"t allow her beauty to distract me from the very real threat she posed to our kind, to my sister.

With a deep breath, I pushed aside the turmoil of emotions that threatened to consume me. I focused on the reality of the situation and the need to protect Gi-Gi. I couldn"t afford to be distracted.

"Gi," I growled, my voice low and filled with a simmering anger. "You brought the Order"s witch into our home? Are you out of your mind?"

Gi-Gi winced, her shoulders sagging. "I didn"t know how to tell you, Slade. She"s not just the Order"s witch; she"s also my friend from the orphanage. She"s Remi."

The pieces fell into place. But this revelation only fueled my anger. The Order"s witch was Remi? The same girl Gi-Gi talked insistently about?

"You should have told me," I hissed, my fists clenched at my sides. "Do you have any idea how dangerous she is? She"s a weapon, Gi, and she"s not to be trusted."

Gi-Gi"s friend, Remi, stood there, her expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. She knew what she was, what she represented to the supernatural community, and yet she was here, standing in my little sister's apartment.

Enraged, I stormed toward Remi, my instincts in overdrive. "You," I spat out, my voice laced with anger and distrust. "What are you doing here? Do you think you can waltz into our lives without consequences?"

Remi met my gaze, her eyes defiant. "Take a step back, wolf boy, before I …"

Before she could finish, I turned to Gi-Gi, my voice filled with frustration. "Get out of here, Gi. Go to my place and stay there. I"d like a word with your friend," I all but growled the last word.

Gi-Gi slowly nodded, her eyes filled with worry and flicking towards her friend. After a subtle nod from Remi, she quickly retreated to my apartment, leaving me alone with the Order"s witch, with Remi.

I couldn"t ignore the conflict raging inside me. She was my sister"s friend, her childhood companion, but she was also a dangerous force, a weapon of the Order. I couldn"t let her presence in our lives go unchallenged.

"Explain yourself," I demanded, my gaze locked with Remi"s. The tension in the room was clear, and I knew that this confrontation was far from over.

Her purple eyes met mine, and I could sense her defiance beneath the composed facade she wore. But I wasn"t about to let my guard down. Her being here was an unknown variable, and I needed answers.

"I came to see Gi-Gi," she replied evenly, her voice holding a trace of snark. "She"s my friend, and when I told her my work was bringing me to this compound, she insisted I stay with her."

I wasn"t convinced.

"You didn"t come straight to the council to announce your presence. Why?" I demanded, my voice sharp and unyielding. I needed to know her intentions to gauge whether she posed a threat.

Her response was calculated, and she chose her words carefully. "I had my reasons. I didn"t want to cause unnecessary alarm. I"m not here to harm anyone, Slade, I'm only after the rogue."

I turned my back on her, unable to face the reality of the situation. The bond my sister shared with Remi was important to her, and I had always been grateful that she had someone in her life before I discovered her existence. But this? This was not how I thought meeting the other important figure in Gi-Gi's life would go.

Now, that very friend had become the enemy. She was part of an organization that saw our kind as threats, a group that sought to control and subjugate us. How could she have chosen this path? How could she have betrayed everything the supernatural community believed in?

As I paced the living room of Gi-Gi"s apartment, I felt the weight of my responsibility as the alpha of my pack. I had sworn to protect my family, my friends, and our kind. Now, I had to decide how to handle this new threat.

I was fiercely protective of my sister, and this situation was far too murky for my liking. "Gi-Gi is my sister," I declared, my voice a warning. "I"ll protect her from anyone, even you."

The witch"s nod showed she understood the gravity of my words. She might have been a friend from Gi-Gi's past, but her identity as the Order"s witch made her a potential threat. I couldn"t afford to let my guard down.

"I understand that, Slade," she acknowledged, and for a brief moment, I glimpsed a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "I wouldn"t want anything to happen to her either. I"m here to make sure she"s safe. I"m here to take care of the rogue vampire and spend time with my friend while I"m at it."

It was a fragile truce, a precarious balance between the protector and the potential danger. As her brother, I would do whatever it took to safeguard Gi-Gi. But I also knew that my sister had a compassionate heart, and I worried about her soft spot for Remina.

After a heavy silence, I decided to lay down my terms. "Here"s how it"s going to be, witch. I"ll be watching you. If you pose a threat to my sister or anyone in this compound, I won"t hesitate to bury you."

The message was clear. My loyalty to my pack and my sister was resolute, and I had no intention of letting anyone jeopardize their safety. Remi had to understand the gravity of her presence here.

"I won"t cause trouble," she assured me, her voice steady and resolute.

I accepted her words with a nod, still maintaining a watchful eye. "Report to the council tomorrow. They need to know you"re here. And if you step out of line, you"ll have me to deal with."

With that, I turned and left the living room, my departure signaling the end of our tense encounter. It was a warning, a reminder that I would be watching her every move and that her presence in our world had not gone unnoticed.