10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

-Reese-

T he atmosphere in the office was tense, our confusion clear as the witch delivered her findings.

“Are you certain?” my father inquired, his voice laden with concern as we sat facing the witch.

“There are no indications of potion ingestion in her blood,” she reiterated.

“And what about spells?”

“Even spells leave discernible traces on the body. However, if she had directly enchanted you, that would require a separate examination for magical residue,” the witch clarified. “But Naomi herself shows no signs of magical interference. She isn’t ingesting potions or buying magical services.”

“Then perform the same analysis on Reese,” my father directed.

“The thing is, it wouldn’t make sense,” she continued.

“What do you mean?” I asked. “You just said if she has used the magic directly on me, then it wouldn’t leave a trace on her.”

“Yes, but your symptoms don’t make sense, not if the spell is directed at you.”

“How so?” I questioned.

“You say it’s her scent that attracts you, correct?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“If the magic was directed at you, it wouldn’t be her scent that would enhance. It would be everything about her. The sort of spell she would need to use would not only be incredibly expensive, but it wouldn’t make you attracted to her scent alone. That’s not enough to deter you from your mate’s fragrance. When trying to toy with a true bond, that sort of magic requires a full-on obsession. A scent alone is not enough to distract you, and if she was enhancing her smell, she needs it to be done on her, not you.”

“So, you’re suggesting Naomi couldn’t have orchestrated anything against me?” I surmised.

“Precisely. With true bonds, such interference is almost impossible,” the witch affirmed.

“Then perhaps the spell only partially succeeded?”

“Even so, her scent wouldn’t be the only aspect affected. Moreover, you mentioned anomalies with her wolf,” the witch countered.

“I’ve been informed her wolf has been acting strangely,” I confirmed.

“A spell aimed at you wouldn’t concurrently affect her.”

“But I’m unaware of the specifics of her symptoms,” I admitted.

“I will speak to her to ascertain the truth,” the witch declared resolutely.

Though I nodded in agreement, the outcome left much to be desired. I had hoped for clarity with the witch’s assistance, yet the situation only grew more confusing.

-Naomi-

Alone in the cold cell, I was startled by the sound of the front door creaking open. Expecting the return of the fighters, I was surprised to see Thomas standing there instead, a warm smile on his face as he held out a bag with food.

“Thomas?” I whispered, confusion evident in my tone as he approached and slid the food through the bars. I accepted it tentatively, but his unexpected presence left me bewildered. “What are you doing here?”

Resting against the bars, he knelt down before me. “We all heard about what happened, you being dragged out of the house. What’s going on, Nomi?”

“I-I don’t know,” I confessed. “They... They think I’m harming the Alpha.”

“Why?” he inquired, his concern evident.

“Because... I...” I faltered. “I don’t know.”

“Then why are you out there?” he pressed gently.

“I don’t know,” I replied, tears welling up once more. The physical pain may have subsided, but the anguish in my heart remained raw.

Thomas reached out, his touch gentle as he brushed his fingers against my cheek. Though his gesture offered comfort, the presence of the bars between us only intensified my sense of despair. His attempt at a reassuring smile fell flat, leaving me feeling adrift and isolated.

“You’ll be okay,” he assured me.

“Thomas, they think I’ve used magic,” I confessed in a hushed tone.

“Magic?” he echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“Yes.”

“But why would they think that?” he questioned, genuine perplexity etched on his features, mirroring my own uncertainty.

“I... the Alpha has been behaving strangely,” I explained.

“I told you they were having a spat,” he teased, attempting to lighten the mood. I looked at him, surprised by his attempt at levity, yet finding solace in his efforts. A small chuckle escaped me, his smile widening in response.

“Perhaps you were onto something,” I conceded, the tension between us easing as laughter filled the air.

As we shared a moment of respite, I couldn’t shake the looming uncertainty of my fate. Would I be killed or cast out from the pack? The thought weighed heavily on my mind, overshadowing the temporary relief brought by Thomas’s presence.

“How’s my mom? Has she heard about this?”

“Not yet. News doesn’t reach her easily,” he reminded me.

I sighed, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving my mother in the dark about my ordeal. Thomas gently lifted my chin, encouraging me to meet his gaze.

“I’ll check on her,” he promised.

“Thank you. I don’t know when I’ll be back home, and she tends to forget to eat without me,” I confessed.

“I know. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”

“Thomas, maybe they’ll—” I began, but he interrupted me.

“Let’s not dwell on the worst-case scenarios. We don’t know what’s going to happen yet,” he urged, his voice soothing.

“But what if—” I started again, but he silenced me with a shake of his head and a gentle caress of my chin. Though his touch lacked the intensity of the Alpha’s, I found comfort in his presence. It was a reassurance amidst the uncertainty surrounding me.

“Thank you for coming,” I whispered gratefully.

“Of course, I wouldn’t—” Thomas began, but our exchange was interrupted.

“And what do we have here?” the witch’s voice rang out, causing us both to turn toward her sudden appearance.

In an instant, she used her magic to wrench Thomas away from me, ensnaring him with invisible bonds. Panic surged within me as I gripped the bars.

“No! Let him go! He’s done nothing wrong!” I pleaded.

Ignoring my protests, the witch focused her powers on Thomas, though to my relief, he didn’t cry out in pain. Instead, he appeared uncomfortable, squirming under her control.

“Nothing,” she muttered, puzzled by her lack of findings. Then her attention shifted to me.

“Have you been dabbling in magic?” she questioned.

“N-No,” I stammered, my heart racing.

“Never?”

“I’ve never even come close to it,” I asserted.

“Do you have feelings for this wolf? Is he your mate?” she prodded.

“We’re just friends,” I replied.

“Friends who have seen each other naked?” she pressed, a blush creeping onto my cheeks as I shook my head.

“No.”

“Yet he sneaks in here without permission?” she continued.

“He’s just being a good friend,” I defended, watching as she released Thomas, causing him to fall to the ground before her. She ignored him as she stepped closer to me.

“Don’t harm her. She’s innocent,” Thomas intervened.

The witch glanced back at him with a smirk before turning her attention back to me. “Are you?” she challenged.

“W-What?”

“Innocent. The Alpha seems convinced otherwise,” she persisted.

“I-I’ve never done anything to him.”

“No? But do you desire to?” she prodded further.

“What?” I exclaimed, stunned by her implication. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m asking you, wolf, do you want to do anything to the Alpha?” she clarified, her gaze unwavering.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, do you want to fuck him?”